The Tuesday Discussion: Spencer Jones For...???

July 22, 2025

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This week we asked our writers to respond to the following:

Would you trade Spencer Jones for any of these players...

Emmanuel Clase?

Eugenio Suarez?

Steven Kwan?

Jacob DeGrom?

Here are their replies...

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Ed Botti - I'm not trading Jones at this point. 

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Ethan Semendinger - Yes, Yes, Yes, and Yes

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Derek McAdam - I would definitely consider throwing Jones into a trade for Clase and Kwan together. Both have multiple years of team control and can be a factor past the 2025 season for the Yankees. I don’t want to see them trade Jones for a rental such as Suarez, and I wouldn’t take my chances on an aging DeGrom, despite his very solid season. But hey, that’s probably where my inactiveness would come back to bite me if I sat out on DeGrom if I was a GM. 

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Tamar Chalker -

Emmanuel Clase? yes

Eugenio Suarez? yes

Steven Kwan? maybe

Jacob DeGrom? no

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Andy Singer - Yes to all but Suarez. However, only one of those players is truly on the market, and it's Suarez.

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Cary Greene - There's no way I would trade a blue chip type prospect like Spencer Jones for a relief pitcher, as that would go against conventional wisdom. That said, the Cubs did precisely that in 2016 when they gave up a can't miss prospect named Gleyber Torres, along with three other throw-ins, to land star closer Aroldis Chapman and the rest is history. They won a world series. That written, I'm against moving Jones for a reliever, even if the reliever happens to be a star closer. 

I'm also out on trading Jones for a rental player, so I'd say, "No Deal!" if the return was someone like Eugenio Suarez. Why would the Yankees trade a prospect as good as Jones has become for a few months of coverage at third base, when they could obtain someone like Yoan Moncada for a mid-tier prospect or two? Since Moncada came off the DL, he's mashing a home run in just about every 10 at bats.

Trading Jones for Steven Kwan is at least intriguing due to the two and a half years of team control attached and his ability to set the table and perform in the clutch, but the Guardians have the easiest remaining schedule in all of MLB and they're only 4 1/2 games out of the Wild Card right now. It's very unrealistic to think they'll engage in a big time sell off at the Deadline. If, perchance, they did want to trade Kwan for Jones, I'd still be against the Yankees biting. Kwan's value is largely defensive and last I checked, defense only impacts 5 percent of all runs scored in MLB games. Fans like to watch defense, but give me a Kyle Schwarber type any day, protecting Judge in the lineup. The Yankees future outfield consists of Dominguez, Judge and Jones. Hopefully, the Yankees can re-sign Cody Bellinger as well. I don't think Kwan is really a fit and I certainly hope they wouldn't part with Jones for him. 

Trading Jones for deGrom, I believe, is the most difficult hypothetical deal to ponder of the four we're discussing today. If healthy, deGrom impacts any pitching staff in baseball. The deGrominator comes with three years of team control as well, but his contract doesn't line up with Steinbrenneromics at all. I doubt Hal would authorize Cashman to take on deGrom's contract. Also, the Rangers are only 3 1/2 games out in the Wild Card chase but they have the fifth toughest remaining schedule in MLB, so making the playoffs will require them to buy, not sell. If Texas did want to trade a starter, perhaps Nathan Eovaldi's name would come up.

My stance is very torn here, but I think I would be supportive of the Yankees trading Jones for 3 1/2 years of deGrom. Meanwhile, I would not trade Jones for Eovaldi. 

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Paul Semendinger - Spencer Jones is mashing at Triple-A. His value might never be higher. The list of prospects who flamed out is legion. I am almost always in favor of trading prospects for established young players.

The question here is, "Is Jones for real?" The answer is (obviously), "Who knows?"

The problem with this group that the top two names are rentals and the fourth is an oft-very-injured pitcher. The idea, though of having them in pinstripes is very appealing, but not for Spencer Jones.

I think right now, while Jones' value is at its peak, the Yankees would have to acquire more of a sure thing that can give them multiple years. The only guy on the list that can provide that is Kwan, and I've wanted him on the Yankees for a long time, but that's still a tough one.

Right now, the Yankees have no spot for Kwan in the field. If other deals were made, and an outfield spot opened for Kwan, I would trade Spencer Jones for him.

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Andrew Hefner - Absolutely... NOT! Spencer Jones has been dubbed "Aaron Judge 2.0" since the moment he stepped foot in this organization and now when he is playing his best and doing his best Judge impression in AAA (over a .400 average and 10 home runs in 17 games with Scranton) and the fans want to trade him? Sure the Yankees need help right now if they want to make the strongest push possible at a championship but who knows how far one or some of those players will get them in a few years. We know Spencer is the future. 

If I had to choose a candidate of those four players, though, it would/should be Eugenio Suarez simply because Gil is on his way back which potentially removes the need for a starting pitcher like DeGrom as urgently, I think Jones will be a stronger outfielder in the future then Kwan is right now, and Clase has had his rough patches in the closer position just as the Yankees bullpen is having right now. Third base is the position needed most urgently, but again, Spencer needs to stay. I expect a high ask from the Diamondbacks that will probably include Jones in most proposals for Suarez.