Changes are coming to pinstripes — and it’s not just some ugly sleeve ad.
The New York Yankees have taken some steps as they face the reality of their disappointing 2023 season. At 60-64, they are in last place in the American League East and nine games out of the third and final wild-card spot. They have just 38 games left in the regular season.
So, they made a trio of promotions to add some juice to the Bronx and look ahead to 2024. They have shuttled outfielder Everson Pereira and infielder Oswald Peraza to major-league prospects, according to team sources. Outfielder Jason Dominguez, nicknamed “The Martian,” will go to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a team source said.
Peraza, 23, was ranked as the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect heading into the season, according to athleticKeith Law’s Many expected him to be the Yankees’ big-league starting shortstop on Opening Day, but top overall prospect Anthony Volpe beat him out for the job in a spring training competition that also included Isiah Kinner-Falefa. Peraza played sparingly in the majors this season, making 64 plate appearances. At Triple A, he is hitting .268 with 14 homers, 36 RBIs and an .846 OPS in 63 games. He is a strong defender with pop.
According to Law’s midseason Top 60 Prospects Update, the 22-year-old Pereira is the No. 51 prospect in the game. Between Double-A Somerset and Triple A, he hit .300 with 18 homers, 64 RBIs and a .921 OPS in 81 games.
“He’s an average defender in center field who can run and shows the electric bat speed that already produces pool power, with 11 homers in 55 games so far this year after playing in nearly double the time of last year’s 14 games,” Law wrote in July. “He’s also added some power from last year and can drive the ball differently, although his home runs are almost entirely on the pool side.”
go deep
Top 60 MLB Prospects: Jackson Holiday vs. Jackson Chauri tops Keith Law’s rankings
Dominguez, 20, has long been one of the game’s most talked-about prospects. Law ranked him 27th overall. The Yankees gave him a franchise-record $5.1 million signing bonus as a 16-year-old in 2019 out of the Dominican Republic. In Double A, he hit .254 with 15 home runs, 66 RBI and a .781 OPS in 109 games. “(He’s) still flashing plus power, runs plus-plus, plays solid or good defense in center, and controls the zone very well for his age,” Law wrote.
What this means for the rest of New York’s season
At this point, the Yankees know the score. Fangraphs gives them a 0.5 percent chance in the playoffs. On Saturday, owner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone met to discuss the state of the team and its outlook, and they talked about which prospects should appear in the majors the rest of the way. Pereira and Peraza were the obvious choices.
The system also has the potential to nab Austin Wells, No. 8, when the active roster expands from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1. Pereira and Peraza will basically play every day while they learn the ropes. big league It’s a tragic place the Yankees find themselves. The team was the odds-on favorite to win the AL East last year after making it to the AL Championship Series (and being swept by the Astros). now? They’re scrambling. – cottage
go deep
Yankees’ Hal Steinbrenner meeting with Aaron Boone hints at changes coming soon
What this means for 2024
The Yankees are scrambling to test whether Peraza and Pereira should both be on the 2024 Opening Day roster. For Pereira, there could be two openings in the outfield next season, with center fielder Harrison Bader a free agent this offseason. Pereira will likely slide into the left field spot for the rest of the season as it has been a revolving door after general manager Cashman failed to properly address the position over the winter. If Pereira excels, he will have a shot at winning the outfield position for next season. Center field is Pereira’s usual position, but the Yankees split his appearances almost evenly between Double A and Triple A, so there is some flexibility in the corners.
As for Peraza, his outlook on becoming an everyday player in 2024 is somewhat unclear given the current openings. If the Yankees move Gleyber Torres in the offseason, that would obviously give Peraza and Volpe a chance to become the team’s middle infield combination. If the Yankees decide DJ LeMahieu is no longer an everyday player, Peraza could split time with him at third base, as Josh Donaldson is not expected to return next season. But this opportunity in front of Peraza is the biggest in his limited major-league time. – Kirsner
What this means for Domínguez
It’s not out of the question that Dominguez has a chance to make the big-league roster in spring training in 2024. That’s how it worked for Volpe, who played just 22 games in Triple A before starting the Yankees’ shortstop job. Domínguez earned his promotion on merit. In his last 42 games, he hit .333 with five home runs, 29 RBIs and an .895 OPS. He also stole 19 bases. Domínguez played in the MLB All-Star Futures Game twice. – cottage
Projected lineup with Pereira, Peraza
Anthony Rizzo’s availability for the remainder of the season remains uncertain. If the Yankees officially shut down Rizzo, LeMahieu could play first base with Peraza occupying third base. It would be ideal for the Yankees to have Peraza play second base and shortstop on days when Gleyber Torres or Volpe need a day off. But there is an opening for Peraza to play every day for the rest of the season, especially if Rizzo is sidelined.
With that being said, here’s a look at what a potential lineup could look like with both Peraza and Pereira in the lineup:
LeMahieu 1B
Judge R.F
Torres 2b
Stanton DH
Bader cf
Pereira LF
Volpe SS
Peraza 3B
Rortvet/Higashioka C — Kirsner
Must read
(Photo: Cliff Welch / Icon Sportswire via AP Images)