Free-agent veteran outfielder Austin Slater agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Monday. It's not the greatest landing spot for Slater in terms of fantasy purposes, but he should at least see a short-side platoon in Chicago against left-handed pitchers in 2025 on what will likely be a one-year deal. The 31-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder has traditionally handled lefty pitchers well in his career, although he struggled against them in 2024 with the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, slashing .188/.310/.231 against them with one of his two home runs on the year and 11 RBI in 142 plate appearances. Slater will be hoping to bounce back offensively for the Pale Hose next season. With a low ceiling and low floor, Slater should only be considered in deep mixed and AL-only leagues in 2025.
Ryan O'Hearn, Austin Slater Not Starting In Game 1
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and outfielder Austin Slater are not included in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards on Tuesday. In addition, catcher James McCann will be behind the dish and will hit ninth against Royals left-hander Cole Ragans. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter and is batting fifth, while Colton Cowser starts in left field and bats sixth. O'Hearn ended the regular season on a tear with the bat but did not have a single one of his 15 home runs on the year against left-handed pitchers. With veteran righty Seth Lugo set to start for KC in Game 2 on Wednesday, expect the lefty-hitting O'Hearn to be back in at DH for the O's. Slater has hit just .209 combined in 2024 with two homers and 18 RBI in 177 at-bats with the Orioles, San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.
Austin Slater Hitting Leadoff For Orioles On Saturday
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Slater will be batting leadoff for the Orioles on Saturday as they face the Cleveland Guardians and scheduled starter Joey Cantillo. Slater was acquired by the Orioles from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline and has made one plate appearance for the Orioles, a pinch hit single in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Guardians. Slater was generally used in a platoon role against southpaws when he was with the Giants and batted near the bottom of the order in his short time with the Cincinnati Reds. It's too early to tell if Slater hitting leadoff will be a regular thing for Baltimore, or if he'll be relegated to a platoon role like he had with the Giants, but fantasy managers looking for the 31-year-old to show his .543 OPS is a fluke will hope he gets plenty of opportunities in the leadoff spot to crank that number up.
Newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater will bat sixth in the Reds lineup on Thursday in their home matchup versus the Rockies. Slater came over from the Giants in a trade on Monday and debuted with the team on Wednesday, going 1-for-3 while batting out of the six-hole in that contest as well. Hopefully a change of scenery will benefit Slater, as he comes into Thursday batting .204 but is a career .254 hitter. His .286 BABIP compared to a career BABIP of .342 suggests he's been very unlucky at the plate this season, but he continues to get on base thanks to a keen eye, recording an above-average walk rate of 13.9% so far in 2024.
The Cincinnati Reds acquired outfielder Austin Slater and cash considerations from the San Francisco Giants on Sunday in exchange for left-hander Alex Young. Slater, a former eighth-round pick of the Giants out of Stanford in 2014, hit just .200 (18-for-90) with a home run, nine RBI, two steals and 12 runs scored in limited playing time in San Francisco this year. The 31-year-old veteran right-handed-hitting outfielder has a career .254/.344/.391 slash line with a .736 OPS, 39 home runs, 162 RBI and 47 stolen bases in 593 career games with the Giants. In Cincinnati, he'll likely fill in on the short side of a platoon in a corner-outfield spot against left-handed pitching. The Reds could use the outfield depth with Will Benson struggling and with both TJ Friedl (hamstring) and Nick Martini (thumb) currently on the injured list. Stuart Fairchild (back) is also banged up, and Jake Fraley is currently away from the team for personal reasons.
San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater (concussion) cleared the concussion protocol and started a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. Slater suffered a concussion after running into the center-field wall while trying to make a catch in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park on May 10. He continued to experience fogginess and blurry vision the next day, which prompted the Giants to put him on the seven-day concussion injured list. After missing more than two weeks due to his head injury, the 31-year-old is finally feeling better and has returned to game action. If he continues to progress, Slater could be an option to be activated and rejoin the team this weekend. When healthy, Slater is an option for the short side of a platoon in San Fran's outfield against lefties. He's gone just 5-for-39 (.128) on the year with no homers.
Austin Slater Dealing With Concussion-Like Symptoms
San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater (head) left Friday night's loss to the Cincinnati Reds with concussion-like symptoms, according to the team. Slater crashed into the center field wall while trying to make a catch in the first inning. The Giants placed outfielder/Jorge Soler (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list before Friday's game, so if Slater's head injury is serious enough to send him to the shelf, too, the Giants outfield depth will be tested. Slater went hitless in his only at-bat as the Giants' leadoff hitter on Friday before being replaced by Michael Conforto. If Slater requires a trip to the seven-day concussion injured list, it would open up more opportunities for Heliot Ramos in San Fran's outfield. Slater, 31, only has 49 plate appearances this year and has recorded five hits (no homers) while walking eight times and striking out 12 times.
San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater (elbow) is throwing at a distance of 150 feet and said he has been cleared to play in spring training games. He did cutoffs and relays in camp on Thursday for the first time since having elbow surgery in October, which also included moving his ulnar nerve. Barring some sort of a setback this spring, Slater is expected to be ready to roll defensively for Opening Day in late March. After two straight seasons with over 100 games played, the 31-year-old made it through only 89 games with the Giants in 2023, slashing .270/.348/.400 with five homers and 20 RBI in 207 plate appearances. He's been a lefty killer in his career, which means he's expected to fill a short-sided platoon role yet again in San Fran in 2024.
San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater (elbow) has no hitting restrictions in spring training and is finishing his throwing program. Slater had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow in the offseason and still needs to gain clearance in order to play in Cactus League games this spring. But as long as he doesn't have any setbacks, the 31-year-old should be ready for Opening Day. When healthy, he's projected to be on the short side of a platoon in the outfield for the Giants. Slater also missed some time in the second half last year due to hamstring issues and finished with a .270/.348/.400 slash line, five homers, 20 RBI and 24 runs scored in 89 games in his seventh year in the Bay Area. He'll have deep-league value as a part-time player when the Giants are facing lefties.
Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater Re-Sign With Giants
The San Francisco Giants re-signed outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. Yastrzemski's deal will be for one year and $7.9 million for the 2024 season, while Slater signed for $4 million. Yastrzemski made his Giants debut in 2019 and impressed right away, hitting .272 with 21 home runs in 107 games. He hasn't been as good the last couple of years, though, and he hit .233 with 15 home runs in 2023 while missing time due to injuries. The 33-year-old can play all over the outfield, though, and will remain in play in platoon role again next year against right-handed pitching. Slater, 30, had two separate stints on the injured list due to a hamstring injury this year but hit a strong .270 with a .748 OPS and 20 RBI in 207 plate appearances. He should be ready for spring training after undergoing right-elbow surgery in October.
Austin Slater
• RF
•
White Sox
