TBNL: Jasson Dominguez's future in NY might be in jeopardy

Questions about how the Yankees view Jasson Dominguez in the long term have started to come up more frequently. The once-heralded prospect may no longer be a concrete part of the team’s plans.

2025 was Dominguez’s first full season in the majors and, at least offensively, he looked like a league-average hitter. Dominguez slashed .257/.331/.388 (101 OPS+) in 429 PA with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, and 23 stolen bases. He also struck out 115 times (26.8 SO%). His role on the team and presence in the lineup diminished as the season went on. Dominguez got into 13 games and received just 20 plate appearances in September, then had just one at-bat in the postseason.

New York has been unwilling to discuss certain younger players — notably Anthony Volpe and Ben Rice — in potential trades in recent years. That same hesitation has not been extended to Dominguez.

Brian Cashman reportedly was willing to consider including Dominguez in a deal last offseason for the Astros’ Kyle Tucker (before he was dealt to Chicago). According to a report from Ryan Garcia at Empire Sports Media, Dominguez was offered to the Twins as part of a package for right-handed closer Jhoan Duran. The Twins declined and subsequently dealt Duran to Philadelphia for catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel.

There are no indications that the Yankees are necessarily shopping Dominguez around, but the team’s approach is somewhat telling. Dominguez’s future may largely depend on what the team does this offseason in free agency to address the outfield.

Dominguez burst onto the baseball world’s awareness when videos of the teenager’s workouts went viral on social media. He started drawing early comparisons to some of the sport’s most talented outfield athletes like Mickey Mantle, Bo Jackson, and Mike Trout. Some would say he was destined to be a Yankee — his father was a huge fan and actually named him after Jason Giambi — and he would sign with New York as an international amateur free agent as soon as the signing period opened in July 2019 (receiving a franchise-record $5.1 million bonus, which amounted to 90% of the team’s pool space that period).

The Martian’s climb through the Yankees’ minor leagues was swift. He’d debut at age 20 on September 1, 2023 — hitting a two-run home run to left field in Houston off of Justin Verlander on the second pitch he saw — but a tear in the UCL of his throwing arm would delay his full-time spot on the roster to this past season.

Scouts once felt confident that Dominguez could remain in center field, but that no longer seems to be the case. Each of his appearances in the field this past season came in left field, despite the growing worries that Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger had lost steps defensively in center field. The arrangement may have made sense last season, but it doesn’t appear the team is counting on Dominguez to slide over and take over center in 2026.

Grisham or Bellinger (or both) could return. The team has been speculated as a potential suitor for Kyle Tucker, who would need to play left with Aaron Judge firmly entrenched in right. Adding Tucker would likely mean the team needs to add a defensive-minded center fielder.

Silver Slugger Award winners in the National League were announced on Thursday (the AL winners come on Friday).

Soto, notably, became just the second player to win three consecutive Silver Slugger Awards with three different teams. The only other to do so was pitcher Mike Hampton.

I intended to share this yesterday when I first saw it. The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli put together what I think is one of the best pieces I’ve read all year: How did Mike Trout, the best baseball player of his generation, fade away?

This fun note was buried in The Windup, The Athletic’s daily newsletter from Levi Weaver and Ken Rosenthal: “Blue Jays fans John and Matthew Bains, father and son, hauled in Miguel Rojas’ ninth-inning homer and Will Smith’s 11th-inning shot in the left-field stands at Rogers Centre.” *eyeball emoji*