Yankees News, 7/13: Cashman could eye lefty outfielder for cheap, Jasson Dominguez gains gushing review

New York Yankees, Jasson Dominguez
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 11: Jasson Dominguez (33) of the Yankees runs the bases during the New York Yankees spring training work out on March 11, 2020, at the New York Yankees Minor League Complex in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Yankees will start a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday evening after the All-Star break, and with a desperate need for lefty-hitting in the outfield, the trade deadline offers a great opportunity to make a subsequent move. General manager Brian Cashman will likely be active in the coming weeks, and one option that has made himself available is Adam Eaton of the Chicago White Sox.

Eaton is a 32-year-old outfielder who stands at 5’9” and 176 pounds. Traditionally, Eaton has never been known as a slugger but did hit 15 homers in 2019 with the Washington Nationals, averaging .279 over 151 games.

This season, his performance has been less than adequate, serving up a career-high 25.1% strikeout rate, having never cracked 20% over the past nine seasons. Clearly, he’s having an anomaly of a year, which could open the door for the Yankees to make a move for the free agent.

As Mike Rosenstein of NJ.com indicated, Adam Eaton might be running on fumes:

The 32-year-old Eaton actually checks off two boxes for Cashman: he’s an outfielder and he’s a left-handed hitter. But based on his performance this year with the White Sox, it’s safe to wonder how much Eaton has left in the tank. He hit .201 with five home runs in 58 games for the White Sox.

Given his diversity as a lefty with experience, he would be a more affordable option for the Yankees, especially since Chicago was preparing to option him to the farm before granting his release.

The Yankees have another young outfielder climbing the ranks:

Star prospect Jasson Dominguez is climbing the standings, despite going 0-for-3 for the American League team at Coors Field during the MLB All-Star Futures Game.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked Jasson one of his top-10 counted players on Sunday:

A lot of Yankees prospects get overhyped because they wear pinstripes, but that will not be the case with Dominguez. He’s the real deal. He was the youngest player in the Futures Game at 18 years old and clearly was able to hold his own. He looks like a linebacker but swings like a superstar. He’s balanced at the plate, has electric bat speed and can use the whole field with tremendous power. He has to be untouchable for the Yankees, regardless of who they could get back in a trade. He’s a future star.

At just 18 years old, the Bombers have locked in one of the most physically imposing youngsters in baseball. Not only does he have the frame of an NFL player, as Bowden suggests, but he has elevated bat speed and fantastic balance at the plate.

Simply put, he needs more reps and experience, but there’s no question he will make his way to the MLB sooner rather than later. According to MLB.com, Dominguez lined out to third base, but the ball went firing 106 MPH off his bat. Those are Giancarlo Stanton-type numbers, which should raise a few eyebrows.