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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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If the writing wasn't already on the wall for New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez, Wednesday's news at least added to his dilemma.
Domínguez, formerly the Yankees' No. 1 prospect, put up passable, if unspectacular numbers in what was technically his rookie season last year. But he also lost out on playing time as the year went along, and the Yankees brought back the same three starting outfielders as last season when they re-signed Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger.
There was already a widespread belief that the most likely outcome for Domínguez was beginning the regular season in Triple-A. But on Wednesday night, the Yankees agreed to a minor-league deal with a non-roster camp invite for 12-year major league veteran Randal Grichuk, according to YES Network's Jack Curry and multiple concurring reports.
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Grichuk, who split time between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals last season, has long been more of a platoon specialist against left-handed pitchers than a full-time starter. Even if he doesn't win an opening day roster spot, he serves as a signal of what the Yankees likely want from their bench.
Bellinger and Aaron Judge will play every day, so the only opportunity for another outfielder to get in the lineup, barring injury, appears to be as a platoon partner for Grisham. Domínguez was significantly better from the left side of the plate than the right last season, so even if the Yankees were comfortable having him sit on the bench a lot, that fourth outfield role wouldn't really maximize his skill set.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post also tweeted Wednesday night that the Grichuk agreement was "more evidence Jason Dominguez may be ticketed to AAA to start (the) season."
Grichuk projects to be in some sort of roster competition with Amed Rosario and Oswaldo Cabrera, the latter of whom has options. If Grichuk makes the team, it will likely shift Rosario to more of a pure infield role, whereas Cabrera and Rosario both being on the roster could shift the latter to the outfield more frequently.
In terms of pure, raw talent, Domínguez's potential outweighs any of those top contenders for the Yankees' bench spots. But if he's going to become a star on the Yankees, as was long promised, he'll likely need some bounces to fall his way this season.
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