Despite Alex Verdugo’s struggles during the regular season and in October, the New York Yankees consistently used him as their starting left fielder, instead of giving more playing time to Jasson Dominguez, one of the top prospects in baseball.
Although Dominguez didn’t perform well during his brief time with the Yankees last season, there’s a strong argument that with more playing time, his performance could have improved.
While it’s unlikely that an improved Dominguez would have made the difference in the Yankees’ pursuit of a World Series title, it would have been more satisfying to see the organization’s top prospect getting playing time over Verdugo, who statistically was among the least productive regulars in the league.
The Yankees’ reluctance to give Dominguez more opportunities in favor of Verdugo raises questions about the team’s faith in Dominguez’s future with the franchise. Is he truly part of their long-term plans?
Rather than keeping Dominguez’s future uncertain and potentially harming his value—as has been the case with other young players like Oswald Peraza, Deivi Garcia, and Estevan Florial—trading him now while his value is still high for an established outfielder could make sense.
Anthony Castrovince proposed a potential trade to prevent the Yankees from damaging Dominguez’s worth further.
The trade proposal involves the Yankees receiving outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and left-handed pitcher Jake Eder, while sending Dominguez to the Chicago White Sox.
While Robert has been injury-prone and struggled at times, his potential to be a superstar is evident. For the White Sox, Dominguez offers high upside and comes with six years of control, making him a better fit for their timeline.
For the Yankees, acquiring Robert could solidify their outfield, especially if they can add Juan Soto, forming an elite trio alongside Aaron Judge. Though Dominguez could be an elite player in the future, the Yankees should prioritize winning in 2025, and Robert might offer a better immediate impact.
