TAMPA, Fla. — Jasson Dominguez arrived at spring training this month with a clear goal. The 23-year-old outfielder wanted to prove he belongs on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. He had every reason to believe he had a real shot at one of the open bench spots.
That path just got significantly harder.
The Yankees signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp on Wednesday night, as first reported by Jack Curry of the YES Network. On the surface, it is a modest transaction. But the ripple effect could reshape Dominguez’s immediate future with the organization.
Dominguez was already fighting an uphill battle
Even before Grichuk’s signing, Dominguez faced a crowded outfield picture. Cody Bellinger is locked in as the starting left fielder after re-signing on a five-year, $162.5 million deal in January. Trent Grisham holds down center field. Aaron Judge is in right. Giancarlo Stanton is the primary designated hitter.
That left the bench as Dominguez’s only realistic path to the 26-man roster. He is a switch-hitter, but his numbers are stronger from the left side. That matters because the Yankees’ bench was already overloaded with left-handed bats. Spencer Jones swings left. Non-roster invitees Seth Brown and Yanquiel Fernandez are both lefties as well.
What the Yankees needed most was a right-handed hitter who could handle left-handed pitching. Dominguez does not fit that description as neatly as the front office would like.
Grichuk gives the Yankees exactly what they were hunting for
Brian Cashman spent the entire winter searching for a right-handed outfield bat on the cheap. Two weeks into camp, he found one. Grichuk, 34, is a 12-year MLB veteran who has played for six organizations: the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Rockies, Angels, Diamondbacks and Royals.
His career numbers against left-handed pitching are the reason the Yankees came calling. Over 12 big league seasons, Grichuk has hit .268 with an .819 OPS against lefties. In 2024 with Arizona, he was especially effective, posting a .319 average and .913 OPS against southpaws.
Last season was a step back. Grichuk hit .228 with nine home runs and 27 RBI across 113 games split between the Diamondbacks and Royals. His numbers against lefties dipped to a .227 average and .703 OPS, though he still managed a .430 slugging percentage in those matchups.
He is a career .253 hitter with five seasons of 20 or more home runs. His peak power year came in 2019 with Toronto when he hit 31 home runs and drove in 80 runs. His best overall line came in 2024, when he batted .291 with 12 homers and 46 RBI for the Diamondbacks.
The plan is for Grichuk to compete for a bench spot as a platoon left fielder against left-handed starters. In those games, Bellinger would slide to center field. Defensively, Grichuk grades out as a below-average fielder with a very strong throwing arm, according to Baseball Savant.
Why Triple-A might be the best thing for Dominguez right now
Here is the uncomfortable truth for Dominguez supporters. Even if the Yankees value his talent, keeping him on the bench as a part-time player may not serve his development. He is 23 years old. He still has minor league options. And he needs at-bats.
Sending Dominguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he could play every day, might be more beneficial than having him sit behind Bellinger, Grisham and Judge in a reserve role. The Yankees faced a similar decision with other young players in previous years and consistently opted for development over a limited big league role.
The addition of Grichuk makes that decision easier. If Grichuk wins the platoon job, the Yankees get a veteran right-handed bat who is better suited for the specific role they need to fill. Dominguez gets everyday reps in the minors. Both outcomes have value.
Dominguez still has a path back to the Bronx
None of this means Dominguez is out of the Yankees’ plans. He remains one of the organization’s most exciting young players and a switch-hitter with legitimate power potential. Injuries have slowed his progress at times, but the talent has never been in question.
If Dominguez tears it up at Triple-A, he could be the first call-up when a roster spot opens. Injuries happen. Players get traded. Grichuk himself is on a minor league deal with no guarantees. The landscape can shift quickly.
But right now, the message from the Yankees front office is clear. Cashman wanted a right-handed bat who could handle lefties off the bench. He found one. And Dominguez, for all his potential, does not check that specific box as well as a 12-year veteran with a career .819 OPS against southpaws.
Spring training is still young. Grichuk has to earn his spot. Dominguez can still force the Yankees’ hand with a standout camp. But the signing on Wednesday night changed the math. And right now, that math does not favor the 23-year-old.
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