Outfielder Randal Grichuk has made the Yankees Opening Day roster, reports Yankees beat writer Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Joyce also states the Yankees have sent utility player Oswaldo Cabrera to Triple-A.
This news comes a day after young outfielder Jasson Dominguez, nicknamed the Martian, was informed he was not making the Yankees Opening Day roster and would be optioned to Triple-A. The Yankees, with this decision, have decided to carry Grichuk, age 34, as the team’s backup fourth outfielder.
Grichuk was signed by the Yankees as a non-roster invitee back in late February, in which he’s only had 16 at-bats in Yankees camp and posted an underwhelming .125 batting average, but the Yankees like his right-handed bat plus veteran presence, and he has a career .819 OPS versus left-handed pitching, according to StatMuse.
Boone mentioned to Yankees beat writer Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News that “Grichuk was a bit behind last night, but that this outcome was expected”, reports Phillips. Grichuk obviously had a late start, as position players had reported a few weeks before he signed with the Yankees.
Dominguez Performed Very Well In Spring Training
Dominguez had a much better performance in Spring Training, hitting for a .325 batting average with 3 home runs, 10 RBI’s, and a .978 OPS in 40 plate appearances. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Yankees MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch that, as it pertains to Dominguez being optioned to the minors despite his strong spring performance, he stated, “You want him playing regularly, and that’s ultimately what it comes down to”, stated Boone.
GettyBRADENTON, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 23: Jasson Domínguez #24 of the New York Yankees hits an RBI double in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a Grapefruit League spring training game at LECOM Park on February 23, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Yankees’ rationale here goes back to last season, in which Dominguez was a league-average hitter, posting a .257 batting average with 10 home runs and a .719 OPS in 123 games. Dominguez is a very good runner and has shown skill with the bat. However, his outfield defense, particularly in left field, is still what has the Yankees concerned, and the Yankees are running back the same outfield as 2025 with Trent Grisham in center, Cody Bellinger in left, and Aaron Judge in right.
With the same starting outfield that helped the Yankees win 94 games in 2025, and Stanton as the everyday DH, it’s difficult to find room for Jasson to play regularly in the beginning portion of the 2026 season, let alone get everyday at-bats, barring injury or underperformance from one of the regular starters.
Why The Yankees Had Grichuk Make The Roster Over Dominguez
The Yankees know this, and Boone himself admits this was much of the reasoning behind the decision. As for Grichuk making the roster over Dominguez, Grichuk is at a point in his career, being 34 years old, in which he’s going to have to adopt a part-time bench player/platoon-type role. The Yankees have higher expectations for Dominguez than that, who just turned 23 years old in February.
The Yankees also optioned utility player, infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera, to Triple A. Cabrera, age 27, is a switch-hitter who was recovering from ankle surgery after a gruesome injury at home plate in Seattle last season against the Mariners that required him to miss a majority of the season.
These roster decisions are by no means easy, but as we approach the final days of Spring Training and the 2026 regular season being just four days away, the Yankees’ final roster is starting to take shape.
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