Spencer Jones has been a popular name for New York Yankees fans this week.
The prodigious power-hitting prospect was left off top-100 rankings this week, with concerns about his swing-and-miss limiting his upside in the mind of analysts.
But there's another quirk to Jones' future -- it's not even clear how the Yankees could play him.
Their offseason has left no room whatsoever for Jones, and we can see that by breaking down the lineup.
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Yankees projected lineup 2026
This is how the Fangraphs tool Roster Resource projects the Yanks to line up against right-handed pitching in 2026 to start the season, with it important to note that Anthony Volpe will be out at the beginning of the campaign due to injury:
- Trent Grisham CF
- Aaron Judge RF
- Cody Bellinger LF
- Ben Rice 1B
- Giancarlo Stanton DH
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B
- Ryan McMahon 3B
- Jose Caballero SS
- Austin Wells C
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The biggest problem for Jones' chances, as an outfielder, is that Jasson Dominguez doesn't even have a regular starting spot. Dominguez would start for almost any team, but he's relegated to fourth outfielder duties to start the season with the Yanks.
That makes it seem like Jones will begin the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and then it's a waiting game. Does someone get hurt? Or does he hit so well that he can't be ignored?
Until then, the Yankees won't have a spot for him, and trade rumors will only heat up.
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