The Yankees used Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Pirates as one more stage for Spencer Jones, and they made sure the spotlight was bright.
With the trade deadline approaching and Jones and Jasson Domínguez both reportedly available, New York gave Jones the kind of runway that leaves no doubt about what they wanted to see. He started against Mitch Keller, hit third, and did it as the designated hitter, keeping him out of the outfield for at least the first game. The move came with the Yankees having a 27th man available because of Tuesday night’s weather delay, giving them one last chance to bring Jones up with the roster fully healthy.
Jones’ profile is easy to understand even if the fit around him is not. He can play center field, but the swing-and-miss has always been part of the package.
That hasn’t changed. What has stayed loud is the power, the kind that can’t be coached out of a player.
He’s down to ninth on Baseball America’s Top 30 list, but he still managed an .808 OPS in his second big-league stint this season.
Domínguez, meanwhile, remains a tougher read. The source of the Yankees’ uncertainty is clear: he doesn’t have a defensive home, and his bat hasn’t done enough during an extended look this year to erase that issue. Jones, by contrast, still carries a ceiling that could make him appealing to another club as a secondary piece in a deadline deal.
The Yankees’ roster maneuvering around the doubleheader added another layer to the day. Max Fried was moved up ahead of schedule to start the second game, while Gerrit Cole and Fried were set to be active together on the same roster for the first time since Fried signed with the team. Another move was expected later, likely involving the bullpen, with Jones filling the extra-man spot.
The timing also stirred up some wild speculation on Tuesday night, after Fried’s rehab start was pushed to the Bronx and Will Warren was moved off the schedule. But for now, the Yankees’ most immediate decision was simpler: give Jones a chance to show himself in a premium lineup spot before teams start calling in less than two weeks.
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Yankees May Be Sending A Quiet Message About Anthony Volpe
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George Lombard Jr. is part of that conversation, too, which is why this feels like more than a simple midseason shuffle. The organizations willingness to think about the position now suggests Volpes role is being viewed through a different lens than it was earlier in the year, and the next move at shortstop could say plenty about how the Yankees see their present and their future. [Read more 🡒]