MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: Jasson Domínguez is being called up to the big-league roster from Triple-A ahead of the upcoming series against the Rangers. He fills the spot opened by Luis Gil’s demotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and could factor into the DH and outfield pictures with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined with a calf injury. After getting optioned to the minors out of spring camp, Domínguez has performed well to open the season, slashing .306/.404/.471 with three home runs, 13 RBIs, eight
stolen bases, a 135 wRC+, and almost as many walks as strikeouts in 22 games. His defense will not come under as much scrutiny with the 23-year-old slated to mostly DH, and he’ll look to improve upon his 103 wRC+ in 122 games last season. The Yankees will face three righties in this upcoming series against the Rangers, allowing the switch-hitting Domínguez to contribute from his superior side.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Gil’s demotion to Triple-A opened the spot on the roster for Domínguez’s call-up. He got shelled for six runs in four innings in the series finale against Houston and always looked like the first name to be called with Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole nearing their returns to the rotation from injury. Until Rodón is ready to return, the Yankees will likely use Ryan Yarbrough in a spot start, though they are also weighing calling up one of their top prospects including Carlos Lagrange or Elmer Rodríguez (they are at least able to skip his next start due to the Thursday offday).
Aaron Boone and Matt Blake said they hope Gil can work on finding a consistent release point and better command in the minors. His path back to the majors is uncertain with Will Warren and Ryan Weathers ahead of him in the rotation pecking order. In four starts, Gil is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA, 8.43 FIP, more walks than strikeouts, and -0.4 fWAR across 19.1 innings.
MLB.com | Steve Schaeffer: Domínguez’s promotion coincides with lingering uncertainty over the severity of Giancarlo Stanton’s calf injury. He was removed from Saturday’s game in Houston with right calf tightness after feeling discomfort running the bases and missed the final two games of the series. The team said they will make a final decision on Monday as to whether he will go on IL. In 24 games, Stanton is hitting .256/.302/.422 with three home runs, 14 RBIs, and a 101 wRC+.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: The Yankees have made several ill-advised ABS challenges over the last few weeks and have had to institute a fining system for particularly egregious decisions. To hold each other accountable for wasting challenges, players are fining themselves $500 for a challenge on a pitch that is fully inside of the strike zone, Jazz Chisholm Jr. even fining himself $1,000 for challenging a strike right down the middle against the Astros on Saturday. The Yankees have made the second-most challenges in baseball but own the ninth-worst success rate (43-percent). Boone has even indicated that some players might have their ABS challenge privileges revoked if they don’t follow the guidelines laid out by the team at the start of the year, Boone notably calling José Caballero into his office for a “stern” one-on-one meeting about wasting challenges.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Red Sox front office made waves when they fired manager Alex Cora and much of his staff on Saturday, Triple-A skipper Chad Tracy replacing him yesterday in a win over Baltimore. Cora had been at the helm of the team for eight years and won the 2018 World Series, but with the Red Sox in last place, Cora had to go. Also getting the axe is former Yankees hitting coach Dillon Lawson — his second midseason firing in just a few years — and Jason Varitek, who had been serving as the club’s game planning and run prevention coach (the longtime catcher was reassigned within the organization). Boone is close friends with Cora from their time working together on ESPN broadcasts, and revealed he reached out with words of support for his now-former rival manager.
