Brian Cashman confirms Yankees fans' fears with Alex Verdugo-Jasson Dominguez drama

Perhaps the only way the New York Yankees could turn this season around is if Logan Roy stormed into Brian Cashman's office and addressed all his cronies by saying, "You are not serious people." Maybe that'll get someone to feel bad.

The Yankees might be 20 games over .500. They might control their own destiny for the postseason. They might have the most talent in the league. But they do not have the drive. They do not have the edge. They foster a culture of complacency.

They started the season 49-21 and have since gone 31-39. It's the fifth summer in a row they've collapsed in some fashion. It's not a coincidence. It's directly tied to the front office (the main culprit) and manager (secondary culprit).

But for the exercise of this article, it's Cashman who will be raked over the coals. Last week, fans were up in arms when the Yankees opted not to call up top prospect Jasson Dominguez when rosters expanded. It was a classic act of Yankees Rebellion against the most obvious and productive decision.

Though we spent a brief amount of time trying to wrap our heads around Dominguez remaining in the minor leagues (extra draft pick compensation, keeping rookie status intact), it turns out our worst fears were confirmed after what Cashman told reporters on Friday.

Brian Cashman confirms Yankees fans' fears with Alex Verdugo-Jasson Dominguez drama

Yup, this "championship-caliber" organization believes in Alex Verdugo as their best option to win right now in left field. Verdugo is among the worst qualified hitters in the sport and has seen his defensive metrics plummet, too (-1 OAA, 0.3 dWAR) after a Gold Glove-caliber 2023.

We can live with slightly above-average defense, though. What we cannot justify is the 0.1 oWAR, .652 OPS and 83 OPS+. His .235/.293/.359 line will, by far, represent career worsts. All he's good for at this point is not striking out. That's it. He has three homers and 21 total extra-base hits since the beginning of June. He's largely been unplayable on offense dating back to mid-May. He doesn't hustle. He gives off Little League petulant child body language.

But hey, that's the guy the Yankees believe in: the rival trade acquisition (ordered by Aaron Judge) everybody hated who has no ties to the team beyond 2024. This is what the Yankees do. Once you're in "the circle," you never leave it. But if you're a top prospect performing well and looking to get your big break? Unless your name is Anthony Volpe, it's not happening. The belief in Verdugo is very similar to the belief in Clay Holmes, who leads MLB in blown saves. The Yankees are arbitrarily projecting the numbers to normalize, and they won't. There are other factors at play being ignored.

The Yankees are either constantly lying, or their processes are so far off the mark that the general public is beyond shocked. Are we sure the front office is even watching what's happening on the field? They can't be. They've treated the last five years like they're simulating a season in MLB The Show.

We'll see Jasson Dominguez in 2025. It'll be too late. And we're sure by that point he'll have suffered a bit by wasting away against lesser competition for all of 2024. All to defend Verdugo, who was never going to be a true Yankee in any sense.