The New York Yankees are looking for a new left fielder. They don’t feel comfortable going into the season with Aaro Hicks, and they probably prefer to have Oswaldo Cabrera as a utility player getting semi-regular playing time in several positions.
The Yankees already missed out on Masataka Yoshida and Brandon Nimmo, but still have a few alternatives. Andrew Benintendi, via free agency, and Bryan Reynolds, via trade, are probably the two best options.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are, apparently, not too keen on trading Reynolds at this moment, although that could change with the right offer. And the right offer, from the Yankees side at least, would include uber-prospect Jasson Dominguez.
Should the Yankees be willing to include him in a trade for Reynolds? The answer is yes, given the circumstances.
While it’s true that Dominguez has more upside (he did, after all, post a 145 wRC+ in High-A as a 19-year-old in 2022, closing the season in Double-A), prospects have a fairly low chance of fulfilling that potential.
The Yankees would be thrilled if Dominguez develops into a hitter like Reynolds
In reality, the Yankees would be thrilled if Dominguez develops into a hitter and player like Reynolds. He has a chance to be better, yes, but the odds of that happening are not as high as one might think.
Reynolds has 51 home runs in the last two campaigns, and finished with a 141 wRC+ in 2021 and a 125 wRC+ in 2022 while playing in the Pirates. That’s quite impressive.
Reynolds is still young, at 27, and is under team control for three more seasons. He is better suited in a corner but can play center field in a pinch, too, so he is a pretty valuable piece.
One can understand the Yankees’ hesitation to include Dominguez in trade talks for him. He is a blue-chip prospect. But he hasn’t even succeeded in the high minors yet and is too young. The range of outcomes is too broad to pass up on the chance of bringing in a potentially difference-making outfielder who can help the team in three playoffs runs.