Who will be odd man out in Yankees outfield to make room for Spencer Jones?

Some difficult conversations are about to be had between New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman. The Yankees outfield is well staffed, but there is a very realistic expectation that rookie prospect Spencer Jones will be debuting at some point in 2026.

Jones stands at a whopping 6’7" and has elite power at the plate. Guys like that do not stay in Scranton all year long. At some point, Boone and Cashman need to determine where Jones fits and who he will replace when he is called up.

Aaron Judge

Judge is the captain of the Yankees and is their solidified right fielder. He is also the face of the franchise and the center of the lineup. There is no scenario where Jones immediately takes over Judge’s role. Even if Jones becomes what all analysts think he may be one day, he will not replace Judge unless he is forced out with an injury or age becomes a factor. Replacement probability: Not happening.

Cody Bellinger

Bellinger provides flexibility that others in the outfield may not be able to provide. If Jones is crushing the ball in the minors and the Yankees offense needs another weapon, Bellinger could easily into another role like first base or even center field. Aside from that, Bellinger brings a lefty presence to the plate that has secured his role towards the top of the batting order. The possibility of Bellinger losing his job to Jones is highly unlikely. Replacement probability: Not likely

Trent Grisham

What Grisham lacks offensively, he more than makes up for on defense. As the Yankees starter in center field, Grisham is a Gold Glove candidate and is needed in the outfield. Much like Bellinger, the chances of Grisham being replace by Jones is very unlikely. Replacement probability: Not likely

Oswaldo Cabrera

Much like Bellinger, Cabrera has versatility as he can play in both the infield and outfield. This makes him especially valuable in the postseason. It is possible that a Jones call-up could push Cabrera out of the picture, as his bat is expected to be more effective at the plate. A team looking to make a run in the postseason could use an asset like Cabrera with his defensive versatility. Jones taking Cabrera’s roster spot is a real possibility. Replacement probability: Possible

Jasson Dominguez

While Dominguez has the pedigree of a top prospect, he is still struggling to establish himself in The Show. If Jones does in fact get called up, it makes sense that Dominguez could see fewer reps. This comes down to performance and whether he can show consistency at the plate. A trade seems very premature, but not out of the realm of possibility. Replacement probability: Likely

Max Schuemann

Schuemann is a hybrid infielder/outfielder but does add depth. If Jones is called up and starts out hot, Schuemann would be the easiest candidate in the outfield to replace without disrupting much. Replacement probability: Most likely option

Of course there is the scenario where Jones does not become an immediate starter. The most realistic option is that Jones is called up at some point over the summer and receives some late-inning opportunities. This would give him the chance to see some major league pitching without the added pressure of being a permanent fixture in the lineup. If he does well, then obviously his role expands.

If Jones delivers in Scranton, the Yankees will find room. Organizations chasing October do not ignore bats as loud as his.