Austin Slater Gets Fresh Start With Tampa Bay After Failed Yankees Trade
Austin Slater, a veteran outfielder acquired by the Yankees last summer in a trade deadline deal, has been promoted to the major leagues by the Tampa Bay Rays after excelling in Triple-A. The Rays, currently atop the AL East, signed Slater to a minor league deal and are promoting him to face left-handed pitchers, the specialty that originally attracted the Yankees to him. The move represents a full-circle moment as Slater gets another opportunity with a division rival of his former team.
The New York Yankees acquired 33-year-old outfielder Austin Slater last summer, trading away Minor League prospect Gage Ziehl (the club's No. 18 prospect) to improve roster depth against left-handed pitching. However, Slater failed to become a meaningful contributor in New York and was subsequently moved. After signing a minor league deal with Tampa Bay last month, Slater earned promotion to the major leagues following a strong Triple-A performance, hitting .348/.464/.696 with five doubles, one home run and five walks in 28 plate appearances for Durham. The Rays, currently sitting atop the AL East division standings, are positioning Slater to face upcoming left-handed pitchers including Boston's Connelly Early and Payton Tolle. While Slater carries a career .248 batting average in the majors, he has long been known for his success against left-handed pitching, which could provide value in specific matchups.
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Yankees Trade Bust Gets New Chance With First-Place Rival
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