Is this how it ends for New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez?
New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez will not have a starting role for the team in 2026. That much we know.
But is it possible Dominguez won't even be on the big-league roster once the season begins?
The last several weeks, there has been speculation that Dominguez could begin the year in Triple-A, and that idea has picked up even more momentum recently.
Then, earlier this week, the Yankees swung a sneaky trade with the Athletics to land utility man Max Schuemann, who can play basically everywhere on the diamond. That includes all three outfield positions.
New York cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for Schuemann, indicating that the Yankees view him as a potential option for legitimate playing time.
What's more, Austin Slater — to whom New York offered a $1 million contract — signed with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, removing one of the Yanks' top candidates for the fourth outfielder role.
Is Schuemann going to be the guy for the Yankees, and does that mean Dominguez is about to lose out to a player who hit beneath the Mendoza line in 2025?
Max Schuemann. Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images.Schuemann slashed .197/.295/.273 with two home runs and 13 RBI over 213 plate appearances last season. Not ideal. During his first big-league season in 2024, he slashed .220/.311/.308 with seven homer and 34 RBI. Better, but still not good.
But with more and more conjecture surging around Dominguez's fading role in the Bronx, it stands to reason that the Yankees could be looking to replace the former top prospect with Schuemann.
It's no secret that Dominguez struggled in left field last season, but New York evidently has so little confidence in the 22-year-old improving his defense that it may actually be willing to play a batter with a lifetime .603 OPS over him. That's telling.
Dominguez still has a chance to become a serviceable player in this league, at least offensively. He showed decent offensive potential in 2025 with his solid 9.6 percent walk rate, although his lack of pop was concerning.
However, due to Dominguez's lack of a defensive position (remember when he was viewed as a five-tool talent in center field?), his offense needs to be really good in order for him to stick around.
We don't need to look too much further than Miguel Andujar — who managed an .822 OPS in 2025 and owns a respectable lifetime .282/.315/.441 slash line — to see how important defense is when it comes to assessing a player's value.
The fact that we have already reached this stage with Dominguez is depressing.
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