After a rollercoaster type win yesterday vs the Brewers, the Yankees still could not close out the day without some sort of bad news. This time, they lost the Martian. Rookie outfielder Jasson Dominguez will be placed on the I.L as he will get Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL.

What originally was described as day to day soreness that would scratch him off the lineup for one day has now turned into a worst case scenario as the young star will miss approximately 9-10 months as he recovers.

Although Isiah Kiner-Falefa replaced him in center field yesterday, that’s obviously not solution entering 2024. To find a long term solution, they will have to go into their now shallow farm system that doesn’t give that same firepower it had when Dominguez was in it. They will also have to take a good look outside the farm, into both the free agent pool, and the trade market, which both have some promising options.
Note: As I write this, Estevan Florial was selected to the major league roster. As he has gotten multiple chances since 2020, and being DFA’ed already, he will not be included on the list because he will not be a solution for 2024, given his performance and multiple other available options.

Option #1: Brandon Lockridge, SWB Railriders CF

The strongest option from a shallow Yankee farm, the 26 year old left-hander from Troy University has strung together a solid season in his first year at AAA SWB. He’s hitting .291 on the year with only 1 home run, but he has 23 stolen bases in just 58 games in his first AAA stint. He has a .371 OBP, and his BABIP is at .400, which would translate well to the Major League level with the Yankees. It wouldn’t replace the power of Dominguez, but you are getting a quality small ball player and someone who can string hits together

This would be considered fast tracking a prospect for the Yankees, as this is only his 58th game at AAA. But maybe the lefty swinging bat can find some power in his swing at Yankee stadium if needed.
Out of all options, this would be the safest and lowest risk option, while also being probably the lowest possibility of a rewarding outcome.

Option 2: Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs CF

In similar fashion to Gerrit Cole, it seems like the Yankees have always had their eye on the former NL MVP. They missed out on Bellinger at last years free agency and this years trade deadline, but this is the time where the Yankees need that high level option in center.

This year, the five-tool stud has been able to stay healthy and he has made a big impact in Chicago. His stats speak volumes: he’s slashing .317/.360/.550, all of which are his best since his MVP year. His wOBA sits at .380, and he boasts a career-high 141 wRC+. With a total WAR of 4.2, Bellinger is proving his worth on both sides of the field.

Defensively, Bellinger shines with an impressive 6 Outs Above Average (OAA), placing him in the elite level of fielders. His average throw speed of 90 mph adds to his defensive prowess.

Cody Bellinger is undoubtedly the low-risk, high-reward option the Yankees have been seeking to fill the void left by Jasson Dominguez. It does help to be a left handed hitter in the Bronx, but his all-around excellence could be the solution they need for a bounce back 2024 season.

Option 3: Mike Trout

A High-Stakes Gamble no doubt.

While the name Mike Trout carries immense weight in the world of baseball, there’s an undeniable caveat attached to his brilliance – his recurring injuries. Trout, who’s undoubtedly a top-five player in the league when healthy, has unfortunately spent an increasing amount of time on the injured list since 2020, casting a shadow of uncertainty over his career.

Here’s a list of some of his significant injuries:

1. August 2018: Wrist Inflammation – Forced him to miss 18 games.
2. May 2021: Calf Strain – Kept him out of action for a whopping 139 games.
3. July 2022: Back Injury – Cost him 35 games.
4. July 2023: Hamate Fracture – Led to 49 missed games.
5. August 2023: Hand Injury – Status still to be determined.

This string of injuries has translated into Trout appearing in fewer than 75% of Angels games since 2020. It raises a critical question for the Yankees, or any team considering him – can they afford to invest heavily in a player who, despite being one of the best in the game, has had a troubling recent injury history?

Signing Trout could either pay off immensely, transforming the Yankees into immediate contenders, or it could spell long-term doom if his injuries continue to plague him. It’s a high-stakes gamble that demands careful consideration, balancing the potential rewards with the inherent risks associated with his injury-prone status.

The rest of the field:

To be concise, the rest of the options are either really bad, or just won’t elevate the Yankees chances to even make the 2024 postseason other than maybe Teoscar Hernandez who is on a down year. Michael Brantley, Joey Gallo, Hunter Renfroe, or Kevin Kiermaier wouldn’t even come close to the job done. This is a situation where the Yankees HAVE to make a splash here. Hit big on Trout or Bellinger, or find the resources in the farm.