MLB Rumors Roundup: Yankees eye surprising Opening Day move with Jasson Dominguez, Giants to add Brent Honeywell Jr.

As camps escalate and Opening Day looms, roster decisions throughout Major League Baseball are coming into focus. Two moves on opposite coasts have particularly caught the eye: A potentially surprising assignment for one of the New York Yankees’ most electric young talents and a low-risk addition of pitching by the San Francisco Giants. Both additions are the result of calculated organizational thinking; in both cases, clubs attempted to balance near-term competitiveness with longer-term considerations.

Expectations are always sky-high with the Yankees, and each roster decision is scrutinized. For the Giants, depth and versatility remain guiding principles as they seek to shore up a pitching staff that faced its share of inconsistency last season.

Taken together, these evolving situations illustrate how contenders frequently make pragmatic, sometimes surprising choices before the first pitch of the regular season.

The New York Yankees are apparently considering whether Jasson Domínguez should start the season in Triple-A, which would catch many by surprise given both his pedigree and the potential he has shown at the big league level. Domínguez, who has long been viewed as one of the organization’s building-block prospects, has shown, when healthy, game-changing power and athleticism.

Roster construction, however, has made his path not straightforward. The Yankees have a crowded outfield picture, with established veterans and everyday starters filling up those positions. In a win-now context, everyday playing time is important to Domínguez’s development, and the club might rather see him get regular at-bats in the minors than sit on the bench or be used sparingly in the Bronx.

Team officials have said their decision-making has incorporated a need for long-term growth and refinement of the defense.

There is no doubt about Domínguez’s talent, but the Yankees seem determined to make sure he is thoroughly polished before giving him an everyday job. If injuries happen or offensive production lags elsewhere, he might be on the very short list of candidates to hear his name called. Until then, the organization’s approach with its highly touted young outfielder may be characterized by patience.

On the West Coast, the San Francisco Giants signed right-hander Brent Honeywell Jr. to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp. The move highlights the club’s continuing efforts to bolster its pitching depth while not making a significant financial investment.

Honeywell, who was once considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball early in his career, faced some significant injuries that put the brakes on his development. However, his arm talent and experience still intrigue front offices. The Giants are gambling that a healthy offseason and structured spring training might help him regain his form, one that could compete for either a bullpen or swingman role.