The MLB trade deadline is less than a week away, and teams are typically scurrying around to various Minor League affiliates of the organizations they want to make deals with. In regard to the upcoming trade deadline, teams may seek to flip prospects they’ll have to protect by adding to the 40-man roster instead of losing them for essentially nothing in December. What tends to happen is that teams are more likely to part with Minor League Players that they’re hesitant to protect in potential trade talks with other teams in exchange for a Major Leaguer that can help the team now. It’s typically a huge risk for both the team sending the prospect away and the one taking on the responsibility of developing that prospect into a quality talent that can one day help the Major League team.
With rumors swirling as always this time of year, the Yankees have a number of decisions to make when dealing with other teams. In addition to the 32 players already “Rule 5” eligible, the Yankees have a number of other players soon to be eligible, as seen in the chart below. In regard to the upcoming Rule 5 draft, the Yankees have to urgently decide on 30 prospects, as we’ll get into below.
Of the 30 players that are Rule 5 eligible this December, a handful are recognizable among those who follow the system, and have the potential of getting called up when rosters expand in September.
Spencer Jones
If there’s anyone with household name recognition of the prospects listed, it’s likely Spencer Jones. “The lefty Judge” has been demolishing baseballs (they have a mother, you know) in Triple-A. In Triple-A, he’s on such an insane home run hitting pace, that in a 162-game season, he would hit 110 home runs. I had to check my math a few times, but he has hit 13 homers in 19 games, which works out to .68 HR/game. While his K% is still high (25.8%), it’s the lowest since his very abridged time in Tampa.
Regardless, it feels fair to expect that either the Yankees flip him for a significant name that they can retain for a few years, or he gets protected by getting added to the 40-man around the beginning of December.
Rafael Flores
An undrafted free agent in 2022, the same year that Jones was signed, out of a junior college southeast of LA, Flores broke into pro baseball with a literal bang. While he only spent 4 regular season games in the Florida Complex League (Rookie-level), he slashed .429/.429/.929/1.358 with 6 RBI, then in 3 postseason games where the FCL Yankees won the League Championship, he slashed .545/.583/1.182/1.765 with 3 RBI. The Yankees apparently liked that performance enough that he skipped Low-A Tampa entirely and started 2023 in High-A Hudson Valley.
The Yankees have been playing Flores like a lot of their other catchers in the system (think Ben Rice) in that he also plays 1B in addition to catcher, but he has nearly 5x the time behind the plate compared to at 1B this season. Of the group listed, Flores is the most likely candidate to get traded unless the Yankees trade Escarra, then he may be protected and possibly called up in 2026 (they would likely defer to calling up Jesus Rodriguez first since he’s already on the 40-man).
Chase Hampton
It’s a little difficult to predict what the Yankees may do with Hampton or how they value him considering the injuries he’s dealt with in the past 18 months. Hampton missed significant time last season, only pitching in 18-2/3 innings in 2024, with 13 of those innings on rehab. It was then announced this March that he would have to have season-ending Tommy John surgery, so likely we won’t see him until around April. However, Hampton has still put up decent numbers in his time with the organization, throwing a combined 3.63 ERA, along with a 12.23 K/9 and 3.12 BB/9.
Hampton may be a part of trade discussions, but it’s unclear whether they may or may not protect him.
Jace Avina
OF Jace Avina (Courtesy: Somerset Patriots)
Avina was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in November 2023 as part of the trade that sent them Jake Bauers, and he’s done well since he’s been with the Yankees. Nothing particularly stands out about Avina other than he has solid bat-to-ball skills and has a good sense of his speed (which he has plenty of). Avina isn’t much of a power hitter, but in 61 games, he has already matched the amount of homers hit last season (10).
Avina may be a small part of trade discussions because of the consistency he’s provided to the Yankees, but otherwise don’t expect him to go anywhere.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz
Rodriguez-Cruz, or ERC as he’s affectionately called by many on social media, has been an outstanding return in exchange for C Carlos Narváez from the Red Sox. While he’s struggled early after getting promoted to Double-A, Rodriguez-Cruz posted a 2.26 ERA in High-A, along with a 10.65 K/9 and 3.98 BB/9 in 83-2/3 IP. He mostly throws a fastball/sinker combo that sits high-90s and reaches 97 MPH, along with a low-90s change-up and a high-70s 12-6 curveball, and has good command of the zone.
I would expect that if Rodriguez-Cruz is dealt, it’s likely as part of a package (like with Jones) for someone that the Yankees can hang on to for a few years, considering he seems like a sure bet to be a Major Leaguer some day. I would also expect that the Yankees protect him in whichever way possible.
Geoffrey Gilbert
Gilbert threw in only 7 IP last year before landing on the 60-day, then full-season, IL, but he only allowed a hit and two walks in that span. Fast-forward to this year, and while Gilbert doesn’t have that kind of quality, he’s still throwing exceptional, reliable relief innings as a setup man: 2.42 ERA, 13.15 K/9, 4.15 BB/9. In his heyday, Mariano Rivera wasn’t throwing strikes anywhere near that rate. Of note, Gilbert somehow isn’t on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 (he would be on my Top 30), so it’s unclear how the Yankees value him.
I would imagine, though, considering he was used in a relief inning this past February during Spring Training, that he’s valued at least somewhat high. At the same time, most prospects can be moved for the right price/player, and I suspect that’s the case here.
Allen Facundo
Facundo is only just returning from a lengthy Tommy John recovery and rehab, but given the numbers he’s put up in the few outings since being back, it’s likely that he’s on someone’s radar. In his most recent outing in Dunedin, Facundo was averaging mid-90s on his heater, with velos nearly reaching triple digits (99.7), something new for him. He also threw a mid-80s slider, which I recall moving like a Wiffle Ball, along with one change-up which was thrown at 90 MPH.
Like Gilbert, I’m unsure how the Yankees value Facundo, as like Gilbert, he’s missed the last year so he’ll need some time to get re-ranked in the system. I suspect he stays put until at least next season, where he’ll be moved up and exposed to scouts in the Northeast.
Below you can find all (or most at least) players that are Rule 5 eligible, along with those having eligibility nearing, in PDF form. Data is courtesy Fangraphs.
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