New York Yankees Star Prospect Was Sought In Three Trade Talks
The New York Yankees have one of the better stocked farm systems in Major League Baseball. Recently, both Baseball America and ESPN ranked it among the Top 10 in baseball.
Among the top prospects in the system and in all of baseball is an outfielder that was ranked in the Top 100 in baseball according to MLB Pipeline.
Due to that status, outfielder Spencer Jones — who one day could be the Yankees’ starting center fielder — was sought as part of the return in three separate trades the Yankees either ultimately executed or passed on, according to the New York Post.
Early in trade talks to get outfielder Juan Soto, the Post reported that Jones was one of the players the Padres were interested in during early discussions.
Ultimately, the Yankees didn’t have to give up Jones. Instead, the Yankees got Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham for five players — catcher Kyle Higashioka, along with pitchers Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Jhony Brito and Drew Thorpe.
But the Padres weren’t the only team focused on getting Jones in a trade.
The Yankees, per the Post, were interested in getting Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes. His former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, wanted Jones so much that it’s believed Jones was to be the key prospect in a deal that never came to pass.
The deal didn’t take, and Burnes ended up with the Yankees’ AL East rival, the Baltimore Orioles.
Third, the Yankees were interested in acquiring Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease. The White Sox are believed to be holding out for the best package possible. The Post reported that the White Sox also saw Jones as the key prospect in the deal. Cease is still with the White Sox, for now.
That likely shows how the Yankees feel about Jones, who could be on the verge of joining the Yankees soon.
Jones reached Double-A Somerset last year and slashed .267/.336/.444/.780 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI, along with 29 doubles and four triples.
