Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman can check another box off his deadline wishlist after acquiring outfielder Austin Slater. The 32-year-old righty is a versatile defender with experience in left, center, and right field. His numbers against left-handed pitching are likely what drew interest from New York, as he has slashed .270/.362/.436 in 1,006 career plate appearances.
Slater has had stints with the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants before landing in Chicago. While his overall numbers in 2024 have dipped compared to previous years, his situational value remains intact. He brings a disciplined approach to the plate and doesn’t often chase pitches out of the zone, which fits well with the Yankees’ recent push toward more selective at-bats. He also has a good clubhouse presence as well as postseason experience, appearing in both the 2021 and 2023 playoffs.
Yankees Give Another Pitching Prospect in Exchange for Slater
In exchange for Slater, the White Sox will receive the Yankees’ No. 18 prospect, Gage Ziehl. The 22-year-old righty was selected in the fourth round of last year’s draft, part of a larger wave of college pitching picks. He doesn’t light up radar guns—his fastball tops out around 96 mph—but he commands the pitch well. Ziehl gets more whiffs with his mid-80s slider, which tunnels effectively off his fastball. It grades as a plus pitch with two-plane depth at its best. His third pitch is a mid-to-low-80s changeup, though he struggles to keep it in the zone consistently. The White Sox will likely further develop his off-speed arsenal in High-A or Double-A.
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Role in the Lineup
Slater likely won’t be used in an everyday role, but he provides valuable depth, particularly in late innings. Given Jasson Domínguez’s splits against left-handed pitching (.207/.354/.456), Slater is an affordable bench option. He also gives manager Aaron Boone more flexibility with defensive replacements, pinch-hitting scenarios, and potential platoon matchups.
With reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge still out of the lineup, the Yankees’ best approach for now is to replicate his production in aggregate. That means marginal gains wherever they can be found; whether from matchups, rest days, or strategic substitutions.
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Financial Commitment
Slater is currently on a one-year, $1.75 million deal and has already earned $100,000 in incentives. He is eligible for another $175,000 upon reaching 75 games and 200 plate appearances but will become a free agent at the end of the season.
