Two Prospects the Yankees Won't Trade at the Deadline

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 3:18 PM ET

With the trade deadline approaching and the New York Yankees almost certainly going to be buyers, the focus has naturally shifted to the club’s prospect pool. Which highly-touted prospect could be the cornerstone of a blockbuster deal? Which one is untouchable?

One insider has a good sense of how that board is shaping up.

During a fan Q&A this week, The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty was asked which prospects the Yankees might hold onto versus dangle in a deal. The fan mentioned four names in particular — George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, Cam Schlittler, and Everson Pereira — and hoped they wouldn’t be on the move.

Kuty’s response zeroed in on two of them: Lombard and Schlittler.

“I think Lombard doesn't go anywhere. I'm not sure they can afford to trade Schlittler, considering all the injuries.”

That confirms the tea leaves that scouts have been reading.

Lombard, the Yankees’ 2023 first-round pick, has taken a major step forward this year. He moved quickly up from High-A to Double-A and looks like a long-term infield solution. Scouts rave about his baseball IQ and potential. He just turned 20 years old last year.

It would take a Juan-Soto-level trade to pry this young infielder away.

As for Schlittler, the context speaks for itself. He’s set to make his major league debut hours after Kuty’s comments.

With Clarke Schmidt likely out until late 2026 following Tommy John surgery and Gerrit Cole still not fully built up, the Yankees are clinging to every healthy starter they’ve got.

While he’s not a headline name, he may be the kind of controllable depth they simply can’t afford to ship out right now.

So while Spencer Jones and Everson Pereira could still be in play, and both are likely to draw interest, Kuty’s comments suggest the Yankees will be more protective of arms and up-the-middle talent than some fans expect.

It’s still early, and priorities can shift fast, especially if the team’s play before the break forces a reset. But for now, at least two names seem to be in the “do not touch” column.

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

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