The Yankees were dealt a brutal piece of injury news on Sunday, as Jasson Dominguez will need Tommy John surgery just over a week after bursting onto the scene from Triple-A.
The hyped switch-hitting prospect will now miss the start of the 2024 season, leaving Yankee fans searching for any kind of silver lining amid a lost season.
BT believes he has found one as a result of the Dominguez injury.
“I think it forces Hal [Steinbrenner] to absolutely go and get somebody like Cody Bellinger,” BT said. “You got Dominguez in the outfield next season if he wasn’t hurt, and Aaron Judge, and then they could mix and match with a young kid in left field.
“They will feel the pull to go and do something bold this winter. I really believe that Dominguez’s injury will be the impetus to do that.”
Bellinger will be one of the top free agent bats on the market this winter after a resurgent season with the Cubs. The Yankees were believed to have trade interest in the former MVP before the deadline, but a timely winning streak by the Cubs led the team to add instead of sell. Bellinger has continued to his since then, holding a .912 OPS while batting .318 with 25 home runs, his most since his he crushed 47 in 2019 with the Dodgers.
The Yankees could certainly use that kind of left-handed power in Yankee Stadium, and BT believes if there is any kind of positive to take away from the Dominguez news, it’s that ownership will likely now go after top-tier veteran talent to take Dominguez’s place while he recovers.