Jasson Dominguez Squeezed Out in Yankees Roster Move Before Toronto Series

Once considered a Rookie of the Year frontrunner, Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez will now find it even harder to get at-bats. The Yankees reinstated Austin Slater before Friday night’s series-opener against the Blue Jays, adding to an already overcrowded outfield. 

Catcher J.C. Escarra was the one sent down in the move, but it's Dominguez's role that is most affected.

Since Aaron Judge returned from the injured list on Aug. 5, he has locked down DH role because his elbow has not allowed him to play the outfield yet. In that time,  Domínguez has been more ghost than Martian. 

He’s popped up in just 18 games, with his plate appearances cratering even as his season totals (.253/.325/.712, 10 homers, 21 steals) suggest he’s earned more time. But the splits tell the story of why Slater is here.. Against lefties this year, he’s batting .204 with a .279 OBP and a .569 OPS across 104 plate appearances with one homer to show for it. That’s not someone a manager is giving late-season at-bats in a playoff race.

Slater’s a right-handed bat tailor-made for these moments, slashing .814 OPS in 81 plate appearances vs. lefties this year, with a career .795 OPS against southpaws. Before the deadline, he was torching them at an .859 clip.

 That’s a bankable skill the Yankees clearly value.

With Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Slater, Dominguez is going to have fewer chances to start. With Amed Rosario and Jose Caballero lurking as Swiss-army options, he’s even further away.  Now, Domínguez is a luxury item who only plays if the matchup or inning demands it.

September rosters may expand, but for Domínguez, things are only getting tighter. This is a zero-sum game, and right now, Domínguez is losing the count.