Judge is a far better right fielder than Soto, but Alex Verdugo was a proven, strong left fielder.
Also of note defensively: Whoever replaces Jose Trevino at backup catcher will be a worse pitch-framer, the now-Red among the game’s best, but the replacement likely will have a stronger throwing arm.
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At this point, the loss of Torres’ glove qualifies as addition by subtraction.
Last year with the Cubs, Bellinger split time on the grass between center and right.
“I’m excited,” Boone said last month of the 2025 Yankees. “I think the pivot that’s gone on, obviously missing out on Juan stung, but … there’s different ways to build a team.”
In the corner outfield spots, the Yankees have gotten better and probably gotten worse.
The Yankees could look to upgrade at plenty of offensive spots to compensate for the run creation they had just lost. They also could pivot toward run prevention.
On paper at least, the Yankees project as a more sound defensive team largely because they have subtracted their two greatest deficiencies in center fielder Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres (even if they have not yet replaced the latter).
The most likely Opening Day left fielder right now is Jasson Dominguez, who is faster than Verdugo but looked lost in September at the spot.
The Yankees’ greatest defensive difference from 2024 to 2025 should be seen in center, where Cody Bellinger is not the defender he was with the Dodgers but should be a significant step up from Judge.
The now-Tiger led major league second basemen in errors last season and was among the worst defenders at the spot (ranking 31st among 37 qualifiers at second base).
He has lost half a step that became evident with too many balls falling in front of him, and Cashman signaled the Yankees preferred Judge as a right fielder — with less ground to cover, and where his strong arm matters — even before the Bellinger trade.
Among 40 qualifiers at the position last year, Goldschmidt ranked 16th in Outs Above Average. Yankees first basemen in 2024 — largely a declining Anthony Rizzo, a learning Ben Rice and LeMahieu — rated much worse.
Moving Chisholm over would open the door to a free agent or incumbent — perhaps the sure-handed, if aging, DJ LeMahieu — at third.
In the immediate aftermath of Juan Soto choosing the Mets, Brian Cashman addressed media and scanned through his roster for areas of need.
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The Yankees might have committed the seventh-most errors in MLB last season and were burned in October, but the overall glovework was statistically viewed as a bit better than average.