The Yankees and Tigers square off in Williamsport tonight for the Little League Classic, and due to the special nature of the game, both clubs are allowed to add a 27th player to their active rosters. The two teams have each addressed this extra roster spot in a particularly noteworthy way, as the Yankees called up star prospect Jasson Dominguez from Triple-A and the Tigers activated outfielder Riley Greene from the 10-day injured list.
While Dominguez is in tonight’s starting lineup, it looks like it’ll just be a cup of coffee in the majors for the 21-year-old, as Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch) that Dominguez will be returned to Triple-A after the game. Obviously plans could change in the event of an injury, but for now, it looks like the Yankees are just utilizing the right-hitting Dominguez to spell lefty-swinging Alex Verdugo in left field since southpaw Tarik Skubal is starting for Detroit.
Tonight will mark Dominguez’s first MLB game since last September, when he hit .258/.303/.677 with four homers in his first 33 plate appearances in the big leagues. However, just as “the Martian” appeared to be living up to the hype, he had to undergo Tommy John surgery, which kept him on the shelf until he returned for a rehab assignment in single-A ball in mid-May. Dominguez quickly moved back up the ladder to Triple-A but then suffered an oblique strain in June that kept him out of action for another six weeks.
Dominguez is hitting .298/.365/.477 with seven homers over his 167 combined PA at three levels of the Yankees’ farm system this season, so while he isn’t dominating minor league pitching, his numbers are still quite solid (especially for a player battling so many injuries). Under normal circumstances, he would likely be in the majors already if it wasn’t for the crowded nature of New York’s outfield picture. Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Verdugo are the starting outfield trio, and Giancarlo Stanton has the DH spot on lockdown, leaving little room for Dominguez to find regular playing time.
GM Brian Cashman stated last week that “There’s currently no lane for us to bring him [up]. It’s nice to know he’s there. He’s just knocking rust off and waiting for his opportunity if it comes.” Tonight’s one-game cameo doesn’t really counter Cashman’s statement, as the team would surely prefer to see Dominguez continue his development with regular reps in Triple-A rather than only sporadic playing time in New York. It is worth noting that Verdugo has been in a deep slump for over three months now, so as we continue down the stretch to the postseason, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Dominguez promoted to take the lion’s share of work in left field.
Greene last played on July 25, as a right hamstring strain has kept the outfielder sidelined for the better part of a month. The Tigers don’t need to make a corresponding roster move today because of the 27th man rule, but some kind of roster adjustment will need to be made before Detroit’s next game, on Tuesday against the Cubs.
Now in his third Major League season, Greene has continued to take strides as a budding star for the Tigers, hitting .264/.357/.485 with 17 home runs over 427 PA. Between this production at the plate and some excellent glovework as Detroit’s primary left fielder, Greene has already generated 2.8 fWAR, and his success was acknowledged with his first All-Star nod. While the Tigers haven’t yet turned the corner in their rebuild process, Greene certainly looks like a cornerstone player within the club’s future plans.
No reason this guy is in the minors with the way grisham and verdugo have played.
They’re keeping Dominguez in the minors long enough for him to keep rookie eligibility for next year. He can’t exceed 130 at bats in the regular season
Like the Yankees really care about that. They can pay any player whatever they want when they need to
They care. It adds to his trade value.
Teams with a player winning ROY get a draft pick.
I’m curious how winning ROY adds to his trade value. With modern analytics a players value is pretty much stable regardless of whether they win an award. For example if Gunner Henderson had used up his rookie eligibility in 2022 and still had the year he had last year ( and this year) he would still be valuable. Most teams ( even Oakland) have scouts so they aren’t going to base trade decisions based on the judgment of sports writers. ( No offense to sports writers).
This is not George’s team. This is a team that is more interested in bringiing in the dollars. They payout less money on players like most small market teams in comparisons to the amount of profit they make every year.. The big name contract players Cole, Soto, and Judge only play to put fill the seats. No Championships as long as Hal is in control.
It’s less than that. He had 31 abs last year.
Insane to me that the Yanks are holding him back when money matters very little to them. I know, they want him to play every day, whatever, they need to try and win.
They are leading the ALE and have the best record in the American League. Sounds like they aren’t just trying to win, they are winning.
This isn’t like the old Yankees. The Steinbrenner in charge hasn’t lived up to his father’s legacy at all. The fact it’s even a question of whether the Yankees will resign Soto or not this offseason says it all. The Giants a few years back managed to be in the running to sign Judge. Do you think George would’ve ever let Jeter even get to that stage with another team? It’s amazing how teams like the Yankees and Red Sox cry poor while the Dodgers actually spend.
George was good for the Yankees but he had major flaws as well. If he hadn’t been suspended by MLB and Stick Michael didn’t continually lie to George about the prospects, the late 90s dynasty would never have happened. George was doing his best to trade Williams, Rivera, Jeter etc.
People forget the god awful teams George put on the field in the 80s.
I don’t forget it. You are right in that people have their flaws. I guess it comes down to what you want. Do you want your team to essentially be a B to B+ for a very long time where you make the playoffs a ton, but never truly challenge for a World Series? Or do you want someone more volatile who is willing to go all in at times costs be damned to win it all? It kind of reminds me of the Flyers under Ed Snider vs under Comcast. One wanted a cup while the other wanted a profitable and popular enough franchise to be a good financial asset.
My problem with Hal isn’t his unwillingness to carry a $400 million dollar payroll and throw temper tantrums. He is right that they shouldn’t have to go past $300 million. My problem with him is his loyalty to Cashman. Cashman has handed out some dumb contracts that have put the Yankees behind the eight ball.
Ahh… but for all their spending, .the Dodgers have won one less World Series in the 2000s than the Yankees, and the Red Sox have won four so maybe a bad comparison? George would probably have quite a battle in the current MLB climate as he would be, in terms of cash, one of the poorest MLB owners, not the richest.
I mean, I’ve seen enough of Verdugo, he’s the very definition of an average player both offensively and defensively and no need to worry about re-signing him, so there’s not really a reason to tune up Dominguez if only for the last month of the season and the playoffs. .
Sometimes it’s not about money but control, if holding him back 2 weeks can add a year or get an extra draft pick they will hold him back
“Ever let Jeter even get to that stage..Yankees and Redsox cry poor”…You do realize that historically the Yankees are the biggest spending team in MLB by a rather wide margin? Even the Redsox have been a top 10 spending team the overwhelming majority of the last 20 years. As for Derek Jeter, I cannot remember if George Steinbrenner was still alive(and running things), but the Yankees essentially told Derek Jeter to take their offer or find another team willing to beat it during negotiations on his very last contract. The Yankees called Jeter’s bluff and essentially showed they were willing to let him go to another team if he didn’t like their last offer.
“When money matters very little to them”…You clearly do not understand the nuances or finer points of MLB. Teams manage their player resources in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. Suggesting that a team worth $5B+ is keeping a minimum salary player in the minor leagues for financial reasons is naive at best. I’m not going to write 500 words explaining to you how MLB actually works when I’ve already heard a few people explain to you why J. Dominguez has been in the minors until very recently.
The Red Sox got the majority of those titles from their best GM in franchise history who they then blamed for the bad behavior of players in one season and tossed him aside like he was nothing. They also traded Mookie Betts, who should have retired a Red Sox player and been one of their best players of all time, for a bag of baseballs and to save money. The Red Sox of 2004 deserve respect. The Red Sox of 2024 are a joke bc and an embarrassment.
If they wanted to sign Soto for sure, they could have packaged Stantons’ contract with top prospects…to create financial flexibility.
They either have no intention of signing Soto or have decided the luxury tax is irrelevant.
The deadline has passed. Teams can call up players now and preserve Rookie eligibility for next season. It’s exactly why Tigers called up Jung and Sweeney a cpl days ago
There’s no “deadline”. There’s a limit on ABs or innings pitched. Jasson played a few games last September so he is closer to that threshold than players who have never been called up before.
Keeping his roy eligibility for ’25 for sure but also making sure he paces himself properly rehabbing from the oblique strain. He’ll be one of the 2 extra player come Sept 1. If he plays well he’ll be starting LF’er in the playoffs.
The rookie eligibility has some credence. The ability to add a pick is a major benefit.
Another factor for a player with Dominguez’s hype is marketability. If he were to win ROY that just adds to mystique which equates to $ for the franchise.
It’s most beneficial to the player who can sign endorsements. All licensed merchandise revenue is shared by the league. Any boost in attendance is going to be a minimal to a higher attendance franchise like NY compared to a bottom half attendance team. For a team it’s much more about ad revenue in broadcasting, which having a young star can help immensely.
The Tigers were running on his arm. It didn’t look ready.
Dominguez is not a righty. He switch hits. Please know more than sabermetrics when writing an article.
Nitpick much? Mark is indicating that Dominguez will be right-swinging against a lefty in Skubal.
The way it’s phrased suggests that Dominguez only hits righthanded.
Everyone, mute pedants. Allow them to only interact with each other
I agree. Let’s start with you. Ahahaha!
I will decline.
Then let’s start with you instead. Ahahaha!
I was talking to John, not you Riddler. I should have made that clear.
Interesting 27th man rule
Greene still leading AL LF in OPS. .20 behind Profar for MLB lead. I like his chances.
Only MLB OF ahead of them are Judge and Soto
What is the nature of this game that allows for a 27th man?
“Special Travel”
In other words, an abnormal road game/series.
Probably for the Little League players to get a chance to meet more MLB players? That would be my guess.
It’s more likely due to additional travel to and from Williamsport.
Tarik Skubal to The Yankees starts with the martian but maybe a little Shot in the dark , wishing on a prayer , Hail Mary subliminal showcase on Cashman’s part?
Lol
It feels like Malloy will go down for a few days, but who knows ? Do they release a Mckinstry, and bring him back on a minor league deal ? Or let a team claim him ? Who Knows, but they are going in for the win tonight. GO TIGERS.
McKinistry. Malloy has nothing to prove on the farm and Sweeney (or preferably Baez) can take over McKinistry’s role.
Well it’s only for 2 weeks, so who knows ? Probably all guys with options will be wondering, and so will Mckinstry. With the day off, and holding cards close to the vest, we the fans will be all waiting awhile, it’s a hoot !
We all thought he was gone when Sweeney and Jung came up so maybe that cat has a few more lives left 😉
They should let Malloy stay and get ABs the rest of the year. McKinstry is not a part of the future. Malloy may not be either, but he has a better chance of being a future bench piece than Zach.
That said, watch them keep Zach, the kind of guy managers like having, despite their pedestrian numbers.
Well if that was the end, he went in a blaze of glory.
McKinstry almost single handedly won that game with the RBI hit in extras, followed by stolen base for scoring position then hustling in Turbo mode to score from 2nd on essentially a hard ground ball to left field…if THAT was the type of Zach we saw on a regular basis we aren’t even having this convo.
It should be noted too he has If/OF versatility, is one of the few SB threats and has actually been solid since mid July with the bat….and this comes from someone who has been calling for a McKinstry DFA since Harvey came back
You called that one dude! Malloy goes down. Cheers.
T.Y. I’m still hoping for that 33-4, and they can do well by sweeping this Chicago series with both of those teams. This team is really playing well, and the new guys are looking pretty good. The fans will really be on Javy this week, but he’s a pro, and that type of animosity charges him up
It’s going to be a fun two series to watch. Sure wish that spark plug Perez was healthy too. If they can win all 7 there can you imagine the roar when they get back home ? I hope Tork can be a everyday player, and I hope one of the left handed power bats can get cross trained at first. I would like to see Tork refresh himself at third again too. Well, that’s all off season stuff. This Chicago set will be a fun watch.
I initially read this as these two players would be playing for little league teams. Imagine a ten year old pitching to one of them?
Dominguez is usually a jerk towards fans, but he’ll probably pretend to be Mr Nice Guy tonight.
It’s not going to get better for him with the fans after that weird double-clutch to lose the game
Can someone help explain the 27th man rule? I was hoping the article would but it does not
“SPECIAL EVENT” games, IE games played at places that aren’t one of the 30 MLB Ballparks, whether Mexico City, Japan, Montreal or like this one, are subject to the same rules as Doubleheaders are — teams can call up one extra player for the game(s). Usually it’s pitchers with doubleheaders of course.
Basically it’s a one day free extra roster spot to be used as a team sees fit.
See you in September, Jasson, when you take over left field from Verdugo.