By Jon VankinShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberHeading into the 2024 season, he was the New York Yankees' No. 1 prospect. Signed for a hefty $5.1 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, and described by a Yankees scout as "an elite level athlete ... the kind of player who makes the hair on your arm stand up,” Jasson Domínguez was set to be, according to Empire Sports Media founder Alexander Wilson, "the undisputed face of the franchise for the next decade."
Now, less than two years after he topped the MLB Pipeline Yankees prospect rankings, Domínguez appears to be on the way out. Not only did ESPN's longtime baseball insider Jeff Passan list the 22-year-old as a trade candidate in his Tuesday roundup of players potentially on the trade block ahead of the MLB winter meetings, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has described Domínguez as a "fallback" option for the New York outfield in recent interviews, according to Pinstripes Nation reporter Esteban Quiñones.
..."I draw a major conclusion from that statement," WFAN-AM commentator Evan Roberts said on a Nov. 21 broadcast. "He does not believe in Jasson Domínguez."
With Aaron Judge patrolling right field and Trent Grisham, who somewhat surprisingly accepted the $22 million qualifying offer from the Yankees rather than test free agency, in center, the only place for Domínguez would be in left field. But if the Yankees succeed in bringing back free agent Cody Bellinger, Domínguez would become a spare part.
Quiñones cited reports Cashman attempted to trade Domínguez to the Minnesota Twins earlier this year.
"The deal fell through. But it revealed that the front office already views him as expendable when the right opportunity appears," the Pinstripes Nation scribe wrote.
More MLB: Yankees $5.1 Million Rookie Outfielder Called ‘Maybe Worst Defender of All Time’
"As a former top prospect and with plenty of time to develop, he would seemingly be wasted as a fourth-outfielder," wrote David Hill of Yardbarker about Domínguez on Tuesday. "Instead, he could be a useful trade chip for a team willing to take a chance on his pedigree and tools."
Fox Sports MLB writer Deesha Thosar last week also stated that the former top prospect is likely on his way out the door in the Bronx, especially if the Yankees bring back Bellinger.
"It’s hard to imagine a world in which Bellinger, Grisham, and Aaron Judge are patrolling the outfield and Domínguez (is) still on the 40-man roster," Thosar wrote. "In that scenario, expect a trade to be made."
While Domínguez has been serviceable at the plate, he has never quite lived up to his billing as the next "face of the franchise." In 2025, he managed just a .719 OPS with 10 home runs in 385 at-bats — though he did swipe 23 bases.
Currently playing winter ball in the Dominican for 17-time national champion Leones del Escogido, Domínguez has scraped together a mere six hits in 35 at-bats through nine games.
More MLB: Yankees GM Warns Defense-Challenged $5.1 Million Rookie to ‘Earn’ Place on Team
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