DALLAS — With Juan Soto’s defection to the Mets creating an opening in right field, a familiar face could man the position for the Yankees in 2025.

A strong right fielder for most of his career, Aaron Judge became a full-time center fielder to accommodate Soto in 2024. While Judge put an emphasis on protecting his body at times after a toe injury cost him two months in 2023, defensive metrics were not particularly kind to his efforts in the middle of the outfield.

For example, Judge’s -6 Outs Above Average ranked 39th out of 40 qualified center fielders.

So while the Yankees have been linked to Plan B possibilities in right field now that Soto is gone, don’t be surprised if Judge returns to the corner next season.

“It makes sense,” Brian Cashman said Monday at the Winter Meetings. “We’re not afraid to run him out in center like we’ve done, but it makes sense to have him over in right.”

Added Aaron Boone: “That’s always in play. The great thing about Judgey is he gives us that flexibility, not only with his ability but also his willingness to do whatever’s needed for the team. It’s too early in the sense that we don’t know what our team looks like heading into spring training in the middle of February. We’ll see what moves we make and don’t make and how it all shakes out.”

Moving Judge to right could create a lane for Jasson Domínguez in center, a possibility that Cashman noted.

Domínguez, hindered by injuries in 2024, was called up for a September audition in left field last season, but the natural center fielder failed to supplant the incumbent Alex Verdugo thanks in large part to poor defensive play. Despite the lackluster showing at an unfamiliar position, Boone believes that Domínguez is ready to be a full-time, major league center fielder. Of course, that doesn’t mean he won’t face competition for the job, as Cashman said, “I’m not anointing him our center fielder” just yet.

Such competition could include an elite, incumbent defender in Trent Grisham and new acquisitions.

“He’s certainly put himself in a position to be in consideration for anything,” Boone said of Domínguez. “If you look at it right now, he’s probably in there. I love the person and what I believe he can be as a player, but he’s also very young and very inexperienced to this point. So we’ll see how it all shakes out.”

Of course, nothing is set in stone for Judge or Domínguez, who planned on getting more reps in left this offseason.

With Soto bolting the Bronx, the Yankees have been linked to free agents Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández. Neither are good defenders, but they pack a punch at the plate. Santander only played right for the Orioles last season, while Hernández can also play left.

The free agent market for center fielders is uninspiring, but the Cubs’ Cody Bellinger has also come up in trade rumors. He can play right, center and first base, where the Yankees also have a question mark. Houston right fielder Kyle Tucker is also a potential trade candidate, as he’s scheduled to hit free agency after the 2025 season.

One player who likely won’t factor into the Yankees’ outfield plans is Jazz Chisholm Jr. He transitioned from second to center in Miami before learning third base with the Yankees last season.

Cashman said he prefers Chisholm playing the infield.

____

©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.