On Tuesday, the New York Yankees took the boldest yet necessary roster decision. After two miserable seasons, the franchise released slumping veteran Josh Donaldson from the 40-man roster. Donaldson featured in only 33 games this season owing to hamstring and calf strain injuries.
Even at the time of his ouster, Josh Donaldson was on a 60-day injury list. Aaron Boone, the Yankees manager, said that it was the best time to let go of Donaldson to provide him a window of landing into a top team. Since the Yanks have prospects coming in, there exists no room for the veteran’s comeback this season. Meanwhile, here are the two candidates who could replace the infielder on the roster.
Yankees Mulling Jasson Dominguez’s Promotion Amid Josh Donaldson’s Release
At last, the New York Yankees fan’s prayers got answered as the team cut ties with the most disliked veteran, Josh Donaldson. The infielder’s departure has vacated a spot in the club’s 40-man roster. Moreover, as per the current trend, the Bombers are likely going to call up an in-form prospect. Amid this, speculations of Jasson Dominguez‘s promotion have gained momentum. Dominguez, the no.2 prospect of the Yanks farm system, has hit 36 home runs in 292 minor league games. He recently got promoted to Triple-A after leading Double-A’s offensive charts. While he lacks enough Triple-A experience, the team management might give a nod to his promotion anyway.
As the Yankees are falling out of the playoff contention, they will be playing a meaningless September. Hence, those games could be used to test out prospects who are in line for 2024 roster contention. Jasson Dominguez is surely among the ones. The chorus of his inclusion has been gaining momentum ever since he aced the spring training earlier this year. Hence, the front office should not think twice while handing out an opportunity to the highly touted 20-year-old outfield prospect. He is indeed a star in the making and the future of the franchise. Getting him used to some major league pitching will help him develop his skillset. Overall, fans should expect to witness the Martian on the field this season really soon.
Austin Wells Also In Line For Promotion Amid Roster Expansion
As the New York Yankees expand their roster on September 1, another top prospect is gearing up for a promotion. The club’s no.8 prospect, Austin Wells, recently got promoted to Triple-A and has recorded a .828 OPS in 31 games. The Yanks are already low on catchers as Jose Trevino got ruled out due to a wrist injury last month. Hence, it’s a perfect time to call up Wells and test out his catching and hitting skills. He is very much in the team’s plan for the 2024 season.
It is time for the Yankees to call it quits on the 2023 season and shift focus on building a strong lineup for the 2024 season. The mistakes of this season, under no circumstances, should be repeated next year. It’s high time these budding prospects get out of their shell and face some real competition. The development of these rookies is the key to the Yank’s long-term success. As the roster expands on Friday, it would be interesting to see the club’s choice of candidates.
