BREAKING: Yankees Confirms Trade For Top Prospect after…..
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the New York Yankees appear ready to include top prospect in trade talks. Nightengale specifically mentions pitchers Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal as potential targets the Yankees would want to acquire in exchange for Jones.
Previously, the Yankees were reluctant to involve Jones in trade discussions for impactful players like Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease. However, the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers reportedly require substantial packages in deals involving Crochet or Skubal, respectively.
The Yankees’ recent struggles have exposed flaws in their roster, particularly in the pitching staff. It seems the Bombers are now prepared to dip into their farm system to ensure a winning season in the Bronx in 2024.
Yankees Reportedly Winning To Trade Spencer Jones
MLB trade deadline filled with uncertainty as one of second half storylines https://t.co/ZWoFJ9T0g3
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 21, 2024
Jones currently ranks as New York’s second-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, which also ranks him as the 74th-best prospect in all of MLB. The 6’6” outfielder carried a lot of pedigree after being drafted 25th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft.
The Yankees have been reportedly reluctant to trade Jones due to his star potential and the value of his expected production on cheap salaries, which would complement expensive outfielders Aaron Judge and potentially Juan Soto through the end of this decade. While Jones carried his college success into professional baseball immediately after the draft, he has struggled at the higher levels. This season, the 23-year-old is slashing .238/.316/.403 with 10 homers and 127 strikeouts in 75 Double-A games, following a poor performance in 17 Double-A games last year.
Despite these struggles, Jones still possesses high potential and solid trade value. His pedigree and past success helped him earn a spot on the American League roster for the 2024 All-Star Futures Game, where he started in right field, batted fifth in the lineup, and recorded a walk and a stolen base in two plate appearances.
Spencer Jones has hit a home run in three of the last four games! pic.twitter.com/NERmEUXyUb
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 9, 2024
Yankees Desperation Could Lead To Major Deal
Expectations are incredibly high in the Bronx this season, with anything less than a deep postseason run being seen as unacceptable. Many even view the season as World Series or bust.
While the Yankees are hesitant to trade a potential future star like Spencer Jones, the organization understands the urgent need to break out of its current slump. Acquiring impactful talent will come at a cost, but the Yankees must make significant moves, or potentially more than one, at this year’s trade deadline to meet their high expectations and contend for a championship.