Despite Alex Verdugo’s struggles during both the regular season and October, the New York Yankees consistently started him in left field instead of giving opportunities to Jasson Dominguez, one of baseball’s top prospects. While Dominguez had his difficulties during a brief stint with the team this past season, there’s a strong case to be made that with more playing time, his performance could have significantly improved.
Even with a better version of Dominguez, the Yankees likely wouldn’t have won the World Series. However, it would have been more encouraging to see the franchise’s premier prospect in action rather than relying on Verdugo, who statistically ranked among the league’s worst regular players.
This decision raises questions about how much the Yankees truly believe in Dominguez as part of their future. Is he genuinely viewed as a cornerstone player for the franchise, or is his potential being mismanaged?
Instead of leaving Dominguez’s role uncertain and potentially diminishing his trade value, as has happened with other young players like Oswald Peraza, Deivi Garcia, and Estevan Florial, the Yankees might consider trading him while his stock remains high. A proposal from Anthony Castrovince outlines one such trade scenario:
New York Yankees
Receive:
- OF Luis Robert Jr.
- LHP Jake Eder (Chicago White Sox No. 22 prospect)
Chicago White Sox
Receive:
- OF Jasson Dominguez (MLB No. 14 prospect)
Such a move could provide the Yankees with an established outfielder while avoiding the risk of further diminishing Dominguez’s value.
Trading Jasson Dominguez ensures that the Yankees won’t do what Brian Cashman has done many times before
There are valid arguments on both sides regarding whether this trade is fair. Luis Robert, an All-Star outfielder, is undoubtedly a valuable player, yet the Chicago White Sox would also be including a prospect in the deal for an unproven talent.
On the other hand, Robert’s career has been hindered by injuries, and aside from a breakout 2023 season, his overall performance has been underwhelming. He struggled significantly in the 100 games he managed to play this past season. For the Yankees, giving up six years of affordable club control over Jasson Dominguez for Robert and a mid-level prospect might seem excessive.
That said, both teams could stand to benefit from this trade. While Robert has some concerns, he’s demonstrated superstar potential at the MLB level. A change of scenery to a winning environment might help him achieve that consistency. For the White Sox, although they’d lose a prospect and Robert, Dominguez brings a potentially higher ceiling and six years of team control, aligning better with their long-term goals.
From the Yankees’ perspective, while they’d lose control and need to spend more money, pairing Robert with Juan Soto (assuming Soto is re-signed) and Aaron Judge could create one of the best outfields in baseball. Dominguez may become an elite player in the future, but for a team focused on winning in 2025, Robert provides a more immediate impact.
If the Yankees are serious about giving Dominguez regular playing time, trading him for Robert might not make sense. However, since they’ve yet to fully commit to him, exploring this trade or a similar move could align better with their “win now” mindset.
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