The Yankees may have a new starting hitter ready to step up

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has a tough task ahead of him: bolstering his roster before Monday’s trade deadline. With just two days left, he must orchestrate a series of strategic trades that could put the team back in World Series contention. But the roster’s weaknesses are becoming increasingly apparent and widespread.

Yankees’ Deadline Dilemma: Strengthening Roster for World Series

In order to add some energy to the lineup, the return of key players from the injured list and the promotion of top prospects could be key. Interestingly, Jason Dominguez returned Friday after recovering from an oblique injury, notching two RBIs in his first game back and extending his hitting streak to nine games.

Dominguez has flashed the potential of an MLB-caliber talent, boasting a .375/.405/.600 average in 10 games at Triple-A this season. He has consistently excelled while recovering from Tommy John surgery, suggesting the Yankees could consider promoting him if Alex Verdugo’s issues persist.

Verdugo’s Struggles and Potential Changes

Verdugo, who is in a contract year, has put up modest numbers this season, batting just .231/.287/.367 with 10 homeruns and 48 RBIs. Manager Aaron Boone tried to move Verdugo into the opener Friday, where he managed two RBI hits, showing some improvement as he was lined up in the right defensive field.

Potential Roles for Dominguez

There are two main ways Dominguez could impact the team: starting in left field and pushing Verdugo to the bench, or filling the designated hitter spot in Giancarlo Stanton’s absence. However, the Yankees are interested in Dominguez continuing to develop defensively, so ideally he would be given opportunities to play in the outfield. If Stanton remains on the bench, they could consider rotating Aaron Judge into the DH spot, allowing Dominguez to play defensively when needed.

That strategy could see him in the lineup and gauge his impact this season. Dominguez’s strength on both sides of the plate and his dynamic talent make him an ideal candidate for the opener position — a role the Yankees are desperate to fill effectively.

Looking at key acquisitions

As the deadline approaches, the Yankees are looking at potential acquisitions, particularly Jonathan India and Isaac Paredes. Securing either player would address significant holes in the batting order. India, who has experience as an opener, could particularly fit the Yankees’ needs, though the team acknowledges that not every issue can be resolved by the deadline.