Yankees fans will be glad fan favorite is staying in Triple-A after tough DFA

While it would've been almost impossible to fathom in March or April, utlity player Jahmai Jones managed to last on the New York Yankees' 26-man roster from Opening Day through the trade deadline.

Though he rarely was called upon, he managed to deliver on occasion when he was deployed, making sparkling plays in a series-opening win in Kansas City and post a .925 OPS against left-handers.

Unfortunately, that OPS came in just 25 plate appearances; he made just 47 total on the year, making it difficult to justify keeping him active for months on end with a bench short on offense.

Still, Jones became an integral part of the Yankees' clubhouse quite unexpectedly. The reaction to his first (and only) home run in May showed how much his teammates were pulling for him, and after he was DFA'd to make room for Giancarlo Stanton's return, Aaron Judge still completed his half of the duo's patented home run celebration on June 29.

Keeping Jones for as long as the Yankees did represented an underdog story. Cynically, it was also proof that the team didn't fully value all 26 roster spots they were given to operate with, but still, fans connected to the vibes he provided. And, in a spot of good news, he'll be sticking around.

JD Davis reached his timely end with the Yankees with a Friday release, but Jones cleared waivers after his DFA. He can now be called upon in a pinch once again, and will report to Triple-A Scranton rather than being claimed by an enemy.

Yankees fan favorite Jahmai Jones remains with team at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

Let's be clear: Jones showed a few nice flashes, and was an affable fellow. That doesn't mean he should be leading off in a Subway Series game just because the Mets are starting (shivers) aging lefty Jose Quintana.

Jones remaining with the organization as trustworthy depth, while also being replaced on the active roster, preventing Aaron Boone from using him in an incorrect spot, represents the best of both worlds here. Hopefully, he gets a shot as a pinch-runner at some point down the stretch when rosters expand.

Jones and Caleb Ferguson felt DFA-ready by early May. Somehow, both nearly lasted until August. Hard to believe, but it's safe to say the player Yankee fans have more positive feelings towards is the one who's remaining in the fold.