As the Yankees look to address multiple needs ahead of the trade deadline, Moose doesn’t want to hear a peep about holding onto top prospects as a reason why Brian Cashman didn’t go all out for the biggest names on the trading block.
“The Yankees would not trade Spencer Jones for Corbin Burnes in the offseason,” Moose said. “If somebody calls and wants Spencer Jones from the Yankees - I know he is a security blanket with potentially losing Soto in the offseason…I do not want to hear that the Yankees did not want to give up Spencer Jones for a player that would be of great impact.
“Whether it be Isaac Paredes, [Garret Crochet], or Mason Miller out in Oakland, who has five years of team control, I don’t want to hear about it. Because prospects are that. You have no idea. And it’s not like Spencer Jones is absolutely tearing the cover off the ball in the minor leagues.”
The Yankees held off on big acquisitions like Burnes, Gerrit Cole, and Luis Castillo in the past because they were reluctant to part with their top prospects, and Moose says the team’s player development hasn’t been steady enough to warrant that kind of hesitation, especially not in an all-in season. He says Aaron Judge is the only prospect to reach his full potential since the Baby Bombers era, so prospect hugging cannot be what holds the team back from making a major acquisition.
“I don’t want to see the Yankees go out there and say ‘we need to protect our future.’ That is complete and utter nonsense,” Moose said. “I don’t care what Spencer Jones turns into. I really don’t. go out there and win a World Series.”