When trade rumors start to swirl around a top star, it usually means he is already halfway out the door. However, that is not the case here. The Yankees could have shown slight openness to dealing their 6-foot-7 slugging outfielder, but only if the return is astronomical.
As per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, “The Yankees are open to trading prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones, rival GMs say.” However, Jon Heyman quickly pumped the brakes, highlighting the only name that moves the needle: “Jones (1.407 OPS in AAA) also isn’t going anywhere. The only type of player they’d trade him for is Paul Skenes, who’s off the table, and that’s a very limited category.”
Let’s pause. Paul Skenes is not just another top star; he is the kind of star that teams build around. So when the Yankees slap Skenes as the bar to clear for Jones, they are sending a message loud and clear: they are not bluffing. Spencer Jones has cranked 13 homers in just 19 Triple-A games and dropped a three-homer bombshell at Rochester. This has boosted the star’s OPS to an absurd 1.407. That is video game-level dominance—hardly the kind of bat you give away unless the return is borderline generational.
Still, the timing could not be more intricate. Aaron Judge just hit the IL with a flexor strain, and naturally, fans looked to Jones as a logical call-up. However, then came the hiccup, back spasms, which sidelined the star just as the scope opened up. Jon Heyman said, “It doesn’t sound like red-hot Spencer Jones will get the call to replace Judge now. Jones missed a game with back spasms. Not sure if that’s the reason they appear to be leaning elsewhere.” Translation? Even with the door wide open, the Yankees are treading carefully.
Despite lingering issues from earlier in the season, specifically related to his strikeout rate, Spencer Jones has flipped the script. The star is no longer just a “maybe someday” prospect. He is now a “maybe never leaving” kind of guy, and unless someone breaks protocol with a blockbuster offer, think Skenes or bust, the team looks dead set on keeping their giant slugger right where he is.
That said, it is not just Skenes who fit the bill. With the team targeting outfield insurance amid Judge’s absence, a power-speed combo like Jarren Duran could become a parallel-worthy star. When it comes to bullpen enhancement, the Yankees have already been floated in a powerful swap for Guardians’ closer Emmanuel Clase, a deal engaging with multiple high-ranking stars like Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, Cade Smith, and Brando Mayea. However, the Guardians are not going to loss Clase without a serious tug-of-war.
Jones (1.407 OPS in AAA) also isn’t going anywhere. The only type of player they’d trade him for is Paul Skenes, who’s off the table, and that’s a very limited category. https://t.co/pOKtyLk03F
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 26, 2025
However, while the Yankees are standing firm on Spencer Jones, the buzz around Skenes is establishing a ripple effect that could shake the trade deadline to its core.
Pirates under pressure as Paul Skenes trade chatter gains steam.
On the surface, trading a generational star with a 1.91 ERA looks borderline insane. However, when your offense ranks dead last in the NL and your record stands at 43-62, decisions get intricate. This is the situation the Pirates find themselves in, with Paul Skenes dominating every five days and the rest of the team letting him down. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year carries a 5–8 record, not for lack of effort, however, because the star is working with minimal support. Now, with the trade deadline coming quickly, the whispers are getting louder.
Veteran analyst Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is not sugarcoating it: “The Pirates should give up… there is zero chance they will sign him to a long-term deal.” His argument boils down to harsh, however, valid logic—the Pirates will not be contenders until Skenes is gone, and Bob Nutting’s track record of frugal spending makes a mega-extension look unrealistic. However, insiders like Jim Bowden and Jeff Passan are hearing that rival GMs are crafting serious offers to test the Pirates’ resolve.
This is where things get interesting: Skenes is signed through 2029 for just $875,000 per season, making Skenes a cost-effective star in MLB. If the Pirates thought to turbocharge a rebuild, now is the time. A Paul Skenes deal could net the team a franchise-altering haul—perhaps someone like Spencer Jones if the stars align. Such a swap could look sacrilegious to fans, however, for a team clinging to long-period hope, it is not completely off the table.
Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Whether the Pirates pull the trigger or not, one thing is clear: the clock is ticking, the offers are real, and the decision could define the Pirates’ next decade.
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