NEW YORK — The New York Yankees locked up Cody Bellinger on a five-year, $162.5 million deal this week. The move addressed their biggest offseason priority. It also created a new question: What happens to Spencer Jones?
General manager Brian Cashman just provided a revealing answer. His comments suggest the 24-year-old slugger could be available in the right trade. For a prospect the Yankees protected at last summer’s deadline, that represents a significant shift in thinking.
Bellinger deal crowds Yankees’ outfield picture
The Yankees outfield is now packed with established talent. Bellinger will patrol left field. Trent Grisham returns to center after accepting the $22.025 million qualifying offer. Aaron Judge owns right field as the team’s captain and three-time AL MVP.
Switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez currently sits as the fourth outfielder after a disappointing 2025 rookie campaign. That leaves Jones with no clear path to playing time despite dominating at the minor league level last season.
“By agreeing with Cody Bellinger on a new contract on Jan. 21, the Yankees’ top offseason task was completed,” Pete Caldera wrote for NorthJersey.com. “And the potential for a significant trade exists, now that Bellinger is secured.”
Cashman opens Yankees door to potential Jones trade
The Yankees general manager’s recent comments about Jones caught the attention of MLB observers. It is rare for a front office executive to openly acknowledge that a top prospect could realize his potential elsewhere. Cashman did exactly that.
“He’s an exciting young talent that’s, again, unproved at the major league level,” Cashman said of Jones, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “We’re going to find out at some point, or somebody else would find out at some point, if they pry him away from me.”
That sounds like a green light for other teams to make offers on the 6-foot-7 power prospect. Just months ago, Jones was considered untouchable. The Yankees made him unavailable in trade talks for Sandy Alcantara at the deadline. Now the calculus has changed.
Jones dominated in minors but faces questions
The Yankees’ 2022 first-round pick put together one of the most impressive offensive seasons in the minor leagues last year. He hit .274 with 35 home runs and 29 stolen bases across Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His .933 OPS demonstrated the kind of power and speed combination that makes scouts drool.
Jones homered 13 times in his first 19 games after being promoted to Triple-A on June 27. He took the minor league home run lead with 29 during that stretch. His 90th percentile exit velocity reached an eye-popping 107.7 mph.
But the strikeouts remain a glaring concern. Jones fanned 179 times in 116 games in 2025. That followed a 2024 campaign in which he became the first Yankees minor leaguer ever to strike out 200 times in a season. His 35.4 percent strikeout rate would rank among the highest in the majors.
Baseball America left Jones off its 2026 top 100 prospects list entirely. He fell from No. 99 on MLB Pipeline’s rankings. The power is undeniable. The contact issues raise legitimate questions about how he will fare against major league pitching.
Yankees have clear needs to address
The Yankees rotation enters 2026 with significant uncertainty. Gerrit Cole remains sidelined following Tommy John surgery and is not expected back until May or June. Carlos Rodon underwent an elbow procedure and should return in late April or May. Clarke Schmidt had Tommy John surgery in July and could miss most of the season.
The Yankees bullpen also needs reinforcement. David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill anchor the relief corps, but additional depth would help. Top targets like Freddy Peralta went to the Mets. MacKenzie Gore signed with the Rangers. Tarik Skubal remains out of reach.
Jones could be the trade chip that lands a win-now piece. As Cashman searches for pitching help, the power-hitting outfielder represents significant Yankees value on the trade market.
Manager sees Jones knocking on the door
Yankees manager Aaron Boone still believes in Jones’ talent. He praised the outfielder’s development at the end of last season.
“He handled his business at the Minor League level,” Boone told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “Now he comes in with probably a more realistic look. Whether it’s to start the season or not, we’ll see, but it’s probably a more realistic look to where he’s now knocking on the door of the big leagues.”
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound lefty has drawn comparisons to Yankees captain Aaron Judge for his size and power potential. But unlike Judge, who had a clear path to the roster, Jones faces a logjam with no obvious solution other than a trade.
Jones has expressed his desire to stay with the organization. He told reporters his goal is to prove to the Yankees that he belongs in pinstripes. Whether he gets that chance in the Bronx or somewhere else remains to be seen.
Spring training opens in less than three weeks. Pitchers and catchers report to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Feb. 11. The Yankees have that long to determine whether Jones stays in the organization or becomes the centerpiece of a deal that addresses their more pressing needs. Cashman’s comments suggest the phones are open.
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