The New York Yankees boast one of the best-stocked farm systems in Major League Baseball. Baseball America and ESPN recently named it among baseball’s top ten. One of the system’s and baseball’s top prospects is an outfielder listed in the Top 100 by MLB Pipeline.
Because of that, outfielder Spencer Jones — who might one day be the Yankees’ starting center fielder — was sought as part of the return in three separate trades that the Yankees either executed or passed up, according to the New York Post.
The Padres were interested in Jones during early trade talks to acquire outfielder Juan Soto, according to the Post. Ultimately, the Yankees did not have to give up Jones. Instead, the Yankees acquired Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham for five players: catcher Kyle Higashioka, pitchers Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Jhony Brito, and Drew Thorpe. However, the Padres were not the only team interested in acquiring Jones through trade.
According to the Post, the Yankees were interested in signing Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes. His old team, the Milwaukee Brewers, coveted Jones so much that it was assumed he would be the key prospect in a transaction that never materialized. The transaction fell through, and Burnes joined the Yankees’ AL East rivals, the Baltimore Orioles.
Third, the Yankees expressed interest in obtaining Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease. The White Sox are thought to be holding out for the greatest possible package. According to the Post, the White Sox also considered Jones as a major prospect in the deal. Cease is still with the White Sox for now. That presumably reflects the Yankees’ feelings toward Jones, who could be joining the team soon. Last year, Jones reached Double-A Somerset and hit.267/.336/.444/.780 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, 29 doubles, and four triples.
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Yankees Retained Top Prospect from Corbin Burnes, Dylan Cease Trades
The New York Yankees have rejected to sell top centerfield prospect Spencer Jones in exchange for star pitchers Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
“The Yankees put a large gamble on Spencer Jones, an all-around center field prospect and prodigy. “If they had been willing to give him up, they most likely would have had Dylan Cease or Corbin Burnes,” Heyman wrote on X on February 8.
The Milwaukee Brewers traded Burnes, the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, to the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month in exchange for infield prospect Joey Ortiz, young lefty pitcher D.L. Hall, and the 34th choice in the 2024 draft. According to Heyman, both the Brewers and the White Sox, who have yet to deal Cease, have insisted on receiving Jones from the Yankees during trade talks.
“The Yankees were undoubtedly aware of Burnes, and they spoke about him. “My understanding is that Milwaukee, like the White Sox, wanted Spencer Jones,” Heyman told Bleacher Report. “People adore Spencer Jones. He received inquiries regarding Dylan Cease and Burnes. So Spencer Jones, I believe, was the Yankees’ primary player, and they do not want to lose him.”
Spencer Jones Sets Aaron Judge-Like Expectations
Jones was recently listed as the 84th best prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline. He is 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, and bats left-handed. Heyman wrote “Is Spencer Jones the next Aaron Judge?” in his February 8 New York Post story.
According to Heyman, scouts believe Jones has the potential to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases. The Yankees invited Jones to spring training this year after he hit 16 home runs and swiped 43 bases for High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset in 2023.
Jones had a.267/.336/.444/.780 slash line over two levels, with 66 RBI, 29 doubles, and four triples in 517 plate appearances across 117 games. In the 2022 MLB Draft, the Yankees selected Jones with the 25th overall choice out of Vanderbilt.
According to Heyman, one scout rated Jones as a 70 runner (on a 20-80 scale, i.e., outstanding) who can play center field.
White Sox Lean Towards Keeping Cease to Begin Season
Burnes becomes a free agency after the upcoming season, but Cease does not until 2026. His two years of team control allow the White Sox to hold out for a favorable trade package.
“The White Sox are now seen as greater than 50-50 to hold onto Cease into the season,” Heyman said Feb. 8.
The Orioles made a trade offer for Cease before signing Burnes, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Nightengale has reported that the White Sox have requested Jones or right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton as part of their cease trade talks with the Yankees.
The Seattle Mariners have also been involved in trade discussions for Cease. According to Nightengale, the White Sox have expressed interest in acquiring young Mariners pitchers Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo.
