NY Mets are lucid with Carson Benge plans, Yankees look lost with Jasson Dominguez

Carson Benge and Jasson Dominguez aren’t from the same planet. Very different players with the only thing they have in common being young outfielders on New York baseball teams, their respective teams are taking much different approaches with them this spring. Benge has clearance to win a right field job for the New York Mets. Dominguez has no distinguished pathway toward regular playing time with the New York Yankees.

Brian Cashman discussed the situation, providing an honest assessment of how the Yankees just don’t have any answer.

The Mets are carving out a role for Carson Benge, the Yankees are burying Jasson Dominguez

Cashman has some idea of how to use Dominguez, but it seems like the kind of limited role the Mets would prefer to avoid with their young players.

“Dominguez is an extremely talented player -- both offensively, defensively -- and he’s one of our best runners. Having him as a choice for a manager to use, coming off the bench at times definitely improves our chances of success because of his pure athleticism. So if everything stays the same, we’ll be forced to choose our best course of action to help this team." - Brian Cashman vis SNY

It is a different situation with Dominguez getting a full year under his belt in 2025. He had 100 games in left field and another 15 at DH as well as a few games where all he did was pinch hit.

The rookie campaign wasn’t amazing enough for the Yankees to leave a wide opening for him to begin the year. Of course, Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer seemed to hold them back in a variety of ways. Their outfield alignment of Cody Bellinger, Grisham, and Aaron Judge offers little leeway for regular playing time until an injury occurs. It will when your DH is Giancarlo Stanton.

A reduced playing role for Dominguez isn’t such a positive outlook for the young outfielder with a fellow high-profile prospect like Spencer Jones already added to the 40-man roster. Jones could use more time in Triple-A after a half-season there last season. But between him and Dominguez, there’s little the Yankees can do at the moment to give them both regular at-bats in the majors outside of rearranging their defensive alignment and benching Grisham

The Mets have set themselves up to a point where the right field job seems to be Benge’s to lose. The ball club hasn’t added any significant corner outfielder this offseason. Alternatives for the Mets include Brett Baty, Tyrone Taylor, and MJ Melendez. None will take the job from Benge outright.

It seems like the Mets were very purposeful with their plans for Benge while the Yankees didn’t really think about it with Dominguez. Sure, he can find a spot on their bench and get some regular at-bats. But he’s blocked and several choices by the Yankees this offseason have essentially put him at a disadvantage.

What the Yankees are doing isn’t necessarily the wrong choice. It does seem to be a lost one.

Dominguez hit .257/.331/.388 with 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases in his first full season with the Yankees. They're the kind of numbers that surpass much of what the young Mets players have done in their first major league season. The Yankees' crunch with Dominguez doesn't appear ready to go away anytime soon. He's at best a corner outfielder on a roster with Bellinger and Judge on it. While both of them can play center field at a debatably high level, it's not ideal to have your breakable stars in their 30s responsible for covering that much ground.