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.
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.
