Moving Cody Bellinger back to center field would solve one problem for the Yankees . It could also create another in left.
With Trent Grisham reaching free agency, New York has to decide whether to shop for a center fielder or use the defensive versatility already on its roster. My preference is to keep Bellinger in left unless the club finds a credible replacement there first.
The case is not that he cannot play center. He has done it before. It is that his work in left became valuable enough that a positional switch should not be treated as a free upgrade.
Bellinger was a Gold Glove finalist in left and led major league left fielders with 21 Defensive Runs Saved, according to a report on the finalists . One defensive measure cannot provide a perfect forecast, but it captures why removing him from the position carries a cost.
Grisham accepted a one-year qualifying offer before 2026 and is again approaching the market. The World Series ended Wednesday, so the offseason is no longer a distant roster exercise. New York needs a center-field plan with or without him.
Oct 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) catches a fly ball in the first inning in game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There is also Aaron Judge's health to consider. He missed 100 of the Yankees ' 166 games, including the postseason, because of rib and calf injuries. More designated-hitter time could protect his body, but that would require another outfield solution and a plan for a spot Giancarlo Stanton has traditionally occupied.
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The alternative is to put Bellinger in center and use left field to add a bat. That could make sense if the best available hitter is a corner outfielder and the Yankees believe Bellinger can handle the larger assignment. A returning Grisham or another center fielder would let them leave Bellinger where his glove stood out.
This roster recommendation is not a report that the Yankees have selected a position or opened talks with a particular player. The market and Judge's health will shape the final answer.
New York should price both arrangements before moving anyone. Solving center while weakening left would be a poor trade unless the new bat makes up the difference.
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