The New York Yankees have upgraded their bench and added some outfield depth, asserting Tuesday that they’ve acquired outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox. The Yankees are sending minor league right-hander Gage Ziehl again to Chicago in return. It’s a one-for-one swap.
Slater, 32, is a reserve outfielder who’s performed all three spots and posted good numbers towards left-handed pitching, each in 2025 and all through his nine-year profession within the majors. He’s hitting .236/.299/.423 in 135 plate appearances this 12 months, together with .261/.338/.552 versus left-handers. In 1006 profession plate appearances versus lefties, the righty-swinging Slater is a .270/.362/.436 hitter.
Slater is enjoying the season on a one-year, $1.75M deal, although he’s already tacked on $100K value of incentives based mostly on video games performed and plate appearances. He may feasibly tack on one other $175K by reaching 75 video games performed and 200 plate appearances. He’ll be a free agent at season’s finish.
Although he’s not prone to step into an on a regular basis function, Slater is an reasonably priced technique of complementing switch-hitting left fielder Jasson Dominguez, who’s slashing .284/.354/.456 versus right-handed pitching however simply .207/.286/.299 versus left-handed opponents. A lot the identical method that the Yankees acquired Amed Rosario to platoon with new third baseman Ryan McMahon, Slater can share time with Dominguez shifting ahead.
The Yankees are at present with out MVP candidate Aaron Judge, who was lately positioned on the injured checklist as a consequence of a forearm pressure. A exact timetable for a return stays unclear, however it’s anticipated Decide can be restricted to DH work when he initially returns. Dominguez, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger would be the major outfield trio whereas Decide is on the mend. Grisham, like Dominguez, struggles towards left-handed pitching.
Ziehl, 22, was the Yankees’ fourth-round choose in 2024. He’s spent the majority of the 12 months in A-ball however was simply bumped as much as Double-A. The Miami product has posted a mixed 4.15 ERA with a 20.2% strikeout charge and 4% stroll charge in 86 1/3 innings. Baseball America ranked Ziehl 18th amongst Yankees prospects on their midseason replace of the system simply final week. He’s a three-pitch starter whose fastball can climb to 97 mph. Ziehl pairs that pitch with a slider and changeup that each draw common or higher grades.
Jack Curry of the YES Community first reported the commerce.
