The Yankees have made their first splash move since the end of the MLB lockout. They agreed to a trade with the Twins on Sunday that sent catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela to Minnesota in exchange for a package headlined by third baseman Josh Donaldson.
Donaldson, 36, is coming off a 2021 season in which he posted a .247/.352/.475 slash line and 26 home runs in 135 games for the Twins.
The three-time All-Star and 2015 American League MVP is moving onto his fifth team in as many seasons. He still possesses pop but has struggled with injuries, playing 52 games or fewer in two of the last four full seasons.
Sporting News has the details of the five-player between the Yankees and Twins headlined by Josh Donaldson going to New York.
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Josh Donaldson trade details
- Yankees get: 3B Josh Donaldson, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa, C Ben Rortvedt
- Twins get: C Gary Sanchez, 3B Gio Urshela
The Yankees are offloading Sanchez and Urshela, key starters for them the past few seasons, for a package led by Donaldson.
Kiner-Falefa, who will be 27 on March 23, is arguably a more important piece for the Yankees than Donaldson. He who won a Gold Glove at third base with the Rangers in 2020 but projects to start at shortstop for New York. Gleyber Torres struggled at the position in 2021 before being moved to second base.
Kiner-Falefa is a versatile defender who has played third base, second base, left field and catcher in addition to shortstop. He also is a solid hitter; he posted a .271/.213/.357 slash line and a career-high eight home runs in 2021.
Donaldson and Kiner-Falefa project to be the starters on the left side of the Yankees' infield while Torres and DJ Lemahieu play second and first base, respectively.
Rortvedt, 24, will replace Sanchez at catcher and platoon with Kyle Higashioka. Rortvedt slashed just .189/.229/.281 in 98 plate appearances for the Twins last season but hit three home runs.
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— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 14, 2022
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The Twins are shaking things up their roster ahead of spring training. They traded Kiner-Falefa one day after acquiring him from the Rangers.
Sanchez will replace Rortvedt and Mitch Garver (traded in the Kiner-Falefa deal) behind the plate and add power to the lineup. He hit 23 homers for New York last season while slashing .204/.307/.423. The 29-year-old has had defensive issues — he has led the league in passed balls three times in the last five seasons.
Urshela, 30, is a slick-fielding third baseman/shortstop who found his hitting stroke with the Yankees. He slashed .292/.335/.480 and belted 41 homers in 1,092 plate appearances for New York over the past three years. He is expected to replace Donaldson at third base in Minnesota.
