Dominguez, Wells heating up, Aaron Judge Player of the Week

The New York Yankees currently sport their most athletic roster in … ever (?), adding Greg Allen to the outfield mix over the weekend.

While the 2023 roster is overflowing, the outfield isn’t exactly “complete” for 2024 and beyond. Aaron Judge is locked down long-term (which is pretty cool), and Giancarlo Stanton will attempt to play the outfield when he returns. Beyond those two pieces, though …

Harrison Bader hits free agency this offseason. Oswaldo Cabrera hasn’t hit enough to be viewed as a starting left fielder; he must reestablish himself as a supersub. We thank IKF for his service, but his time in left and center hasn’t changed the team’s long-term depth chart.

Enter Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones and Austin Wells. The organization continues to promise they’ll view Wells as a catcher — and maybe they will! He could eventually press Jose Trevino into backup duty, but more importantly, his bat is ready now. His recent hot streak might force the Yankees to find room for him in the DH role sooner rather than later, while both Dominguez and Jones have continued to make their assault on future outfield spots clear.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with every minor-league option proving their worth at the same time. It’s very good, actually.

Remember that brief time a few weeks back when Yankees Twitter started to turn on Aaron Judge’s long-term deal, asking him to “prove his worth” while he was laid up on the IL?

Outlier comments aside, it was ridiculous to believe Judge could live up to his 2022 standard, which was the main argument against the way this roster was built. The offense wasn’t good enough last year with Judge setting home run records. Why would it be good enough if Judge slowed down even a tick?

Well … since his return from the Injured List, he’s looked almost exactly like his pre-contract self. It might not be sustainable, but … it shows he’s still got heaters in him. Judge was honored with the American League Player of the Week honors for May 15-21, and deservedly so. Let it be forever known as the week the Blue Jays decided to f*** around and find out.

We regret to inform you the Houston Astros are back; their eight-game winning streak has vaulted them above the Yankees in the current postseason standings. Jose Altuve’s return, as well as Lance McCullers Jr.’s comeback, will give them an essential boost. Nobody ask about what happened to Jose Abreu, though.

If the season ended today, the Yankees would travel to face the AL Central champion Twins in a best-of-three Wild Card playoff series. I think they’d take that.

Luis Castillo recorded his 1,000th career strikeout on Monday against the Oakland A’s. All things considered (including his recent meltdown against the Red Sox), though, and we’d rather have Anthony Volpe long-term. Ditto for Daulton Varsho, who the D-Backs wanted Volpe in exchange for. Woof.