Yankees Reportedly Acquire Outfielder From White Sox Before Deadline

Austin Slater

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By Hunter Mulholland

Contributing Sports Writer

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The New York Yankees kept their busy run toward the MLB trade deadline going Wednesday by adding some outfield depth.

New York landed veteran outfielder Austin Slate from the Chicago White Sox, according to a report from Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Austin Slater

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The Yankees are trying to keep pace in the American League East with the Toronto Blue Jays, as they continue to add before Thursday's MLB trade deadline.

Aaron Judge hit the injured list over the weekend and is expected to return, but if he does not, the Yankees had to have a contingency plan in place.

Slater has been just below league average with the White Sox but had a couple of strong seasons with the San Francisco Giants at the beginning of his career. Slater finishes his White Sox stint with a .236 batting average and five home runs in 51 games on the South Side.

The White Sox are once again in the midst of an abysmal season that will see them miss the playoffs once again, and they are looking to sell off pieces to regain some value ahead of the trade deadline. Slater was not the expected outfielder to be dealt by the White Sox this season, but he fits what the Yankees are searching for: someone who can fill in during Judge's absence and return to a bench role when the reigning MVP returns.

The Yankees are sending their No. 18 prospect, right-handed pitcher Gage Ziehl, to the White Sox in return, according to MLB Insider Mark Feinsand. This is unlikely to be the only move the White Sox make ahead of tomorrow's trade deadline.