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Spencer Jones has been labeled as one of the Yankees’ top trade candidates this offseason
The New York Yankees have made an important decision on top prospect Spencer Jones. On Monday, the team announced before its spring training game that they have optioned OF Spencer Jones and RHP Elmer Rodríguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and reassigned them to minor league camp.
Spencer Jones was already considered a long shot to break camp with the big-league club, but this deal pretty much seals his fate as having to be a mid-season call-up. The moves signal that the Yankees believe in both players’ futures, but the start of 2026 isn’t going to be the time for their big-league debuts.
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Spencer Jones Likely to Not Open 2026 Season with the Yankees
GettyTAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 17: Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during New York Yankees Photo Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 17, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Unless the New York Yankees deal with some catastrophic injuries in the next two and a half weeks, Spencer Jones will start the 2026 season in the minor leagues.
While this decision likely hurts Spencer Jones, he still has to rid his game of too many swings and misses, which he will look to figure out with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
EmpireSportsMedia.com has covered this Spencer Jones situation closely and has intel on why he’s not going to be on the Opening Day roster:
“Jones came into spring training with a clear mission: force his way onto the Opening Day roster as the fourth outfielder. What he showed in nine Grapefruit League games was both tantalizing and terrifying.”
“The 24-year-old hit .333/.455/.889 this spring with three home runs and seven RBIs. His 225 wRC+ was absurd. He looked ready to punish major league pitching. Then you see the strikeout rate: 27.3%. In nine games. Against competition mixing Triple-A arms with big leaguers working on secondary stuff.”
Over 67 games in Triple-A last season, Jones hit 19 home runs, but still struck out at a high clip.
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Yankees’ 2026 Outfield Outlook
There’s a chance that Spencer Jones gets a mid-season call-up, but two things will have to happen: Jones will have to continue hitting well in Triple-A, while improving his contact rate, and a current Yankees outfielder will have to fall out of the fold.
The ladder of those two things is where things get tricky for Jones, because most would consider Jasson Dominguez to be ahead of him as well. And New York has Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Trent Grisham as everyday guys in the outfield.
Maybe the Yankees find another spot for Jones, but for now, he will have to work out his issues in the minor leagues before getting a MLB chance.
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