SNY proposes a Yankees-Tigers Jasson Dominguez trade that'll spark debate

The New York Yankees' infield is sure to undergo some changes this offseason. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is an almost surefire goner, and while many feel that Anthony Volpe will slot in at second base, who can say for sure?

There's also the hot corner, where Ryan McMahon has underwhelmed in pinstripes since being acquired at the 2025 trade deadline. The Yankees will be looking to upgrade at third base if they are legitimately interested in improving this lineup (are we sure they are?).

One name floated this week by SNY as a McMahon replacement was Zach McKinstry of the Detroit Tigers. What was most interesting (and debatable) about SNY's trade idea involving McKinstry was that it featured Jasson Dominguez potentially getting shipped off to Detroit in the deal.

Would a Zach McKinstry-Jasson Dominguez trade make sense for the Yankees?

Not to say that this deal would be a straight-up swap, but by pitting these two players against each other 1-on-1, we can come to an understanding about their comparative value and the legitimacy of this trade idea for the Yankees.

McKinstry's offensive value rests entirely on his 2025 season, in which he hit .259/.333/.438 with 12 home runs, made the All-Star team, and bagged a Silver Slugger. He was far worse this past season, hitting .199/.288/.294 with just four homers. But in fact, those numbers were closer to his career norms than 2025 was, seeing as McKinstry is a career .225 hitter who has never hit more than nine home runs outside of the 2025 campaign and has also been limited to four homers in two separate seasons beyond 2026.

On the positive side, McKinstry's defensive versatility would be an undeniable asset for Aaron Boone. He can play third, second, short, and all three outfield positions, making him an ideal utility guy.

But seeing as McKinstry isn't a sure thing offensively, would giving up Dominguez for him be a wise decision for New York? Dominguez' development has been a rocky one with the Yankees, but that hasn't always been his fault, and he's still (believe it or not) just 23 years old.

Were he traded, no Yankees fan would be shocked to see Dominguez go and thrive anywhere else -- it's a regular occurrence to see ex-Yankees have success elsewhere in recent years. Dominguez might be the next "change of scenery" guy ... which also helps the argument to trade him. By definition, a change-of-scenery guy isn't going to produce/break out until he's moved.

I'm not against the Yankees trading Dominguez at all; it's just that McKinstry as the main piece coming back in such a deal feels a little weak. At that point, I'd rather keep Dominguez and see what 2027 brings.

Are the Yankees in a position to get much better value for Dominguez than McKinstry? Well, they could package Dominguez along with some other (superior) pitching pieces in a blockbuster deal to bring in a much better player than McKinstry. I'd hold onto Dominguez for that potential opportunity, rather than actually explore this idea from SNY.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow