The Yankees have promoted outfielder Jasson Domínguez ahead of tonight’s game against the Royals at Yankee Stadium, the team announced. To make room on the active roster, they placed infielder DJ LeMahieu on the 10-day IL with right hip inflammation. In addition, the Yankees reinstated utility man Jon Berti from the 60-day IL. They had already cleared a spot for him on the 28-man roster by optioning outfielder Duke Ellis on Sunday. To make room for Berti on the 40-man roster, the team designated left-hander Anthony Misiewicz for assignment.
Domínguez made his hotly-anticipated MLB debut last September, putting up a .980 OPS and 160 wRC+ in eight games as the Yankees’ center fielder before he tore his UCL and required season-ending Tommy John surgery. The team reinstated him from the injured list this past June but optioned him to Triple-A rather than put him back on the active roster. It made enough sense at the time, considering New York’s crowded outfield picture; in addition to mainstays Aaron Judge in center and Juan Soto in right, Alex Verdugo was enjoying a solid season as the starting left fielder (108 wRC+, 1.1 FanGraphs WAR at the time). Moreover, Giancarlo Stanton was playing every day at DH. Thus, the Yankees decided to give Domínguez regular reps with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Yet, Verdugo has struggled tremendously over the past three months, batting .210 with a .568 OPS and 62 wRC+. Meanwhile, Domínguez has thrived over the past month at Triple-A, batting .318 with an .893 OPS and 132 wRC+ across his last 27 games. He has also 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts during that time. The 21-year-old was briefly called up to be the 27th man in a doubleheader last month, but he returned to the minors the next day. With the Yankees holding onto the slimmest lead (0.5 games) of any division leader in MLB right now, their hesitance to call up the star prospect seemed strange, to say the least. Now, however, that point of discussion is finally moot.
Domínguez would not have been called up if he weren’t going to get frequent playing time, a point that GM Brian Cashman emphasized last week (per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). Indeed, he will start tonight in center field and bat sixth in the Yankees’ lineup. Judge will DH, while Stanton takes the day off against Royals right-hander Brady Singer. The lefty batting Verdugo remains in the lineup, playing left field. It’s safe to presume that Domínguez will eventually take some playing time away from the floundering Verdugo, but he is also a valuable asset as a replacement for Judge in center field. The MVP candidate has held his own at the position, but he is better suited for a corner outfield spot. Furthermore, Judge could surely benefit from some days as the DH when he can stay off his feet for most of the game.
Berti, whom the Yankees acquired from the Marlins this past offseason, has spent almost the entire year on the injured list, first with a groin strain and more recently with a calf strain. He has played just 17 games for New York this year, 16 of them at third base. However, the 34-year-old can also play second base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions in a pinch. Berti is not in the starting lineup tonight, but he will provide the team with versatility off the bench.
LeMahieu has not played since last Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters that the veteran’s hip has been an issue for several weeks now, and it’s unclear if he will be able to return before the end of the regular season (per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News). That’s not necessarily much of a loss for the Yankees, considering the former batting champ is hitting .204 with a .527 OPS and 51 wRC+ in 67 games during his age-35 season.
Misiewicz, 29, first joined the Yankees as a waiver claim in July 2023. He re-signed with the organization on a minor league deal this past offseason, and the big league club selected his contract in June. The southpaw made one scoreless appearance for the Yankees before he was returned to Triple-A, where he has pitched to a 3.33 ERA in 54.0 innings this year.
The Yankees claimed Ellis, 26, off of waivers from the Mariners at the end of August. They promoted him to the big leagues when rosters expanded on September 1, and he appeared in three games, collecting one hit and one stolen base. He will return to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sayonara, Verdugo.
“Sayonara Verdugo”…”Doogie” says “hi” from LF after hitting a 2 run Homerun in the 4th inning of tonight’s game. He’s in tonight’s starting lineup versus the Royals.
The “Martian”, Dominguez, just scored after earlier getting his first hit of 2024. Yankees lead 3-2 thru 4 innings.
About time, we got to go all in not play politics or favorites with so much on the line. I gotta believe this is the year they finally ditch Boone and Cash if they don’t get it done, well at least make it to the World Series.
Boone might be gone but Cashman is there for life. Unfortunately.
Joe – Yeah my dream of Cora managing the Yankees has died.
As for replacing Cashman, at least Bloom is available ;O)
FPG the Yankees are in the middle of dealing with the most recent BoSox reject. Maybe wait a bit before getting another one. Mostly they don’t work out as well as the Babe, Boggs and Damon did.
Fever, I’d still like to see Bloom with a typical big market budget. Many of his trades worked out.
Bloom is with the Cardinals
Yes as an advisor, not truly running the show. He got castrated in Boston when many now realize he had one hand tied behind his back with the other handcuffed to John Henry.
Never forget how ellsbury did with the yanks
Who gave out the Trevor Story contract?
Ownership. it was considerably less than re-inking Boegarts. They lost on production but want in the pocketbook…
dewey – He didn’t make a lot of trades, but yeah the Pivetta and Abreu trades were great.
Who gets credit for Fitts, Bloom or Breslow?
dewey – It’s fair to share the blame between Henry and Bloom.
For instance John Henry didn’t tell Bloom to totally ignore drafting or signing young pitching prospects, that was all Bloom.
its – When Bloom did spend, it was mostly wasted money.
$10M on Richards?
$10M on Paxton?
$3M on Mondesi?
$3M on Marwin?
He was just clearly in over his head as POBO.
Clear way to tell, look at all the crappy players Bloom acquired that never played another MLB game after leaving the Red Sox ….. that’s always a really bad sign.
dewey – Noooooooo ……. Bloom gave Story $140M, Xander wanted $160M, Bloom offered Xander only $90M.
Fever I agree. I cannot believe any so called Boston fan is caping for Bloom. He was a disaster from the jump, and any good he did is called an expectation.
said but true. He won’t leave until he wants to. He’s an honorary member of the Steinbrenner family obviously.
unfortunately, I think Boone remains too
SD
“I gotta believe this is the year they finally ditch Boone and Cash if they don’t get it done, well at least make it to the World Series.”
Or, you could not believe that since it’s very unlikely
Hahaha, I got no skin in this game but that made me nearly spit out my food with laughter. In 55 years, I have never heard that.
Verdugo’s having an awful year
david – He’s not, his hands are.
World Series back on
Verdugo’s numbers are incorrect he’s got a wRC+ of 84 and is worth 0.6 war
I think what the writer was saying was at the time of the Jasson’s reinstatement and demotion in June, those were Verdugo’s numbers.
Reading comprehension is an important skill
Lets not overstate it. Once the headline has been absorbed, the article is optional.
stymee
“the article is optional.”
Largely true
Hookt awn Phonix wurkt 4 mee
Amazed we are doing as well as we are at this point. Hopefully this sparks us and we get it going to finish the season strong.
It’s due to that hot start they got off to. Since the beginning of July they’ve been a .500 team.
It’s not so much doing well as it is Baltimore doing just a little bit worse.
smd – Houston is the only AL contender that’s been doing well in the second half.
Burnes looks like he’s toast.
The Orioles have been down almost their entire starting rotation besides Burnes for most of the season while also being down their top three relievers and their All Star third baseman for most of the second half. The fact these two teams are so close shows the truly massive talent differential between the two organizations. The orioles are looking like a WS contender for the next 5+ years while the Yankees are having a best case scenario season with unimaginably good health – they should have brought up the Martian and been all in weeks ago in what looks like a very small window that had surprisingly opened for a decent but not great Yankees team. The mismanagement this season has been insane!
Cole missed the first half of the season, Stanton was down for awhile, Rizzo missed months, Schmidt just came back from an injury in May after looking like an All-Star, Gil missed sone time after being mostly dominant and the bullpen has been ravaged by injury all year.
But sure… unimaginably good health.
Let’s Gooooo!!!
whose being DFAed???
@thegreatgoodbye
Soto & Judge, who’ve done nothing as of late.
DJ has been put on the 10day IL with a hip issue…..nice phantom IL ….
Most players have a nagging something this time of year.
Why did they get Verdugo in the first place?
He’s normally a league average or better hitter with decent outfield defense. He’s not a star, but he should have been a decent placeholder for a year until they were certain Domínguez was ready.
The dude is just not consistently into the game. There are times when he can look like an AS, a little. Then just disappears for a couple of weeks. And he needs to lose that 4-pound necklace he wears.
JB
“he needs to lose that 4-pound necklace he wears.”
Why?
“The dude is just not consistently into the game.”
Yes, he is
“There are times when he can look like an AS, a little. Then just disappears for a couple of weeks.”
So, like every other player?
1-Just imho, the necklace interferes with his swing. Lots of players wear chains, but generally much, much smaller. It’s not a large difference, but you will run slower with the added weight.
2-Not every player has AS ability.
JB
“you will run slower with the added weight.”
Ahh. The Yankees’ hair policy now makes sense. Thanks.
get – The Yankees wanted to give Fitts an opportunity with another team. He pitched 6 innings yesterday and didn’t allow any earned runs, nice start for the kid.
Because Boston dumped him on the Yanks, so they could get the guy we should have gotten, Tyler O’Neill!
O’Neil will always be N injury waiting to happen. Even this year. Also, most of his homers are solo shots. I’d love to have him back if the team can move a lefty for pitching. I’ve been a big Ref fan but his second half has me alarmed and with Anthony likely up next year, I’d trade Abreu or even Duran if Yoshida is not movable. I’d love my four outfielders to be Ceddane, O’Neil, Anthony and either Abreu or Duran. When healthy, one can DH. Get pitching for the traded OFer and Yoshida and plug a defense first second baseman in and the team can compete if the relievers are also upgraded
Offer TON a QO. Then we get a pick, or we have him back for another year.
I’d make Hamilton our 2B next year.
I haven’t heard anyone else say this, but I always thought one of the things the Yankees considered in holding onto Verdugo, was being sure to give an established, veteran player sufficient rope to right his ship in a somewhat down year.
Especially in a “walk”, contract year.
I believe the Yankees felt this would buy them credibility and goodwill with the rest of the established veterans on their roster. I guess we’ll find out if it’s “Doogie” that is now shown the door.
I’m pretty sure Judge and Cole had a chat with Verdugo before this decision was made.
You haven’t heard anyone else say that because it’s not a good POV.
They hoped he turned it around and when a better, healthier option surfaced he was called up. Yankees aren’t in the business of trying to create credibility and goodwill with players, they are trying to win the division.
He has enough track record that they figured he would break out of the slump, he didn’t and now his playing time can be cut. It’s really not more complicated than that. Atleast for most of us, the ones who don’t just try to act smart in every comment
Judge appeared in Paw Patrol and stopped hitting (aired Aug 28) lmao Bobby Witt, Jr is the MVP
Peter Gammons level take right here
Troy – Whatever ails Judge can be easily cured with 4 games against Red Sox pitching.
Or the Orioles. I seen it.
@troy
Witt is MVP? judge leads him in homers, OBP, OPS, SLG, OPS+, and WAR…
Who is next on the chopping block when Cody Poteet is good to go?
Mayza probably.
Jasson is due, I hope he goes on a tear.
Lou Trivino is also nearing completion of his rehab assignment, so that is another good headache for Cashman.
I might add that it is HIGHLY likely that Jasson will be hitting leadoff, with Soto behind him.
He will be challanged by the opposing pitchers big time.
Why would they pull Gleyber out of the leadoff spot during his best stretch of the year?
Because it makes sense to get Jasson going,
Getting him the most possible AB’s to tune up at the major league level.
This is Torres AND Verdugo’s last September as a Yankee, Jasson needs AB’s.
It makes no sense. Just because Gleyber is gone doesnt mean he cant help us win this year. Getting Dominguez maybe 4-5 extra ABs makes little difference compared to disrupting Gleyber during his best stretch of hitting.
They’re keeping Torres at leadoff. He’s been doing OK there. Dominguez will probably bat seventh behind Stanton, Wells, and Jazz.
*batting sixth tonight
Makes sense.
I am shocked that Verdugo isn’t hitting behind him.
Jasson has proven that he can be streaky as all hell.
Why would Boonehead put him in a position to get pitched to and not around?
Jeez took long enough. Just keep DJ on the phantom IL the rest of season.
What gets me is that the Astros cut Abreu loose when it’s clear his skills have greatly deteriorated and they eat the rest of the contract yet Cashman doesn’t like to admit he’s wrong generally and they let LeMahieu stick around all season.
Bloom is in St Louis now. Been there all year. He will be taking over from Mo very soon
Goodbye Mr verdugo
I am so excited
He should be the regular starting CF next year and win ROY
I can’t recall any other 27-28 year olds flop completely on their face in contract years like Verdugo and Torres.
I’d say Torres has mostly turned it around at the plate. His defense and base running has always sucked. I’m hoping for a new third baseman next year (Jazz to move to second).
Don’t forget Clay Holmes and his league leading 11 blown saves!
🙂
Lol. Holmes will get at least three years guaranteed.
YBC,
I bet Cashman is stoked be doesn’t have to pay Torres or Verdugo next year so he can spend the money on Cardiac Clay. I can see the press conference for the signing now with Boone saying, “Clay has been our guy and we’re happy to have him back. He’s a true professional.”
Does Bellinger who was non-tendered by the Dodgers count?
I’d say the difference with Belli is that he was dealing with injuries. Torres and Verdugo have been 100% healthy.
Jazz should be at 2b and Dominguez should’ve been called up a while ago and given some playing time.
Should’ve found a 3b at the deadline. Didn’t have to be an all star just had to be competent.
The Martian has landed… for good??! Grats kid
I see your boys raising eyebrows out in the NL west. Happy that King and Higgy doing their thing out there.
Higgy is always solid. King has surpassed my expectations. Win-win trade. No Soto and the Yankees are on the outside staring at a wild card spot.
Word G, let’s meet again before ’25
😉
If the Yankees lose to Houston again in the playoffs I’m going to stay in seclusion for 3 days in the woods near my property and listen to “Hurt” by Johnny Cash on loop for 72 hours.
That almost sounds like a good three days even if they beat Houston.
Why is he called “The Martian”?
He was once referred to “El Marciano” or the martian for his training regimen and skills when he was younger in D.R. The nickname stuck.
Thanks YBC, I always thought it was because he was born there.
Dominguez projected for a 93 wRC+ by FG.
Verdugo for a 99 wRC+
Meaningless babble
The Martian is awesome
CM1
“Meaningless babble”
Thank you for the synopsis of your comment
He also hit 160 wRC+ in a 33 PA sample size in ’23 . C’mon dude. Lol. Judge and Soto needs rest and Verdugo has banged up legs according to Aaron Boone.
Verdugo had, quickly scans, a 122 wRC+ over 27 PA just over a week ago
C’mon chick. LOL.
Sure. I’m not saying to not bring him up. I’m just saying he’s more likely to be an average hitter than post those kinds of numbers.
Verdugo just hit a two-run HR. GOAT! Now back to the game…
We were all wrong about Verdugo. Sign him long term Cashman.
Austin Wells making a good case for AL ROY
not all projections are right though are they?
FSF
“not all projections are right though are they?”
Why do people only ever say this about projections?
Like, why don’t the [people] who say that say, “your wild guesses you pulled out of your [donkey] aren’t always right though, are they?”?
First, sample size. Anything can happen over a few weeks. The projection might be right and reality might be wrong
:waits for the laughter and jeers to die down:
If I asked you how a player, suppose I said Ohtani, would perform between now and the end of the season, most people would probably say something along the lines of what the projections say. But Ohtani might go off and blow those projections out of the water or he might slump.
The objection people have to projections are just trolling or anti-math ignorance
you typed all that because I said that not all projections are right,
“But Ohtani might go off and blow those projections out of the water or he might slump.”
This proves my point, people project ohtani to stay the same level through now to the end of the season, but you just said he could slump…which proves my point about not all projections being correct.
FbSF
No. It just proves that you don’t understand projections
If you flipped a coin 1000 times, you’d project a median projection of 500 tails. If you got 490 tails, your projection wouldn’t be wrong.
A projection DOES NOT MEAN that a player will perform exactly at that level. That’s dumb thinking. It means the player’s expected production is expected to be centered around that mean
You have an expectation for how a player will perform in a season. Right? If they don’t do EXACTLY that, are you wrong? You know the might do s little better or a little worse. You know there’s a smaller chance they will do a lot better or a lot worse
Projections are EXACTLY the same.
I just trust the projections more than I trust some rando. The projections have a proven track record, the rando doesn’t. The projections are systematic. The rando isn’t.
Typical overated Yankee prospect. After 8 games, Yankee fans act like hes the next Ken Griffey Jr. An 8 game sample size is nothing. Just look at 2020 KeBryan Hayes. Most delusional fan base in the game
Hey they all can’t be winners like “generational talent” Matt Harvey!
🙂
Whatever
“typical overrated Yankees prospect” then proceeds to name a pirates third baseman….lmao….
I don’t think you realize how good jasson is, 4 home runs in 8 games? pretty good….
And yes, Yankees fans are going to act like he’s the next Griffey because that’s how you want him to be! You could say every prospect is overrated, every team has a big time prospect you could consider “overrated” its just how baseball works.
@FamboySportsFan! You lack reading comprehension. Hayes was overated after 15 games in 2020 just like how Dominguez is right now. You don’t have a clue
Lack reading comprehension how?
I was simply stating my point on how he isn’t overrated, and how fans simply want him to have success….there is a difference.
To be fair, Matt Harvey reached the highest of heights that few can ever claim.
He dated Adriana Lima.
Thanks Duke, it was good to know you.
Move Jazz to second base. Hit Dominguez leadoff and bring Dock Ellis back from the dead to replace Duke Ellis on the roster, and make him the new closer. He couldn’t do any worse than Clay Holmes, with or without the LSD.
Entering tonight’s game, Jazz is hitting .316/.350/.596 and 12-for-12 in SBs while playing solid defense at 3B. Gleyber is hitting well at leadoff. Leave it alone.
Having a 20 HR/30 SB guy batting 5th definitely seems like a luxury in today’s game
They call him up knowing he will NOT be able to play in the postseason. So he will sit on the bench most games?
It’s all part of the mad genius plan by Cashman and Boone. See, once it’s playoff time, returning from the phantom IL will be DJ LeMahieu, a true hitting professional with batting titles in the bag. It’s very complicated but rest assured, DJ is going to turn it around in the bright lights of October!
On the 40-man roster prior to Sept. The Martian can play Oct. ball.
He can be on the playoff roster? Well now, ignore my sarcastic comment then!
Ignore mine too!
Um, he can be on the post season roster.
Even in a 10-4 win, this team feels weak. Every time Chisholm and Torres handle the ball it’s a gamble.
infield defense always seems to play a role in the postseason. rizzo will have to be a scoopmaster
It’s going to be even more fun watching this team play defense.
I would rather have the future of every al central team. Except the ws
There shouldn’t be a comma after “yet” in the paragraph below the picture.
so far the Martian has not set the world on fire.