Boone Speaks at Winter Meeting

ORLANDO, FLA -- The MLB Winter Meetings are in full swing. While nothing much has come of in the meetings as of yet, both GM Brian Cashman and Manager Aaron Boone have meet the media this week.

Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham

Talking about the outfield, the first thing Boone addressed was free agent Cody Bellinger. "Obviously what Cody brought to us last year in so many ways, just who he was in the room, his performance between the lines on both sides of the ball, his athleticism, his versatility, who wouldn't want a player like that? Boone said.

"He's earned the right now to get to this point of his career of free agency as still a relatively young man. So we'll see what happens. We'll see how it shakes out. As far as the player and the person, he's a good one."

Cashman spoke Sunday about the team's continued interest in Bellinger. It seems that the deal would be contingent on Bellinger coming to the Yankees at the team's price.

Boone also expressed his excitement that Trent Grisham took the qualifying offer. The team still believes that Grisham can replicate his 2025 campaign. His defense remains a question mark, as the metrics show a clear regression. "I thought definitely better than that." Boone said. "The defensive metrics, I think, sometimes -- like in my head, I think back to a couple balls in Sacramento where the wind was kind of weird and some balls get blown a certain way. And those kill an outfielder from -- whether it's defensive runs saved or whatever it may be."

Jasson Dominguez

New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the Athletics. Credit: AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Boone was also asked about Jasson Dominguez, who played winter ball in the Dominican Republic. "a small sample down there, but I think just going down there and playing in that environment and getting some at-bats, continuing to play." Said Boone. "Especially since the last month of the season, even though he played a lot throughout the year and ended up with over 400 Big League at-bats, still down the stretch he didn't play as much obviously and into the playoffs.

Boone also stayed steady that Dominguez is a switch hitter, and will remain one. "As far as the switch hitting, yes. Again, I go back -- and I hammered you guys over the head with this all year."

Boone mentioned on the "Yankees Hot Stove" show that Dominguez has limited reps against left-handed pitching as a right-handed batter. "We're talking about a very, very young player that didn't play a ton of Minor League baseball, and what suffers from that? Boone added. "The side you don't hit from as much. I still think he's very -- it's a natural side for him. He's a natural right-handed hitter."

Boone continued to mention Dominguez' improvement in left field over the course of the regular season, citing the improvements from April though July, where he became a ben piece. "Overall, real improvement, but there's still a long ways to go in that improvement. Added Boone. "I think back to the end of 2024 where we saw him out there where there's some real struggles -- obviously still getting used to left field, still now getting used to left field. It's still fairly new for him."

Infield

As of now, Boone said that Ben Rice is the team's first baseman, but he has versatile defense. "Right now he's our first baseman. The catching stuff is still very much in play. Then we'll see. We'll see how the off-season unfolds with where we are roster-wise going into Spring Training to how much catching that means, or is it all first base? But definitely see him as our first baseman."

The Yankees had three left-handed catchers last season -- Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra, and Ben Rice -- and should look to add a right-handed hitting catcher. A player like Wilson Contraras would make sense for the Yankees, given that he can play first base as well.

Both Boone and Cashman have said that Anthony Volpe is progressing through his rehab. "He's been at Yankee Stadium pretty much every day up until last week when he went down to Tampa now." Said Boone. "So he'll be there the rest of the way. Rehab's going well. He's making the right kind of progress. Still in that kind of rehab phase of it all."

The team is continuing to instill their commitment to Volpe at the short stop position.

Starting Pitching

Carlos Rodón is progressing in his rehab, per Boone. Rodón is expected to return in late April or early May. Boone also mentioned that the team could piece the rotation together until Rodon returns, but reports contradict that sentiment.

Gerrit Cole could return in late May or early June. "I think he ended up throwing six to eight bullpens before kind of the shutdown and where he deloads a little bit. I think he's starting up his throwing program about now again to ramp back up. It's gone well. He's doing well. Looking forward to him being back obviously."

Other Notes and Nuggts

Boone mention that the gap between the Yankees and the Blue Jays is not that far apart. "Well, I mean, playing better against them is the real simple answer. At the end of the day, we ended up knotted with them. But in the head to head, they kicked our butt, and especially in those summer months. In that stretch where we were scuffling a little bit, they beat us up, including a four-game sweep up there, and that obviously ended up really hurting us.

We got them 2 out of 3 at home late in the year when we were in a better place, and obviously they were on fire against us in the playoffs. Look, it comes down to against other good teams, execution, performance, game plan, all that, because the margin's thin against other great teams."

The Yankees will continue their winter meetings over the next two days in Orlando.