Jasson

Dominguez

Many people expected Dominguez to be a big part of the Yankees in 2024 after he hit .314/.376/.504 in 58 minor league games with 11 home runs and 16 steals. Yet, Boone continued to play struggling Alex Verdugo in left field over Dominguez. With Verdugo and Juan Soto both free agents, there may be space for Dominguez in 2024, but it depends on how the roster shakes out. The 21-year-old has played 239 minor league games in center field but just 58 in left field and one in right field. If the Yankees re-sign Juan Soto, they would be forced to leave Aaron Judge in center and make Dominguez adapt to left field, where he has struggled in the past. If Soto were to leave in free agency, then Judge could move to right field and Dominguez could play his more natural center field.

Verdugo over Jasson Domínguez was expected, but Cabrera over Ben Rice is a surprise. Cabrera didn’t play much in September, going 6-for-25 during the final month of the season. He made five starts at first base over the course of the year. The Yankees lineup: 2B Gleyber Torres, RF Juan Soto, CF Aaron Judge, C Austin Wells, DH Giancarlo Stanton, 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr., SS Anthony Volpe, 1B Cabrera, LF Verdugo.

This isn’t a huge surprise. While the Yankees maintained that Jasson Dominguez would play everyday once he was called up, that wasn’t the case. Assuming the Yankees use their best hitting lineup with Aaron Judge in center, Juan Soto in right and Giancarlo Stanton at DH, Dominguez will find himself on the bench with Verdugo in left field to begin the playoffs.

One of those options for left field is Jasson Dominguez, and Boone did state that he expects the 21-year-old to play a “big part” in their postseason plans. That doesn’t mean he’ll be in the lineup everyday, however, and the Yankees may want to ease the talented outfielder into action. Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham are other options for the Yankees, but don’t be surprise if The Martian is in the lineup against either the Orioles or Royals when that series begins.

Jasson Domínguez went 0-for-3 today, as both played with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto resting. That won’t happen in the postseason, of course. We’re guessing the Yankees will favor Verdugo in the ALDS, in part because of Domínguez’s defensive issues. Still, we’ll have to wait and see. Verdugo ends the year at .233/.291/.356 in 621 plate appearances. A free agent this winter, he’d benefit as much as anyone in the league from having a strong October.

Domínguez has started 10 of 14 games since his callup Sept. 9 and has hit .219/.342/.438. Verdugo has started eight games during the same span and hit .130/.200/.130.

The two-run homer checked in at 397 feet. Domínguez has been shakier than expected on defense since his callup two weeks ago, but the bat is coming along. He’s at .222/.333/.417 in 42 plate appearances this month.

He also worked a walk. Domínguez’s homer was a 414-foot shot to center off Bryan Woo. He’s 4-for-20 with just the one RBI since being called up last week.

That will allow both Alex Verdugo and Jasson Domínguez start in the outfield. Aaron Boone was forced to reveal the plan tonight because of questions regarding Domínguez’s absence.

The Yankees are probably hoping for a little Verdugo magic against his former team; he has gone 13-for-42 with two homers and four doubles in nine games against the Red Sox this season. Still, this usage just makes all of the Domínguez-everyday player talk out to be a lie.