The New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox ahead of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Wednesday.
The Yankees sent right-handed pitching prospect Gage Ziehl to the White Sox as part of the trade, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Ziehl, who reached Double-A Somerset this season, was ranked as the Yankees’ No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Slater, 32, is playing on an expiring $1.75 million contract. He has slashed .236/.299/.423 through 51 games with the White Sox this season.
The move will allow the Yankees to continue bolstering the club’s right-handed batting depth after previously acquiring infielder Amed Rosario in a weekend deal with the Washington Nationals.
Acquiring Slater also gives the Yankees additional outfield depth while right fielder Aaron Judge is sidelined with a flexor strain.
Slater made 19 appearances at right field for the White Sox this season, but also made 16 in left field and 27 as a pinch hitter, according to Baseball Reference.
He has a career average of +1 OAA when defending in the outfield, per Baseball Savant.
The oufielder missed time earlier this season after undergoing April surgery on a meniscus tear in his right knee, but has been back in the White Sox lineup since mid-May.
He has been most effective against left-handed pitchers, batting .261 with a .859 OPS and hitting all five of his home runs against southpaws, per Baseball Reference.
The Yankees also recently added former Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon as part of the club’s efforts to address offense ahead of the deadline.
The franchise’s next big move could be for pitching help. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported on Tuesday that the Yankees have been in touch with the Pittsburgh Pirates about closer David Bednar and starter Mitch Keller.
The Yankees are also one of the teams interested in St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. ESPN’s Jorge Castillo meanwhile reported that Washington Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore “is a possible option if the Yankees are willing to pay a steep price.”
Source link
