In a deadline market that saw some teams overpay in desperation, the New York Yankees opted for patience—and perhaps, for once, that patience will pay off.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees declined to include top prospects Spencer Jones or George Lombard Jr. in trade offers for Miami Marlins pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. The Marlins, who control Alcantara through 2027 and Cabrera through 2029, were seeking a significant return. Though the Cubs and Red Sox reportedly pushed hard for a deal, “no one came especially close,” per Heyman.
The Yankees’ reluctance to meet Miami’s high asking price sparked frustration from parts of the fanbase, especially after the team failed to make a significant splash at the deadline. But in retrospect, the front office’s discipline could age well.
The Cost Was Too High for a Risky Bet
Alcantara’s resume is undeniable. He won the 2022 National League Cy Young Award and regularly touches triple digits on the radar gun. However, despite some encouraging recent outings, the 28-year-old is coming off Tommy John surgery and has yet to return to ace form fully. His 2025 season has been uneven, and although his fastball velocity ranks in the 91st percentile, durability questions linger.
Edward Cabrera, meanwhile, has impressed with a 3.35 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 18 starts. His second-half surge—marked by a 2.61 ERA with 48 strikeouts and just 14 walks since June—justified the Marlins’ high asking price. But Cabrera has also struggled with consistency and remains a volatile long-term bet.
In either case, trading away Spencer Jones—widely considered the Yankees’ top power-hitting prospect—for an arm with injury risk or command concerns would’ve been a significant gamble. Jones is batting over .400 at Triple-A and looms as the Yankees’ potential future in right field, especially with Giancarlo Stanton’s health always in question and Aaron Judge battling lingering elbow issues.
George Lombard Jr., a fast-rising shortstop prospect with athleticism and plate discipline, also figures prominently in New York’s long-term plans.
Protecting the Future While Surviving the Present
The Yankees could’ve justified going all-in. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are out for the season. Luis Gil hasn’t thrown a pitch in 2025. The rotation, while bolstered slightly by deadline additions like Austin Slater and internal patchwork, remains a concern.
Still, the decision to stand firm suggests the front office is taking a broader view that considers the rest of 2025 and the club’s competitive window through 2027. If Spencer Jones becomes the Yankees’ next great slugger, this deadline could be when they avoid a costly mistake.
It’s not like the Yankees sat out completely. They’ve remained active on the reliever market and getting many bullpen arms. However, a deal wasn’t meant to be, with Miami unwilling to budge on the return for Alcantara or Cabrera, and New York firm in its stance on Jones.
The Yankees may have been missing that kind of long-term thinking in recent years. Despite all the talk about New York’s win-now mentality, the organization has repeatedly burned itself by trading too aggressively for short-term fixes. Recent deadline acquisitions have failed to move the needle from Joey Gallo to Frankie Montas, often at the expense of prospects who found success elsewhere.
By holding onto Jones and Lombard Jr., the Yankees are betting on internal development rather than chasing risky upgrades—and given the strength of the AL East arms race, that caution may end up being the smartest gamble of all.
Yankees Refused to Deal Top Prospects for Pitching