Report: Former untouchable Yankees prospect, the reason they failed to obtain a trade deadline ace.
The New York Yankees were unable to acquire a genuine game-changing pitcher prior to the trade deadline this year. But it wasn’t so much a lack of effort as it was a lack of interest in formerly highly ranked outfield prospect Spencer Jones.
Brian Cashman, senior vice president and general manager of the New York Yankees, made an apparent attempt to solve the team’s pitching shortage around the 2024 trade deadline, but it was not successful.
With the trade additions of relievers Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos, Cashman made a big mistake. While the latter was assigned and is already playing somewhere else, the former has not impressed in his brief career to date.
At first glance, it appears as though the Yankees used their bullpen to its full potential. But according to recent reporting by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Bombers went above and beyond to improve the quality of their hurlers.
In Nightengale’s words, the Yanks “prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones for pitching help at the deadline.” Due to the 23-year-old’s underwhelming 2024 campaign for Double-A Somerset, rival executives ultimately “balked” at the notion.
Spencer Jones, a formerly untouchable prospect, was insufficient for the Yankees to acquire a trade deadline ace.
Due to his subpar play, Jones—who was ranked No. 2 in New York’s farm system—has dropped out of the MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings. To put things in perspective, he was listed as the 75th best prospect when he participated in the American League All-Star Futures Game last month.
At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Jones possesses a special combination of strength and agility. Physically, he reminds me of Aaron Judge, the favored AL MVP and standout player for the Yankees. Still, there is still work to be done before New York’s 2022 first-round selection lives up to the high expectations. The league-wide lack of trade interest in him confirms that theory even more.
This season, Jones has batted in 445 plate appearances at the Double-A level.246/.328/.419 with 63 RBIs and 14 home homers. In addition, his unique skill set is highlighted by his 21 stolen bases. However, the Washington Nationals’ Elijah Green leads only 164 strikeouts in the minor league standings.
Jones’ high swing-and-miss rate worried front offices and forced them to tread gently during negotiations with the Yanks at the deadline, and reasonably so.
