Aaron Boone Reveals Yankees' 2025 Lineup Plans After Juan Soto Joins Mets in MLB FA

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered an update on what he was thinking regarding the team's lineup configuration heading into the 2025 campaign after some major offseason changes, including the loss of Juan Soto in free agency.

"We'll try and get Jasson Dominguez up to speed in left," he said during an appearance on WFAN (h/t Phillip Martinez of SNY). "Cody Bellinger probably in center with Trent Grisham in the mix there too. If Giancarlo Stanton has a day off or I want to DH Aaron Judge, I feel good moving Bellinger wherever. Ideally, I don't want to move Dominguez as much. On a day [Giancarlo] is out, Judge is DH, I can move Bellinger over [to right field] and throw Grisham in center and keep Dominguez in left. We'll see how it all shakes out."

As for the infield, Boone said, "Right now I would have Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second. Then Oswaldo Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu and even Oswald Peraza are vying in the mix for that third base."

Paul Goldschmidt will ostensibly handle duties at first base, while Anthony Volpe should remain the starting shortstop and Austin Wells the primary catcher.

As for the lineup configuration, Boone said Chisholm could potentially serve as the leadoff hitter, but Domínguez is in the mix as well.

"Domínguez's DNA is that because he gets on a lot and has power and can really run, too," he said. "That's a positive. But he has a DNA that gets on while Bellinger and Jazz with their power and bat-to-ball, will play well in the middle [of the lineup]."

One possible configuration could be as follows if Domínguez proves effective in the leadoff role:

1. Domínguez
2. Judge
3. Bellinger
4. Stanton
5. Chisholm
6. Goldschmidt
7. Volpe
8. Wells
9. LeMahieu/Cabrera/Peraza

Expecting a 21-year-old with just 26 games of MLB experience to immediately serve as the leadoff hitter on a contender is no small ask, of course. The Yankees may end up with a revolving door atop the lineup.

"We're very left-handed, so it just depends who solves that leadoff spot and if it's one guy, or one guy vs. a righty, one guy vs. a lefty," Boone said. "I would prefer one guy... a perfect world you love rolling them out. The biggest thing is trying to have a guy that is getting on base at a high level in that No. 1 spot."

The Yankees pivoted well after losing Soto to the New York Mets and resolved a number of their most pressing needs this winter. Still, there remain a few uncertainties for the Bronx Bombers as they look to return to the World Series.