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.
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5 comments:
The organization’s moves make little sense on the surface, but if you dive a little deeper their goals become apparent. We’ve delineated them to no end here, and as Duque pointed out the team’s cynicism is palpable. Dominguez was hyped as the next big thing, even compared to Mickey Mantle. Now, the team appears happy to relegate him to Scranton., replaced by Grichuk, 34 years old and coming off the worst season of his career. Watching JD, I never got the feeling I was watching a superstar in the making, but certainly he deserves more of a shot than the team has offered. Perhaps we’ll see him again when the inevitable injuries occur. I wish him the best of luck however it plays out.
So here's one for ya...
Giancarlo Stanton Battles Elbow Pain for Full Yankees Season
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The 36-year-old power hitter has bilateral tennis elbow that's lingered since early 2024, limiting simple tasks like twisting off bottle caps despite offseason rest. Stanton shared the details during spring training in Tampa, insisting surgery won't fix it for his high-force swings and prioritizing at-bats over excuses. The Yankees plan to ease him back with rest days and a March 3 debut, after his strong 2025 bounce-back of .273 average, 24 homers, and 66 RBIs in 77 games. Fans mix sympathy with jokes about his injury history, while he eyes his 500th homer and a World Series ring.
I'll say one thing for the big guy. He's tough as nails. Though his nails might hurt, also.
"This is merely not pushing through soreness; it's functioning at an elite level in baseball while having a problem that would put most people out of action even in their normal lives."
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