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Austin Slater contract details: How much will Yankees pay White Sox OF amid Aaron Judge's absence?
Austin Slater's $1.75 million contract makes him an attractive deadline target for the Yankees amid Aaron Judge's injury and struggles against lefty pitching.
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Chicago White Sox’s Austin Slater has been traded to the New York Yankees, ESPN reported. With Aaron Judge nursing a right flexor strain and limited to DH duty for the foreseeable future, Slater's price tag was exactly what the Yankees' general manager, Brian Cashman, was looking for. The 32-year-old outfielder was playing on a one-year, $1.75 million contract, signed in the offseason. The trade comes just before Thursday's MLB trade deadline.
Pitching prospect Gage Ziehl is headed to Chicago, in return, New York Post reported. A fourth-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, he posted a 4.15 ERA across 16 games this season. This included a 4.96 ERA in 14 Double-A stars.
Also read: Austin Slater vs Aaron Judge: Why Yankees' new trade deal makes sense ahead of deadline
How much will Yankees pay for Austin Slater?
The Yankees will have to pay roughly $580,000 of Slater’s $1.75 million deal, a low-risk number that fits neatly into New York's already ballooning payroll, Yard Barker reported.
Austin Slater trade: Stats
It is not just the cost that makes Slater a good fit for the Yankees. In 74 plate appearances against left-handers this year, Slater has a .897 OPS and all five of his home runs. He is hitting .244/.308/.437 overall, but those numbers are heavily tilted by his weakness versus right-handers. Against right-handers, he is posting just a .552 OPS. That is why he is a bench weapon, the Southside Showdown said in a report.
Across his nine-year MLB career, Slater’s OPS against lefties sits at .801. He is a specialist, but the Yankees need exactly that kind of bat off the bench-especially with Trent Grisham (.610 OPS vs. LHP) and Jasson Domínguez (.591 vs. LHP) both underwhelming in that department.
Also read: Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, with the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees beset by injuries
Roster realities and trade value
According to Yard Baker, Slater missed time earlier this season with a right meniscus tear but has looked solid since returning in May. He is healthy, effective in his niche, and does not come with a big financial commitment. That is the trifecta of appeal for a team like New York, which has already picked up Amed Rosario and Ryan McMahon but remains thin in the outfield.
FAQs:
1. What is Austin Slater’s salary in 2025?
Slater is earning $1.75 million on a one-year deal with the White Sox.
2. How much would the Yankees owe if they trade for him?
They would owe roughly $580,000 for the rest of the regular season.
3. Why do the Yankees want Austin Slater?
He crushes left-handed pitching, which has been a weak spot in their lineup.
4. Is Austin Slater healthy?
Yes, he returned in May after a minor knee injury and has been active since.
