As the Yankees engage in preliminary playoff planning, team brass is not inclined to move Jasson Dominguez to center field, Aaron Judge to right field, or Juan Soto to left field in October, according to people familiar with their internal discussions.
In theory, those moves could make sense. Dominguez offers more offensive upside than fellow left fielder Alex Verdugo, but despite what a loud handful of weirdos on the internet say, it is a very big deal that he has not yet learned the position. This October, when the Yankees are favored to represent the American League in the World Series, is hardly the right time for that education.
Dominguez has far more experience in center, where he is a 50 or 55 defender on the 20-80 scouting scale, but knows how to take correct routes to fly balls.
Judge has slowed this year as a center fielder, but is an elite right fielder. With Soto in right this year, the team misses Judge’s glove and arm at that position.
All of this adds up to a possible temptation to move the three outfielders to more natural spots for them.
On Thursday, sideline reporter Meredith Marakovits asked manager Aaron Boone if there had been any consideration of that alignment.
“Not yet,” Boone said. “Not yet.”
“Will there be?” Marakovits said.
“We’ll see,” Boone answered. “We’ll see.”
But two days later, the team — while it certainly hasn’t finalized its postseason roster and playing time decisions — is leaning against making a switch that dramatic this soon before the postseason.
Source Agencies
