Broken Deal: Yankees Top Prospect is Actually Why They Couldn’t Land Trade Deadline Ace

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman attempted to address the team’s pitching struggles at the 2024 trade deadline but did not achieve the desired results. The acquisitions of relievers Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos have been particularly disappointing; Leiter has performed poorly, while De Los Santos was designated for assignment and is already with a new team.

While it may appear that the Yankees made minimal efforts to improve their bullpen, recent reports from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale suggest otherwise. Nightengale revealed that the Yankees offered their top outfield prospect, Spencer Jones, in exchange for pitching help. However, rival teams were not interested due to Jones’ lackluster performance in the 2024 season with Double-A Somerset.

Former untouchable prospect Spencer Jones wasn’t enough for the Yankees to land trade deadline ace

Spencer Jones, ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, has recently fallen out of the MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list due to his underwhelming performance. He was previously ranked No. 75 and represented the American League in this year’s All-Star Futures Game.

Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 235 pounds, Jones possesses a rare combination of power and athleticism, often drawing comparisons to Yankees star and AL MVP contender Aaron Judge. Despite his potential, Jones still has significant development ahead to meet the high expectations placed upon him, a fact reinforced by the lack of trade interest from other teams.

In 445 plate appearances at Double-A this season, Jones is batting .246/.328/.419 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs. He also has 21 stolen bases, showcasing his unique skill set. However, his 164 strikeouts lead the minor leagues, second only to Elijah Green of the Washington Nationals. This high swing-and-miss rate likely contributed to the reluctance of other teams to engage in trade discussions involving Jones at the deadline.