If Cody Bellinger has a superb season in 2025, he’ll greater than possible decide out of his present deal. He’ll then hit the open market and pursue that massive cash deal that’s been eluding him. The Yankees’ present plan is to deliver up former first-round decide Spencer Jones, who’s projected to be big-league-ready this 12 months. Nevertheless, given how Jones struggled on the Double-A degree final season and just lately fell off the highest 100 prospects listing; the Yankees ought to rethink these plans.
The Yankees Present And Future Outfield Plans
The Yankees traded for Cody Bellinger this offseason to fill the outfield gap left by Juan Soto’s departure. Bellinger’s present contract accommodates opt-outs after every season. If the previous MVP succeeds in 2025, he’ll most probably decide out of his contract and pursue that big-money deal that eluded him final offseason. At any time when Bellinger leaves, the Yankees plan is to name up prime prospect Spencer Jones and slot him into an outfield spot. New York would love their future outfield plan to encompass Aaron Decide, Jasson Dominguez, and Jones.
Spencer Jones Confirmed Tons Of Promise Early On
Spencer Jones was drafted by the New York Yankees within the first spherical of the 2022 MLB Draft. The previous Vanderbilt product signed with the crew for $2.88 million. Some folks have already been evaluating him to present Yankees famous person Aaron Decide. The crew reportedly even refused to incorporate him in a commerce that might have netted them then-Brewers ace Corbin Burnes.
Spencer Jones confirmed great promise early on. It took him simply two seasons to succeed in the Double-A run on the group’s Minor League ladder. He was even chosen to play within the MLB All-Star Futures Recreation in each 2023 and 2024. In his first Spring Coaching with the massive membership, the 23-year-old slashed a scorching .444/.583/.722 with one homer, 4 RBI, and a 1.305 OPS. Nevertheless, regardless of the success and accolades, Jones is way from prepared for the present.
An Inconsistent 12 months At The Double-A Degree
Final season on the Double-A degree, Spencer Jones had an inconsistent season. He completed the 2024 season slashing .259/.336/.452 with 17 house runs and 78 RBI. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old solely had an OPS of .789 and struck out 200 occasions. Jones’s 200 strikeouts had been the second most variety of strikeouts in all ranges of Minor League Baseball. The one participant who struck out greater than Jones was Elijah Inexperienced of the Washington Nationals group. Jones’s 200 strikeouts additionally broke a Yankees Minor League file set in 2005 by Tim Battle. His struggles final season resulted in Spencer Jones not being inside MLB’s prime 100 prospects listing. The 23-year-old was beforehand on the listing final season.
Jones Isn’t Prepared For The Present
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In keeping with fangraphs.com, he’s presently ranked because the Yankees’ third-best prospect behind solely Will Warren and Jasson Dominguez. Whereas Jones is projected to be massive league-ready subsequent season, there may be nothing that’s convincing me that he’s. He’s nonetheless struggling to make extra contact and desires lots of work on plate self-discipline. Bringing Jones up now would end in him being the subsequent Joey Gallo within the lineup. His strikeout issues on the Minor League degree ought to warrant extra growth being wanted. The truth that he fell off the highest 100 prospects listing needs to be convincing sufficient that he isn’t prepared.
Kyle Tucker Will Be A Free Agent Subsequent 12 months
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Subsequent season, the New York Yankees have a projected $36,600,000 coming off the books. This quantity may develop if Bellinger opts out and if Marcus Stroman is both traded or his choice doesn’t vest. Outfielder Kyle Tucker is likely one of the most intriguing free brokers in 2026. Tucker was traded by the Astros to the Chicago Cubs this offseason. The 29-year-old will take a look at the open market subsequent 12 months and the Cubs are unlikely to deliver him again past this season. If Bellinger turns into a free agent, the Yankees may have a gap of their outfield to fill.
Tucker is left-handed and may hit for energy; this performs completely at Yankee Stadium. Extra importantly, he’s very disciplined on the plate, not like Spencer Jones. The Yankees initially tried to commerce for him this offseason. Nevertheless, Houston needed reigning Rookie of the 12 months Luis Gil to be included in any deal for Tucker. Realizing the previous Astros star was going to check free company, the Yankees neatly backed out. Whereas Tucker received’t be low cost, that is the smarter transfer to make. He may additionally maybe give the Yankees the identical manufacturing that Juan Soto gave them final season.
The Yankees Ought to Think about One other Path
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Whereas the present plan is to deliver Spencer Jones to the massive membership every time Cody Bellinger leaves, New York ought to rethink. The 23-year-old continues to be struggling to make extra contact and strikes out manner too typically. This isn’t going to play nicely on the MLB degree. The previous Vanderbilt product’s current fall from the highest 100 prospects ought to persuade the crew to look into different plans. Kyle Tucker goes to be a free agent subsequent 12 months and many cash is coming off the Yankees books. Signing Tucker could be the smarter transfer to make quite than calling up the strikeout-prone Spencer Jones.
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