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Is This Yankees Prospect Too Talented to Trade or Too Risky to Keep?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 3:49 PM ET

Spencer Jones was easy for Yankees fans to fall for in the spring of 2024. With his 6-foot-7 frame, loud contact, and athleticism, he drew instant comparisons to Aaron Judge. The 2022 first-round pick looked like a future star, and just last week, he reminded everyone why. Over an eight-game stretch at Double-A Somerset, Jones went 12-for-29 with four home runs and nine RBIs, raising his Eastern League-leading homer total to 16.

But now Yankees GM Brian Cashman has a decision to make.

Jones has spent much of the season hovering around the Mendoza Line, with a strikeout rate north of 40 percent. Evaluators remain split. Some scouts believe he’s one tweak away from becoming a force. Others think he may never consistently adjust to upper-level pitching.

That’s what makes him such a compelling trade deadline candidate.

The Yankees are in win-now mode, and while their farm system isn’t deep, it has headline talent. Jones might be their most recognizable prospect with real upside. If paired with rising arms, he could headline a deal for a controllable outfielder, a high-leverage bullpen piece, or even a frontline starter.

Across the league, his draft classmates are already arriving. Zach Neto (Angels), Jackson Holliday (Orioles), Cade Horton (Cubs), Jace Jung (Tigers), and Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers) have all debuted in the last year. Jones hasn’t yet reached Triple-A.

So what’s more valuable to the Yankees? DO they take the chance that Jones becomes a middle-of-the-order slugger in 2027? Or is the immediate upgrade he could fetch in a deadline deal make him movable?

There’s no easy answer. But as Yankees trade deadline rumors build, Spencer Jones’ name will keep coming up. And for the first time, it might actually make sense to listen

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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