Michael Kay rips Yankees for roster decisions that ‘make no sense’

Michael Kay has an issue with some of the decisions the Yankees are making in spring training.

With Opening Day at Yankee Stadium 23 days away, Kay believes the Yankees need to quit experimenting with Jasson Dominguez in left field and playing Trent Grisham in center, Dominguez’s natural position.

“The reasons for it just make no sense to me,” said Kay, the YES Network announcer, on his midday show on ESPN New York. “You’re going to take this guy out of his comfort zone so that Trent Grisham can be in his comfort zone the 30-40 games that he plays. How does that make any sense?”

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Dominguez has struggled in left field in spring training. His latest blunder came on Sunday when he took a bad route chasing a first-inning double to left field. Then, a long run to the warning track in the third resulted in a double off the glove and chest in the Yankees and Phillies’ 7-7 tie.

That followed last Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Tigers in Tampa, where Dominguez took a bad route on a double to the gap that would have been a tough play to make anyway. He also lost a ball in the sun during the early innings.

Grisham, a superior defender in the outfield, does not have much of a bat. He’s hit below .200 in each of his last three seasons, and he has a combined 84 OPS+ — a 100 OPS+ is considered league average.

Dominguez’s fielding forced the Yankees to start Alex Verdugo in left field during last season’s playoffs. In Dominguez’s short stint in left, every fly was an adventure.

“Last year in left field at Yankee Stadium, it was a mess. I’m not ripping the kid. He’s playing out of position,” Kay said. “So why put him in left now when his bat is going to be a really important factor on a team that doesn’t have Juan Soto anymore?”

(Yankees beat reporter Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media contributed to this report.)

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Manny Gómez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.