Why Do the Yankees Fail Repeatedly to Maximize Prospect Capital?
Prospect hugging refers to the practice of a franchise refusing to risk the perceived value of a young player by actually playing them. The New York Yankees, more than anyone, fear that if their prospects underperform, their trade value will drop, making it harder to win future deals. The Yankees’ approach to their minor league talent is riddled with contradictions. They are reluctant to play or trade their prized prospects, often ending up losing them for nothing.
This indecisiveness stems from the Yankees doing things their way to a fault, with a need to be right every time. If a prospect succeeds, they demand full credit. If he fails, they spin a complex narrative to deflect blame. Ultimately, the team is left holding the bag. Anthony Volpe is the prime example.
The Yankees passed on four elite free agent shortstops because they anointed Volpe as the next Derek Jeter. Three seasons later, those expectations proved too lofty. Volpe was billed as an offensive force, but that promise didn’t materialize. The narrative then shifted to his Gold Glove, casting him as an elite defender, but even that unraveled in year three as he committed 19 errors, with only Paul Goldschmidt’s skills at first base preventing more. The Yankees blamed an injury for Volpe’s average season, despite knowing about it for months. The word around the podcast world is that he is officially another first-round bust. Now, as he recovers from surgery, it’s unclear if he’ll ever become the player they envisioned.
The Yankees have consistently struggled with knowing when to trade a prospect. Gleyber Torres is a classic example. Teams were always interested, but after starting uncomfortably at shortstop and then shifting to second base, his performance regressed from his earlier peak. The Yankees missed several opportunities to trade him for significant value. Instead, they let him play out his contract without even extending a qualifying offer. He exited without any recompense.
Gary Sanchez burst onto the scene with a phenomenal rookie campaign, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 42 runs in just 53 games in 2016. However, after two seasons without the guidance of manager Joe Girardi and bench coach Tony Pena, his performance declined sharply. By 2022, Sanchez was traded for three players who failed to make an impact. Yankee hopefuls Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar were held back in a trade that would have landed Gerrit Cole in 2018. Frazier ended up with a concussion and never recovered. Andujar suffered a wrist injury that ended up costing 60 games. He was claimed on waivers after being designated for assignment in 2022.
The Yankees have a troubling record of managing the health of their young pitchers. Luis Severino became an ace in 2017, but persistent injuries derailed his career, with no clear answers from the team’s medical staff. Luis Gil won the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Award, yet even with limited innings, he missed much of the next season with an injury. Clarke Schmidt has also been frequently sidelined. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are both expected back late in 2026 after incurring arm injuries. The organization’s approach is further questioned as multiple minor league arms, such as Chase Hampton dealing with a flexor/UCL tear, Jonathan Loaisiga, who is suffering with a flexor strain, and Nestor Cortes with a biceps injury, have suffered major setbacks, leaving two gone from the team and one recovering from Tommy John surgery.
There was hope in the organization that they were turning a corner with their latest prospect pool. However, the results have been mixed. The Yankees have hit on Luis Gil, Will Warren, and now Cam Schlittler. Yet, they have mishandled two of their most hyped prospects in Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones. Dominguez was billed as the next Mickey Mantle, while Jones was to be the left-handed Aaron Judge. The real issue is the lack of a genuine opportunity for either to prove themselves at the major league level.
Jasson Dominguez made a splash in his debut with his memorable home run off Justin Verlander, but an elbow injury quickly derailed his momentum. He has not been given a meaningful chance since. Spencer Jones, now 27, remains an athletic outfielder, but the Yankees appear skeptical of his bat. MLB teams have shown interest in both players, yet the Yankees can’t trade them for the value they want because it’s clear to the league they don’t fully believe in either. If this pattern continues, the Yankees risk losing both players for nothing. Now, with the chase for free agent outfielders Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker and the return of Trent Grisham, the writing is on the wall. There is no room for these prospects to thrive after having sufficient time to find out what they were. It's a Yankee organizational problem that will continue until a single direction is applied.
