Yankees Expected to Cut Ties With $5.1 Million Former No. 1 Prospect: Insider

Heading into the 2024 season, he was the New York Yankees' No. 1 prospect. Signed for a hefty $5.1 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, and described by a Yankees scout as "an elite level athlete ... the kind of player who makes the hair on your arm stand up,” Jasson Domínguez was set to be, according to Empire Sports Media founder Alexander Wilson, "the undisputed face of the franchise for the next decade."

Now, less than two years after he topped the MLB Pipeline Yankees prospect rankings, Domínguez appears to be on the way out. Not only did ESPN's longtime baseball insider Jeff Passan list the 22-year-old as a trade candidate in his Tuesday roundup of players potentially on the trade block ahead of the MLB winter meetings, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has described Domínguez as a "fallback" option for the New York outfield in recent interviews, according to Pinstripes Nation reporter Esteban Quiñones.

"I draw a major conclusion from that statement," WFAN-AM commentator Evan Roberts said on a Nov. 21 broadcast. "He does not believe in Jasson Domínguez."

With Aaron Judge patrolling right field and Trent Grisham, who somewhat surprisingly accepted the $22 million qualifying offer from the Yankees rather than test free agency, in center, the only place for Domínguez would be in left field. But if the Yankees succeed in bringing back free agent Cody Bellinger, Domínguez would become a spare part.

Quiñones cited reports Cashman attempted to trade Domínguez to the Minnesota Twins earlier this year.

"The deal fell through. But it revealed that the front office already views him as expendable when the right opportunity appears," the Pinstripes Nation scribe wrote.

Montreal Canadiens Crushed in 5-2 Blowout by Senators: A Total Meltdown That Shook the NHL!

The Montreal Canadiens were left humiliated in a crushing 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, one of the most embarrassing defeats the team has experienced this season. From the opening faceoff to the final whistle, it was a complete collapse that exposed major flaws in Montreal’s game. Goaltending, defense, and offensive pressure all failed, leaving fans in disbelief as their team was picked apart by a fired-up Senators squad.

Montreal came out strong early, scoring just 3:37 into the first period on a power play. The play, which featured a brilliant assist from Cole Caufield to Juraj Slafkovsky for an easy tap-in, gave the Canadiens a brief moment of hope. But that hope was shattered almost immediately. Just

24 seconds later, Ottawa responded with a goal that silenced the Bell Centre. Tyler Kleven's rush through Montreal’s defense was a glaring example of how easily the Senators broke through, and Fabian Zetterlund made them pay with a shot that left goaltender Samuel Montembeault helpless.

The defensive issues continued to pile up as the game went on. Michael Amadio and Drake Batherson both scored in quick succession, giving Ottawa a commanding 4-1 lead by the end of the second period. Montembeault, who had been solid in recent games, was exposed again as he struggled to find his positioning, allowing weak goals that demoralized the entire team. At one point, it seemed like the Canadiens were simply trying to survive rather than fight back.

Despite Montreal’s struggles at even strength, their power play delivered, going 2-for-3 on the night. Nick Suzuki’s late goal, cutting the lead to 4-2, was the lone bright spot offensively, but it was too little, too late. The Senators were in complete control, outscoring Montreal

5-0 at even strength.

In the third period, Brady Tkachuk put the final nail in the coffin with a goal that sealed Ottawa’s 5-2 victory. It wasn’t just a loss—it was an outright embarrassment, one that exposed the cracks in Montreal’s roster.

Montreal’s captain, Nick Suzuki, didn’t mince words after the game, reflecting the overall disappointment within the locker room:
"We didn’t show up tonight. It’s really a shock. We had chances, but we couldn’t capitalize. We need to take a long hard look at ourselves and find a way to improve, especially defensively and in net. The whole team has to come together and push through this setback."

With a crucial matchup against the Winnipeg Jets on the horizon, the Canadiens face a tough task to recover from this defeat. The Habs need to drastically improve their defensive play and get Montembeault back to his best if they hope to avoid further embarrassment. The upcoming game will be a true test of Montreal’s resilience—if they fail again, the season could spiral out of control.

The Canadiens have no choice but to fix their issues quickly or risk sinking even lower in the standings. The pressure is mounting, and the team’s next steps could determine the rest of their season. Will they rebound, or will this 5-2 blowout be the beginning of a downward spiral?

Stay tuned, because Montreal’s next move will be critical. Habs fans are waiting for a response—one that must come soon.

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