Sal Licata offered BT a future where Jasson Dominguez turns out to be an outfielder that replicates the career of Brandon Nimmo, and BT was having none of it.
“I absolutely wouldn’t. I like Nimmo, but absolutely not,” BT said.
“I really like Brandon Nimmo. I appreciate and respect his game…good ballplayer. One of the worst outfield arms of all the center fielders…the guy’s routes in the outfield are horrendous, and there are analytics to back that up. If you’re telling me, at this stage in his career, why I need more than Nimmo, Nimmo has never had more than 64 RBI. You’re telling me I should sign up for that? There’s no chance. He’s never stolen more than nine bases. No thank you.”
Dominguez came into the Yankees organization with unprecedented hype, and his first five big league games have only enhanced that, but Sal, noting the long list of hyped Yankee prospects that peaked far too early in recent years, and the parity of baseball prospects in general, couldn’t believe BT wouldn’t sign up for a consistent, productive center fielder who just signed a $162 million deal last season.
“To me, that’s insane,” Sal said. “He has nowhere to go but down. What’s he gonna be, Mike Trout or Mickey Mantle?
“Just like Jesus Montero was supposed to be Mike Piazza, or how you can’t miss Red Thunder [Clint Frazier]. Even Gary Sanchez was being compared to Babe Ruth, and he stinks. I’m giving you a chance to sign on the dotted line for a legitimate, productive, major league center fielder.”
Sal was only more stunned when BT didn’t rule out Dominguez becoming the next Trout or Mantle, having been compared to the latter when he was first signed as an international prospect.
“Why not? Honestly, I’m not just saying that. Why not?” BT said. “Ten of the all-time 30 greatest players ever were Yankees, so why can’t this be the next one? I know it sounds ludicrous, but…”
So, what does BT envision for Dominguez. He laid out a player that would be a consistent All-Star in his prime and a middle-of-the-order bat for a contending team.
“He’s 20, a couple of years he gets his footing…let’s say his apex is 25-28,” BT said. “Those are the best years of his career. I would say .270, 33-35 home runs, and an OPS easily north of .880.”