ESPN: The Yankees’ decision to trade the No. 2 prospect comes way too late.

When is the next trading deadline?

Despite their mistakes and misdeeds, the New York Yankees are 70-49 and tied for the top spot in the American League. With Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, two of the best players of this generation, leading the way, that is one hell of a baseball club.

There isn’t much standing in the Yankees way of an honorable run at the World Series. In one version of events, this winter will see a parade put on by the Bronx Bombers. Nevertheless, the Yankees are not perfect, and their shortcomings are crystal clear after a startling lack of initiative during the trade deadline.

Teams typically push their chips in when they have a short window to compete, which is the case with Soto’s contract expiring at the end of the season. The Yankees, who are on the verge of becoming unbeatable, could have made a couple big trade deadline moves to elevate this roster. While Chisholm Jr. is unquestionably a major addition and his electricity has been a much-needed boost for a previously lifeless and uninspired team, he does not solve all of New York’s shortcomings; the infield still lacks offensive consistency, so another top-line starter would have been nice.

Before the deadline, the Yankees were linked to a number of players, including Vlad Guerrero, Blake Snell, Garrett Crochet, and others, but they eventually decided to play things safe. One explanation for the dearth of genuinely significant additions to New York in the previous year? Jones Spencer. Jones, the No. 2 prospect for the Yankees (71st overall), has proven to be a thorn in previous trade talks.

The Yankees, though, appear to be changing their minds about dealing Jones for the right piece as of late. Unfortunately, the revelation comes a little too late.

The Yankees are now willing to trade Spencer Jones for the ideal player.
Even with Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease there, Jones was not discussed in the offseason trade talks, according to SNY’s Andy Martino. The Yankees “really [didn’t] want to trade him,” but it was no longer out of the question as the trade deadline approached. Martino suggests that Tarik Skubal is the kind of player that New York may consider dealing Jones for.

That’s usually the right way of thinking about the Yankees. Despite having a difficult season in the minors, 23-year-old Jones is a unique talent. Not for crumbs, which New York cannot and will not do, but for a real game-changer in a possible World Series season? It makes sense, particularly if the returning player’s contract gives him influence over the squad for a number of years.

Burnes was obviously on an expiring contract when the Baltimore Orioles eventually traded for him (a move that may come back to haunt the Yankees in October). However, Cease and players like Skubal and Crochet were controllable for a few years at the most during the last trade deadline. A Jones trade would have undoubtedly returned the necessary talent if New York had really intended to secure realistic championship odds.

MLB trades are challenging. Even though projecting prospects is usually a crapshoot, every organization cherishes its best players. While Jones is headed toward a lengthy and successful MLB career, it is by no means a given. Burnes or Cease would also have affected the Yankees’ chances of winning the pennant this year. Promised. Regarding the elite pitchers that New York passed on at the deadline, we can say the same thing.

Although the Yankees front management deserves praise for the Chisholm trade, there are many things to be unhappy about, including losing out on several Cy Young prospects and sowing the seeds for a possible Juan Soto exit.