In a critical moment during the top of the seventh inning at Fenway Park last Saturday, the New York Yankees trailed the Boston Red Sox 4-2. With two runs already scored and rookie sensation Jasson Dominguez standing on second base, the stage was set for Trent Grisham, boasting 13 home runs this season, to potentially tie the game. However, a costly mental error by Dominguez changed the narrative. Caught 10 feet off the bag after Grisham swung and missed at a pitch from Boston’s Justin Wilson, Dominguez was easily thrown out attempting to reach third, epitomizing his challenging rookie campaign.
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 for a club-record $5.1 million bonus, Dominguez was heralded as the Yankees’ top prospect. Yet, after 84 big league games since his 2023 debut, the 22-year-old outfielder has struggled. His .709 OPS and six home runs reflect a lackluster offensive output, while his defense has been among the worst in baseball. According to Baseball Savant, Dominguez’s -5 fielding run value ties him with Chicago’s Andrew Benintendi for third-worst among MLB left fielders. His -5 defensive runs saved ranks him second-worst, and he’s dead last among left fielders with over 300 innings at the position.
As the Yankees’ lead in the American League East has dwindled to 2½ games over the Tampa Bay Rays from seven on May 27, the team faces mounting pressure to address their weaknesses and position themselves for a repeat AL championship run after falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series. Dominguez’s underperformance has sparked discussions about his future, with a potential blockbuster trade on the horizon.
According to Esteban Quiñones of Pinstripes Nation, the Yankees are eyeing a major move before the trade deadline, targeting San Francisco Giants’ five-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman. Chapman, who signed a six-year, $151 million contract before the season, is recovering from a sprained right hand but remains a premier defensive infielder—a solution to New York’s season-long search for a permanent third baseman.
Oh man… The Red Sox caught Jasson Dominguez sleeping on the base paths!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/HzK1uGb40X
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 15, 2025
The Giants’ recent acquisition of former Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, along with their commitment to absorb the remaining eight-and-a-half years of his $313.5 million contract, has put San Francisco in a financial bind. Quiñones suggests the Giants are poised to offload Chapman’s salary to avoid tension between two high-priced third basemen. In return, the Yankees could offer Dominguez, their No. 12 prospect outfielder Everson Pereira, and veteran reliever Ian Hamilton.
“Domínguez could be a star in center field at Oracle Park,” Quiñones wrote, highlighting the rookie’s potential upside as a key piece for San Francisco. Pereira would provide outfield depth, while Hamilton could bolster the Giants’ shaky bullpen.
The proposed trade represents a high-stakes gamble for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. Trading Dominguez, despite his struggles, means parting with a player once viewed as a cornerstone of the franchise’s future. However, acquiring Chapman could stabilize the infield and elevate the Yankees’ defense, giving them a stronger shot at postseason success.
“The ball is now in Brian Cashman’s court,” Quiñones noted. “The opportunity to land one of baseball’s elite defenders—and finally solve third base—may never be better.”
As the trade deadline looms, all eyes are on the Bronx Bombers to see if they’ll pull the trigger on this blockbuster deal, potentially reshaping their roster and sending their struggling $5.1 million rookie to the Bay Area.