MLB Trade Rumors: 2 Recent Top Prospects in AL East Becoming Prime Trade Candidates

Is Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez becoming a trade candidate?

Evaluating prospects is always a tricky game. How many "top-ranked" young players just never pan out the way scouts and teams expected, no matter how much of a "sure thing" they were?

Two players who spent years as their teams' No. 1 prospects in recent seasons have now become potential trade candidates, according to Jon Heyman in the New York Post. Both of them reside in the American League East Division.

Jasson Dominguez, New York Yankees

He was the top international prospect in the 2019-2020 class and was signed by the Yankees for a then-record international bonus.From the end of the 2020 season until the start of 2025 on some lists,

"The Martian", nicknamed for his otherworldy talent, was generally considered

the top prospect in the Yankees' system (and no lower than #2 or #3).

Even after the outfielder underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow,

he remained at or right near the top of various Yankees' prospects rankings.

But 2025, his first chance to grab a full-time job in the Bronx and run (and hit)

with it, and it seems like those A+ skills have left the planet, as The Martian has batted just .257

with nine home runs and a near-league-average OPS+ of 99. Has he been

the "most overhyped prospect" in recent years for the Pinstripers?

Now, Spencer Jones is another elite outfield prospect tearing up the minors

and is knocking on the door of the majors. And with Aaron Judge and an almost certain re-signing

of Cody Bellingertaking up the other two outfield spots for the near future, Dominguez could

become trade bait for the Yanks this offseason.

Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles

Another player who spent three solid years as the top prospect in the Orioles'

system,(and No. 2 in all of baseball), Rutschman's stock has dropped considerably this

season. Now, not only have the O's installed their newest elite catching

prospect behind the plate in Samuel Bassalo, but they've signed him to a

record-breaking long-term contract on Friday.

Rutchsman, currently out with an oblique issue, has batted just .227 this season.If the Orioles decide that Bassalo can handle the tools of ignorance with enough

aplomb, they may decide to see what Rutschman can bring back in a trade.

Despite a bad 2025, he's shown more than enough at the major league level (two All-Star appearances and down-ballot MVP votes two times)to still command a nice haul for the O's.