Spencer Jones is surging but Yankees could still deal him at deadline originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, rival GMs believe the Yankees are open to dealing prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones, even amid his recent power surge.
Jones has been on fire since his Triple-A promotion. He has 13 home runs in 19 games, a .308 batting average and 1.079 OPS in combined high-A and Triple-A action this season, including a three-homer game last week. That’s putting new power on display just as the trade deadline looms in July.
But New York evaluators haven’t forgotten he was a strikeout machine earlier this year. Through 76 games in Double-A, Jones posted a .238/.317/.401 slash line with a 36.9% strikeout rate, loud warning signs about swing-and-miss risks.
That dichotomy is what makes him intriguing and also tricky.
Jones is a first-rounder with elite tools. But after a slow spring and contact struggles early in the year, calling him polished would be generous.
Fans are going to freak out if he’s traded now—especially after watching a 6-foot-7 prospect rock nine dingers over his first 30 Triple-A games and earn Eastern League Player of the Week. But this isn’t about the hot streak; it’s about the long-term plan.
If the Yankees deal Jones, it’ll have to be for serious bullpen or rotation help. This isn’t a swap for fringe veteran average, but big-picture trade capital to plug holes at third base or in relief—as Judge’s elbow situation and a crumbling bullpen continue to remind them.
The upside is tantalizing, but the strikeouts are real.
Adding to the complications are that Jones just missed the last two games, reportedly with back spasms. He’s had a history of injuries already that will bring the same questions of durability that Judge faced earlier in his career.
For the Yankees, selling high on Jones isn’t about denying his tools. This is about asking what they think they can get back in return.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.