Yankees might've hinted at Spencer Jones plan after trade deadline decision

Spencer Jones has done everything needed to earn a major league call-up this year. After starting the year in Double-A, the towering prospect earned a promotion to Triple-A, where he’s hit .360 and mashed 13 home runs in just 25 games. 

And while the Yankees could have used that uptick in production to flip him for an established big leaguer at the trade deadline, the team instead chose to hold onto Jones in the hopes that he can be the next big thing in the outfield.

At this point, it seems like it’s just a matter of time until we get a chance to see him don the pinstripes for the first time. 

Yankees might've hinted at Spencer Jones plan after trade deadline decision

While the Yankees have plenty of players who are DFA-worthy to free up a spot for Jones, it seems like the Yankees will probably wait until rosters expand in September to call him up, which could honestly be the best thing for him. 

The Yankees are barely hanging on to a Wild Card spot thanks to their poor run of play as of late, which all but confirms that they’ll be playing competitive baseball in September — which should do nothing but help Jones. 

Not only will he get a chance to audition himself for 2026, but the Yankees will also get a chance to see how he manages the pressure that comes with playing high-stakes games at the big league level. 

Although Jones will need to do a lot to justify the hype around him (especially since he was the thing standing between the Yankees and a former Cy Young winner), his minor league track record makes it seem like he shouldn’t have too much trouble adjusting to big league pitching. 

Some strong production from him could also help the team figure out what it wants to do with its outfield for next year. Aaron Judge is still tracking to return as an outfielder next year (even if it may not be the best thing for the future of his career), while Jasson Domínguez has shown enough to earn another year as the team’s left fielder. 

The biggest question mark is around Trent Grishman, who has put together a solid bounce-back season and will be a free agent in November. If the Yankees truly think Jones can handle center field (he’s played 268 games in center in the minors), then letting Grisham leave in free agency is a no-brainer. 

Grisham may be a better fielder, but Jones is (theoretically) a better hitter who is cheaper and comes with six years of team control.

As of now, it looks like the Yankees made the right decision to hold onto Jones at the trade deadline. We’ll have to wait and see if that remains true in 2026.