Jones' second stint with Guards ends with trade to White Sox
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CLEVELAND -- Nolan Jones’ time with the Guardians organization has come to an end.
The Guardians traded Jones to the White Sox on Thursday in exchange for $250,000 in international bonus pool money. Cleveland also sent cash to Chicago in the deal.
TRADE DETAILS
Guardians receive: $250,000 in international bonus pool money
White Sox receive: OF Nolan Jones, cash
Jones has spent the entire season with Triple-A Columbus, after the Guardians outrighted him off their 40-man roster on March 20 before the end of Spring Training. Thursday’s move closes the book on his second stint with Cleveland, which ultimately did not pan out.
Jones was Cleveland’s second-round Draft pick in 2016, and he made his big league debut on July 8, 2022. The Guardians traded him to the Rockies that November in exchange for infielder Juan Brito, and he proceeded to have a breakout ‘23 with Colorado. Jones hit 20 home runs and logged a .931 OPS over 106 games that season, in which he finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year Award voting.
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Jones had an injury-riddled 2024 campaign with the Rockies (three home runs, .641 OPS in 79 games), and the Guardians reacquired him on March 22 last year in exchange for Tyler Freeman. Jones was a potential bounce-back candidate as he rejoined his first organization, but he had a tough ‘25 season.
Jones logged a .211/.296/.304 slash line with five home runs over 136 games last year, before he finished the season on the injured list with a right oblique strain.
The 2026 season represented a fresh slate for Jones, with whom the Guardians avoided arbitration in November by agreeing to a contract worth $2 million. He had a tough Spring Training, and Cleveland outrighted him to help alleviate a crowded outfield picture featuring up-and-comers such as Chase DeLauter and Angel Martínez.
Jones has performed well with Columbus, recording a .275/.385/.460 slash line with nine doubles, eight home runs, 31 RBIs and 32 walks with 55 strikeouts over 52 games. But it grew increasingly tough to chart a path for him back to Cleveland this season, given the Guardians’ organizational outfield logjam.
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Cleveland's big league roster includes DeLauter, Martínez, Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneemann. Columbus’ roster includes Petey Halpin, CJ Kayfus and George Valera, all of whom made their big league debut in 2025 and have had a stint in the Majors this season.
There is also Kahlil Watson (ranked as the Guardians’ No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline), who is vying for his first callup to The Show.
In a recent development, first baseman Ralphy Velazquez (No. 2 prospect, No. 56 overall) and catcher Cooper Ingle (No. 3 prospect, No. 70) have also started to see time in the outfield. The Guardians are adding some versatility to their tool kit, as a potential additional pathway for them to reach the Majors.
The White Sox noted Jones will report to Triple-A Charlotte on a Minor League deal. Chicago (36-31) entered Thursday a half-game ahead of Cleveland (37-33) in the AL Central standings. The two clubs are set to square off for the first time this season from June 22-24 in Chicago.
Whether we see Jones down the road this season, he’ll look to chart his path back to the Majors elsewhere.