Austin

Slater

Slater ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Brandon Young in the third inning, smacking a 327-foot (93.6 mph EV) solo shot that tied the game at 3-3. That would be his only hit in three trips to the plate. The 33-year-old outfielder is in camp competing for a bench spot on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster and he at least made a good first impression on Sunday.

It’s a bit surprising that Slater ultimately had to settle for a minor league deal, though he should have a decent shot at cracking the Tigers’ left-handed heavy Opening Day roster. The 33-year-old hit just .216/.270/.372 with five homers and 13 RBI in 160 plate appearances between the White Sox and Yankees in 2025.

No word yet on the financial terms of the contract, but it’s expected to be a one-year deal. Heyman notes that Slater had discussions with the Yankees as well but ultimately chose the Tigers instead. The 33-year-old lefty masher nicely compliments the plethora of left-handed bats that the Tigers currently have on their roster.

While the team has decided on Ben Rice as their starting first baseman, it seems that they are not comfortable with the idea of him hitting against left-handed pitchers. The Yankees are looking to bring in a right-handed hitter to fill that short-side platoon role, and Heyman specifically mentions Goldschmidt, Ty France, Austin Slater, and Randal Grichuk as players “on their list.” Not all of them have experience at first base, which could prove interesting, but France is the name we keep hearing the most.

Kuty noted that at one point this winter, the Yankees offered Slater a major league contract, though it’s unclear if that offer is still on the table. The 33-year-old hit just .216/.270/.372 with five homers and 13 RBI over 160 plate appearances between the White Sox and the Yankees during the 2025 campaign.

He takes the place of J.C. Escarra, who was sent down last night. Slater, who suffered a hamstring strain just a few days after being acquired by the Yankees, figures to get some outfield starts against lefties,

Slater was injured last night in just his third appearance since arriving in a trade with the White Sox. This might mean some extra playing time for Ryan McMahon against lefties, since José Caballero and Amed Rosario will be needed more often in the outfield. Caballero might have been sent down to make room for Aaron Judge if not for Slater’s injury.

Slater left Monday’s game with a hamstring injury, so José Caballero, really the only candidate on the roster to be sent down, will get to keep his spot with Judge back. Judge, out since Sept. 26 with a flexor tendon strain, will return as a DH initially, limiting Giancarlo Stanton’s opportunities for at least the next week.

Not ideal. Slater appeared to tweak his hamstring during his first at-bat of the contest while reaching on a fielder’s choice in just his second start since coming over from the White Sox at last week’s trade deadline. His absence would remove a lefty-mashing weapon from New York’s outfield mix.

It’s a bizarre lineup from Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who appears to be trying to shake things up on the night before Aaron Judge is eligible to be activated from the injured list. Not only is Rosario near the top of the order behind veteran leadoff specialist Paul Goldschmidt, but Austin Slater is batting fifth behind Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton with lefty Patrick Corbin on the hill for Texas.