Blockbuster Alert? Yankees Predicted to Dump $5.1M Rookie in Wild Giants Trade

In the top of the seventh inning at Fenway Park on Saturday, the Yankees trailed the Red Sox 4–2 when top rookie Jasson Dominguez, once the organization’s No. 1 prospect, stood on second base with Trent Grisham at the plate.

After New York had already scored twice in the inning and with Grisham sitting on 13 home runs this season, the Yankees appeared to be in a good position to even the score.

But things quickly unraveled. Grisham swung and missed at a strike from Boston left-hander Justin Wilson, and catcher Carlos Narvaez alertly fired the ball to second base. For reasons unclear, Dominguez had drifted at least 10 feet off the bag, seemingly unaware. He tried to sprint to third in a last-ditch effort to salvage the play but was easily thrown out by shortstop Trevor Story, ending the threat on a costly mental mistake.

Jasson Dominguez’s glaring baserunning mistake seemed to capture the essence of his disappointing season. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 with a franchise-record $5.1 million bonus, the Yankees rookie has struggled mightily to live up to expectations.

Dominguez Among MLB’s Worst Defensive Outfielders

Despite making his MLB debut in 2023 and playing in 84 games through Tuesday, Dominguez has posted underwhelming numbers at the plate — just a .709 OPS and six home runs in 2025. Defensively, he’s fared even worse. According to Baseball Savant, his -5 fielding run value ties him for third-worst among all MLB left fielders, while his -5 defensive runs saved ranks him second-worst — dead last among left fielders with over 300 innings this season.

All of this comes as the Yankees are losing ground in the AL East, watching their division lead shrink from seven games on May 27 to just 2.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Yankees Eyeing Big Trade to Solve Multiple Problems

With Dominguez continuing to struggle and third base still unsettled, the Yankees are expected to be aggressive at the trade deadline. According to Esteban Quiñones of Pinstripes Nation, New York is targeting a long-coveted infield solution: San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, a five-time Gold Glove winner currently sidelined with a sprained hand.

The Yankees have lacked a reliable option at third base all season — but now, a surprising move by the Giants could give them an opening.

Blockbuster Devers Trade Opens the Door

On Sunday, the Giants shocked the league by trading for former Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, and more notably, agreeing to take on the full remainder of his 10-year, $313.5 million contract. With Chapman already under a six-year, $151 million deal signed earlier this year, San Francisco is now likely to shed his salary to avoid roster tension and redundancy at third base.

As Quiñones put it:

“San Francisco was forced into this position by the Devers trade. Rather than risk locker room friction with two $100 million third basemen, they appear ready to pivot.”

But why would the Giants take on a slumping player like Dominguez? According to the report, the deal would be about long-term upside. “Dominguez has star potential in center field at Oracle Park,” Quiñones wrote.

The Yankees would also reportedly include their No. 12 prospect, outfielder Everson Pereira, and veteran reliever Ian Hamilton. Pereira brings organizational depth, while Hamilton could immediately help San Francisco’s shaky bullpen.

Cashman’s Move to Make

Now, it’s up to Yankees GM Brian Cashman to act.

“The ball is now in Brian Cashman’s court,” Quiñones noted. “This could be the Yankees’ best shot at acquiring one of baseball’s top defenders and finally solving their third base problem.”