The New York Yankees announced that they have acquired outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Minor League pitcher Gage Ziehl.
Slater, 32, has batted .236/.299/.423 (29-for-123) with 20 runs, six doubles, one triple, five HR, 11 RBI, 11 BB and one SB in 51 games with the White Sox this season. Against left-handed pitching this year, he has hit .261/.338/.522 (18-for-69) with one double, one triple, five HR and eight BB. He has appeared defensively at all three outfield positions this season (RF – 21G/15GS; LF – 20G/9GS; CF – 2G) and first base (1G).
Over parts of nine Major League seasons with the San Francisco Giants (2017-24), Cincinnati Reds (2024), Baltimore Orioles (2024) and Chicago White Sox (2025), the right-handed batter has hit .250/.339/.388 (402-for-1,605) with 230 runs, 66 doubles, 10 triples, 45 HR, 182 RBI, 191 BB and 49 SB in 685 career games. In his career vs. left-handed pitchers, he has hit .270/.362/.436 (236-for-873) with 43 doubles, six triples, 30 HR, 110 BB and 18 HP.
As a pinch hitter in his career, Slater has hit .250/.417/.443 (44-for-176) with 34R, eight doubles, one triple, eight HR, 38 RBI and 42 BB. His eight pinch-hit home runs since 2017 are tied with Wilmer Flores for the most in the Majors over that span. Among Major League batters as a pinch hitter over that span, he also ranks first in runs scored, runs batted in, walks, plate appearances (228) and go-ahead RBI, and is tied for second in hits.
Slater has appeared defensively in his career in centerfield (235G/119GS), left field (196G/112GS), right field (181G/105GS), first base (30G/23GS), second base (1G) and third base (1G).
The Jacksonville, Fla., native was originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in the eighth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Stanford University (Calif.). He was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds along with cash considerations in exchange for LHP Alex Young on July 7, 2024. Slater was then acquired by the Baltimore Orioles along with INF Liván Soto and cash considerations in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later on July 30, 2024. He then signed with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent on Nov. 20, 2024. Slater was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 44th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft but did not sign.
Ziehl, 22, made his professional debut in 2025, and has gone 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA (82.1IP, 88H, 46R/38ER, 14BB, 70K, 7HR) in 16 combined games (15 starts) with Single-A Tampa, Double-A Somerset and High-A Hudson Valley. The Hilton Head Island, S.C., native was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami (Fla.).
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees have transferred RHP Clarke Schmidt to the 60-day injured list.
