4 Yankees on Thin Ice Heading into This Offseason

Once viewed as the Yankees' future star in center field, Jasson Dominguez has yet to put everything together in the major leagues.

Dominguez's time in the majors has been marred by injuries, inconsistency as a switch-hitter, and brutal outfield defense. 2026 was his biggest missed opportunity. Dominguez slashed only .225/.267/.368, posted -0.2 fWAR, and missed time with a shoulder injury. He played more games in Triple-A (59) than at the major league level (57).

The emergence of fellow homegrown outfielder Spencer Jones down the stretch and the addition of Heliot Ramos at the trade deadline have further complicated Dominguez's role with the Yankees moving forward. A change of scenery is very much in the cards, as Dominguez is still only 23 years old and under club control until 2031. However, that also provides reason for the Bronx Bombers not to give up on him, especially with an opening in center field.

If the Yankees don't bring in an outfielder this winter, expect Dominguez to compete with Jones for the center field job. If Jones wins that competition, then the Martian's days in the Bronx will be numbered.

3. Anthony Volpe

Of the four players mentioned here, the most mysterious by far is Anthony Volpe.

Just when it looked like George Lombard Jr.'s arrival was the end of Volpe's difficult Bronx tenure, the 25-year-old parlayed a strong Triple-A stint into another shot at the major league level. Volpe learned second base and a little bit of third base during that minor league reset, increasing his positional versatility, while also heating up at the plate.

The bat saw mixed results upon returning to the majors, as Volpe still recorded a mediocre .695 OPS in September despite a monster September 10 game against the Colorado Rockies. Yet in the postseason, the infielder went 3-for-7 and was a fan interference call away from potentially saving New York's season for another day.

The reps at second (and third, to a much lesser extent) further cemented Volpe's status as a plus defender. However, he has yet to find any offensive consistency in his major league career and has been downright unplayable during his worst slumps. Because of that lack of offense, it would be foolish to give him a starting infield job right away without having any internal or external additions to compete with.

If Volpe can finally find the hitting prowess that made him a top prospect in the past, then the Yankees would be more inclined to give him a starting job. But until he does, he may need to accept a bench role.

4. Clarke Schmidt

Perhaps it's unfair to say Clarke Schmidt's job is in danger, as he only recently recovered from Tommy John surgery. But after making his long-awaited return in September, Schmidt promptly landed back on the IL with a bicep issue and wouldn't appear in the postseason.

The 30-year-old appears to be the odd man out in the Yankees' loaded starting rotation, which features Cam Schlittler as the ace and three outstanding veterans in Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon. New York also loves Will Warren as a fifth starter; despite his inconsistency, the Bronx Bombers believe he has more talent that can be unlocked compared to most other fifth starters.

Further complicating things for Schmidt is his contract status. Schlittler and Warren are still pre-arbitration eligible, while Cole, Fried, and Rodon are all signed to long-term contracts. In contrast, Schmidt will become a free agent after the 2027 season.

The good news for Schmidt is that he's had success as a reliever in the past, notably recording a 2.74 ERA in 26 relief appearances in the 2022 season. With that in mind, a healthy Schmidt would be a great option as a long reliever, as he can return to the rotation in case another starter lands on the shelf.

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