MLB Rumors: Red Sox Rival Will Only Trade Top Prospect On One Farfetched Condition
The Boston Red Sox will keep close tabs on how their American League East adversaries navigate the trade deadline. They apparently won’t see the New York Yankees exchange a certain prospect for immediate help.
Spencer Jones could draw massive interest if the Yankees made him available. The 24-year-old is currently the most dangerous hitter in the minors, batting .317/.413/.702 with 29 home runs this season.
Don’t expect Jones to change places on Thursday. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees have reportedly told teams that they’d only trade Jones in a deal for Paul Skenes.
Observers have argued that the Pittsburgh Pirates should entertain offers for their generational ace, who has a 1.89 ERA through 45 career starts. The 23-year-old would command an astronomical return — far more than Jones — for a reeling franchise poised to miss the playoffs for the 10th straight year.
However, the Pirates have insisted that Skenes isn’t for sale. Heyman reiterated that the National League Cy Young Award winner is “not going anywhere.”
New York has spoken to Pittsburgh about other pitchers. Heyman said on July 20 that they have had “regular contact” with the Pirates about Mitch Keller, David Bednar and Dennis Santana.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Wednesday night that the Pirates are leaning toward keeping Keller, so the odds are astronomically against them changing their mind about Skenes anytime soon. Yet Rosenthal said Thursday afternoon that the Yankees are believed to be the front-runners for Bednar.
With contenders paying a premium for high-end relief pitching, the Yankees likely must move significant young talent to attain Pittsburgh’s closer. That presumably won’t include Jones, who has 13 home runs and a 1.380 OPS in 21 games since his Triple-A promotion.
Conflicting reports have emerged over New York’s willingness to move the 6-foot-7 slugger. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said the Marlins asked about Jones in talks for starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, but it doesn’t sound like they should get their hopes up.