DETROIT— The Yankees are looking to go into rebuild overdrive.
Two-year bust Josh Donaldson was kicked to the curb on Tuesday, and it appears center-field whiz Harrison Bader might be the next to go.
Hours after Donaldson was released, Bader has hit the waiver wire, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported.
Bader, however, is still with the Yankees while they wait to see if he will be claimed. After not starting two of the Yankees’ last four games, Bader was in manager Aaron Boone’s lineup for Tuesday night’s game — a 4-2 Yankee victory — with the Detroit Tigers, batting sixth and playing center field.
Bader is on irrevocable waivers, so he can be added to a new team’s postseason roster if he’s claimed by a contender before Sept. 1. Also, his new team would be responsible for the remainder of Bader’s 2023 salary, about $783,000 of his $4.7 million pact.
So, there’s a good chance Bader could play in the postseason — a good deed by the Yankees if it turns out that way. If Bader clears waivers, the Yankees can pull him back and keep him for the remainder of the season, or release him outright, as they did with Donaldson.
The Yankees, who were 63-68 with 31 games remaining after winning 4-1 in Detroit on Monday night, began a youth movement last week by calling up two prospects from Triple-A to play regularly — Everson Pereira in left field and Oswald Peraza at third base, Donaldson’s position.
If Bader departs, the Yankees likely will call up 20-year-old switch-hitter Jasson Dominguez to play center field in September.
The Yankees can expand their roster from 26 to 28 players on Friday, which is September call-up day in the majors. Catcher Austin Wells is a candidate for a first call-up. The Yankees also will add a pitcher, probably righty Ron Marinaccio, Greg Weissert or Nick Ramirez, all of whom hold 40-man roster spots.
Like Donaldson, Bader is expendable because he’ll be a free agent after the season. Also like Donaldson, Bader’s short…
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