With the signing of Randal Grichuk, the Yankees bring an official end to the Jasson Dominguez era

Open the Canyon of Heroes. Call out Mayor Mam! Rejoice! 

For six years, we've awaited the arrival of Jasson Dominguez, The Martian, the future star who would usher in a golden Yankee era, led by the greatest outfield in baseball. And today, we have an outcome:

Randal Grichuk.

 The Yankees are said to be signing the 34-year-old OF/DH - entering his 13th season, after he hit .228 last year. 

He'll platoon as a righty bat, likely replacing Trent Grisham against tough lefties, while Clay Bellinger plays center.

The Yankee brain trust - carefully avoiding big ticket stars - will spice last year's returning lineup with platoons at 1B, 3B, LF and CF. (Strangely, they still only employ LH catchers. and RH shortstops. Roster moves ahead?)

For Yank fans, the news of landing Grichuk brings the realization that Brian Cashman was not blowing smoke last week, when he suggested that Jasson Dominguez will start the year at Scranton. The addition of Grichuk means the Martian might just finish the year there, too. (Or more likely, he will be traded.)

At least through April, or until key Yankees fall to injuries, the Scranton outfield should look quite intriguing: Dominguez in LF, the much-hyped slugger Spencer Jones in CF, and the 23-year-old, scrap heap pickup, Yanquiel Fernandez in RF, (who two years ago was Colorado's big-hyped version of The Martian.) 

I don't mean to mock Grichuk, a serviceable MLB outfielder in this millennium. But for six years, Yank fans have been encouraged to follow Dominguez, and last season, he didn't look that terrible. He's fast. He can steal bases. He's only 22. And now... Randal Grichuk?

Somehow, I cannot escape the sense that these minor pickups, these existential scrap yard acquisitions, are the product of A.I. Using computer models, the Yankees plan to nickel-and-dime their way to the AL wild card, and then get lucky in the playoffs. It's a cynical strategy, and it robs us of one of the great joys of rooting for a team: Watching youngsters grow. 

With Dominguez, maybe it was always just hype. Maybe we're better off dealing with it now. But The Martian is going to leave soon, and he probably won't come back. 

And we have Randal Grichuk.