5 bold predictions for the Yankees heading into an all-important 2024 season

Spencer Jones becomes consensus top-10 prospect in MLB by end of season

And oh, yeah, there's that other guy! The Yankees would be wise not to thin out their minor-league depth further in a blockbuster trade following the Juan Soto deal. More specifically, they cannot afford to sacrifice either Dominguez or Spencer Jones, their two high-ceiling offensive contributors in the upper minors. Roderick Arias might qualify, too, and many believe he's poised for a toolsy breakout in 2024, but even so, it'll be quite a while before he cracks the big-league level.

Jones? He should be candidate to start in Alex Verdugo's spot on Opening Day 2025, and all signs point to a helium-fueled rise up the rankings in 2024. If Roman Anthony of the Red Sox can do it mostly based on advanced metrics, then so can Jones, who profiles as a top-one-percent athlete.

According to Chris Kirschner's recent Athletic profile, Jones counteracted his slightly average numbers in 2023 (ho hum, 16 bombs and a .780 OPS while reaching Double-A) with a swing tweak, and has also been encouraged to watch Kevin Kiermaier footage before he takes his top-tier speed to center field next season. A Dominguez-Jones-Judge-Soto outfield/DH core hardly seems impossible, presuming the Yankees pay Giancarlo Stanton to exit stage right before 2026 (and put the cash together for Soto).