New York Yankees fans are upset with the front office.
Yankees Facing Backlash for Stance on Paul Skenes, Spencer Jones Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Other than generational superstar Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees haven't developed any elite players in recent years. However, they're hoping that No. 4 prospect Spencer Jones can be the next one.
The outfielder has 29 homers. 57 RBI, and a 1.115 OPS in 70 minor-league games this season, including 13 homers in just 21 Triple-A games. He also has a 1.381 OPS in Triple-A.
New York selected Jones No. 25 overall out of Vanderbilt in the 2022 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-7-inch, 240-pounder got promoted from the Rookie League to A-ball in 2022, and then from High-A to Double-A in 2023. He stayed in Double-A last season before getting the Triple-A promotion this year.
The Yankees are so high on Jones that they'll only trade him for one specific star, via The New York Post's Jon Heyman.
"Teams with good/great pieces consistently ask the Yankees about top OF prospect Spencer Jones," he reported." "The Yankees are consistent on this too: They will only trade Jones (and others in package) for Paul Skenes, who’s not available and not going anywhere."
Skenes has an MLB-best 1.83 ERA this season. The two-time All-Star also ranks third with a 0.90 WHIP and ninth with 146 strikeouts.
Teams with good/great pieces consistently ask the Yankees about top OF prospect Spencer Jones . The Yankees are consistent on this too: They will only trade Jones (and others in package) for Paul Skenes, who’s not available and not going anywhere.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2025
Yankees fans don't approve of the team's stance on Jones.
"Spencer Jones is gonna be 26 years old," one fan said. "We aren’t calling him up and we aren’t trading him, what exactly are we holding onto him for? Have we not done this same thing with innumerable other prospects? This org never learns."
"Jones is not Judge and will never be," another said.
"Who do the Yankees think they are? LMFAOOO," another said.
"No one falls in love with their prospects and falls short of expectations quite like the Yankees," another said.
"Yankees being delusional with how good their 'prospects” are?' Call me SHOCKED," another said. "Spencer Strikeout headlining a Skenes package when he’s a 24-year-old who just snuck in the top 100 [laughing emojis]."
Jones is ranked behind infielder George Lombard Jr., as well as right-handed pitchers Carlos Lagrange and Cam Schlittler, on the Yankees' prospect rankings, via MLB.com. Schlittler is with the big-league club, while Lombard and Lagrange are in Double-A.
New York's bout with the Tampa Bay Rays got interrupted by a rain delay on Thursday. The Yankees were up 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
