The string of injuries has made the Yankees scratch their head over the potential lineup. While losing Juan Soto shuffled the lineup for the Bronx, the injuries of Luis Gil, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gerrit Cole made things worse. It opened the door for multiple prospects to fill the gaps, and the most hyped one was Jasson Dominguez. The 22-year-old power hitter burst into the scene when he hit a home run off the first swing on his MLB debut day in 2023. However, things took a u-turn when the Yankees placed him in the left field. 

Why so? Because the Yankees got Cody Bellinger in the centerfield, and Dominguez’s hitting prowess is too good to lose. For the unversed, this spring, Dominguez is standing with 2 home runs and a walk, till this Thursday. But there’s an issue with his LF position. Remember his misfield in the spring game against the Tigers, when he failed to secure the fly ball?

Dominguez is deemed successful as per the Yankees’ pitcher, Max Fried. “He wants to be great at it. The work ethic is there,” he added. Regardless of this hype, Dominguez is still getting rumored to get traded!

Yes, while Fried’s statement confirms Dominguez’s long-term plan with the team, MLB’s insider Rucker Haringery thinks otherwise. “Bringing Michael King back to the Bronx is one interesting possibility,” he said. While the Yankees’ pitching rotation looks weak in the absence of Gil and Cole, the addition of the Padres’ star, Michael King, can add value.

But at what cost?

According to Haringey, it’s Jasson Dominguez. While Dominguez is a probable trading option, considering he is not playing in his staple centerfield, the Yankees might not risk his hitting power to get a pitcher. 

The Yankees’ breakthrough lineup includes Dominguez 

It’s unlikely now that Jasson Dominguez will get traded. In the absence of Gil and Cole, the starting rotation is projected to include Max Fried, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt. Max Fried pitched 174.1 innings in 29 starts during the 2024 MLB season, with a 3.25 ERA, 11-10 record, and 166 strikeouts.

On the other hand, Stroman is coming up with a 10-9 record with 4.31 ERA. Rodon also had an impressive last year, going 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA and 195 strikeouts. So yes, not as devastated as it looks.

At the plates, the Yankees have Paul Goldschmidt, Jazz Chisholm, and Oswaldo Cabrera. These three are coming up with 54 homers from the last year, and this is one area where the Yankees could leverage on Dominguez. He is an established third baseman and can bring better value, adding home runs to the board.

Irrespective of their few starting players missing the scene, the Yankees can pull a few miracles with their prospects. Players like Dominguez and Chisholm can offer better athleticism to the team this year. 

Nevertheless, Dominguez seems to stay with the Bronx, and hopefully, he will bring value to the left field this year. Do you think Dominguez should be traded for a pitcher? Share your views with us below.