Austin Slater is heading to the New York Yankees, giving them one other right-handed bat they’ll plug right into a part-time function down the stretch.
The energetic Yankees acquired the veteran outfielder from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in alternate for minor league pitching prospect Gage Ziehl.
New York had a urgent must bolster its outfield ranks with star slugger Aaron Decide sidelined by a flexor pressure in his proper elbow.
“Really excited about the move,” manager Aaron Boone said before Wednesday night’s game against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium. “Talked about it over the recent weeks — just getting more roster flexibility, complementary guys.”
Boone initially mentioned Slater was touring from Chicago to New York and there was an “outside chance” he would arrive in time to be energetic Wednesday evening. However a bit of greater than an hour earlier than first pitch, the Yankees added Slater to their 26-man roster and optioned backup catcher J.C. Escarra to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The 32-year-old Slater hit .236 with 5 homers and 11 RBIs in 51 video games with the White Sox this season. He has an .859 OPS in opposition to left-handed pitching.
“Really enjoyed my time here and met some incredible people,” Slater said. “Super fun clubhouse to be in. But then also really excited to go play for the Yankees. One of those teams as a kid you always dream about playing for. And they are right in a race for the playoffs. Excited to go there and try to help them out.”
New York started the day 4 video games behind first-place Toronto within the AL East.
The well-traveled Slater can play all three outfield positions. He spent the primary seven-plus seasons of his profession with San Francisco earlier than being traded to Cincinnati final summer time. New York will probably be Slater’s fifth crew in simply over a 12 months.
“At this point, we’re a little more prepared than we were last year,” Slater mentioned. “It was something, there was always writing on the wall that it could happen. That maybe helped us mentally prepare a little bit more this year.”
The Yankees will assume $573,925 of Slater’s remaining $1.75 million wage, which additionally will improve their luxurious tax by about $631,000.
The commerce is the newest in what has been a busy run-up to Thursday’s deadline for New York. The crew acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from Colorado and infielder Amed Rosario from Washington throughout the final week.
“Bringing in obviously McMahon first to be the primary third (baseman), but then Rosario and Slater who both really hit left-handed pitching really well. You see our lineup tonight, it’s lefty heavy and we have a lot of lefty players, so you have some real complementary pieces for different situations that make you more of a threat as the game moves through,” Boone mentioned.
“And he’s swinging the bat rather well proper now. So, actually excited to get him.”
In his first skilled season, the 22-year-old Ziehl was 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 15 begins and one aid look this 12 months with Class-A Tampa, Excessive-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset mixed. He was chosen by the Yankees within the fourth spherical of the 2024 novice draft out of Miami.
The last-place White Sox scratched right-hander Adrian Houser from his scheduled begin Wednesday in opposition to Philadelphia. However heart fielder Luis Robert Jr. — one other participant who could possibly be on the transfer forward of the deadline — was within the lineup.
The 32-year-old Houser has been a pleasing shock for Chicago after signing a $1.35 million, one-year contract on Might 20. He’s 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 11 begins.
“Just with Houser, we were transparent with him, just the market around him and the potential for a trade,” White Sox manager Will Venable said of the pitching change. “Just thought it was in everyone’s best interest to switch starters today.”
The White Sox additionally recalled outfielder Will Robertson from Triple-A Charlotte earlier than their collection finale in opposition to the Phillies.
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AP Baseball Author Mike Fitzpatrick in New York contributed to this report.
