Yankees’ Cashman Explains Why Jasson Domínguez Wasn’t Promoted amid Verdugo Struggles

Andrew PetersSeptember 6, 2024

Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Amid criticism over his decision not to promote top outfield prospect Jasson Domínguez as Alex Verdugo continues to struggle, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman explained the move.

Cashman said his decision is one he made with the team’s postseason hopes in mind.

“It just comes down to what’s the best to help us win games?” Cashman said, per the New York Post’s Greg Joyce (h/t The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty). “It’s as simple as that.”

Cashman added that while Domínguez has performed well, Verdugo has also upped his game recently.

“Jasson is doing everything he needs to do right now and Verdugo is playing better baseball recently,” Cashman said, via the report. “The evaluations that we’re having with our field staff and player development staff, front office staff, is just what is going to give us the best chance to win.”

Across 55 games in the minors this season, Domínguez has notched 11 home runs, 34 RBI and a .318 batting average. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter considers Domínguez to be the Yankees’ top prospect and the eighth overall outfield prospect.

Verdugo has struggled in his first season with New York, hitting 11 homers, 56 RBI and recording a .235 batting average in 134 games. His play has improved recently as he’s hit .342 with a .796 OPS over his last 11 games, which is seemingly enough for Cashman to believe he’s a better option for the remainder of the year.

According to Kuty, Cashman kept the option of promoting Domínguez before the end of the season.

“Cashman added that the Yankees want Domínguez to continue to play every day and that the club could still change its mind and promote him, the report said,” Kuty wrote. “That would indicate that if they promoted Domínguez now, they believe he wouldn’t be their best daily option.”

Even with Verdugo struggling some this season, the Yankees have thrived and have virtually no threat of missing the playoffs, barring a late-season collapse. New York is 80-60 on the year and has traded places with the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the AL East over the past few weeks.

The Orioles currently sit in the top spot, but the Yankees are just a game behind them and have plenty of time to reclaim the top seed before the end of the year.