Yankees' latest number reveal further emphasizes likely Jasson Domínguez fate

Call it a small gesture to show respect for a veteran or call it something more, but it seems like Randal Grichuk's new laundry is aligned with his likely Yankees fate. That'll directly impact Jasson Domínguez's chances of making the Opening Day roster.

After months of flirtation and public claims that the Yankees' roster was incomplete without a righty outfielder (or catcher!), the team put (very little) money where their mouth was, bringing in Grichuk as a non-roster invitee on Wednesday night.

He arrived at camp on Friday with a fresh No. 34, previously worn by luminaries like Brian McCann and JA Happ. Grichuk being outfitted in a real, 26-man roster number instead of No. 84? That speaks volumes about how the team clearly views him. Unless he shows them something that's very much not aligned with his underlying metrics in 2025 against lefties or his exemplary 2022-24 performance, he's making the roster and forcing the Martian into some additional Triple-A seasoning.

Domínguez, of course, responded with a well-timed line drive single and absolute laser home run on the road in Fort Myers while his new teammate was trying on his attire back in Tampa.

Why Yankees insider Joel Sherman believes Randal Grichuk will send Jasson Domínguez to Triple-A

As Sherman noted, the Yankees have placed more faith in Grichuk's metrics vs. left-handed pitching in 2025 as opposed to his actual declining performance. They think he's closer to the .900 OPS guy he was against southpaws the previous three seasons, rather than the aging outfielder who posted a .700 mark split between the Diamondbacks and Royals last year.

The defense? It's ... unclear how well Grichuk will hold up in Yankee Stadium's left field as he ages, but Domínguez still has some strides to make in that department as well. That's all the more reason to get him everyday reps in the high minors instead of trying to cram him onto the bench as an imperfect puzzle piece (or trading him for a controllable reliever everyone hates).

The Martian now has to hope for underperformance or continued decline from Grichuk, but as for his own controllables? Friday's homer had a 110.9 MPH exit velocity and skidded out of the yard in a hurry; that would qualify as the second-hardest mark of Domínguez's career.

Um ... does he want No. 34?