In a late night deal that makes you go, "What? When did I start drinking? Why is Ham's bear in my house?" The Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees announced a major league deal with five notable name-changing sides.
Stay here with me
BREAKING: The New York Yankees are finalizing a deal to acquire third baseman Josh Donaldson and shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Minnesota, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 14, 2022
Kinner-Falefa, who just joined the organization yesterday, now has to re-route her travel arrangements to the Yankee Spring complex. He is joined by Josh Donaldson, who played exactly 163 games for the Twins after headlining the club's free agent acquisition group ahead of the 2020 season.
Then it gets more interesting.
Source confirms: Yankees acquiring 3B Josh Donaldson, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt for Gary Sánchez and Gio Urshela. First: @JeffPassan.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 14, 2022
A day after parting ways with Mitch Garver, the twins acquire Gary Sanchez, who has a reputation for catching up at best and frankly at worst. Rumor had it that the Yankees had split with Sanchez at some point over the past few seasons, having found a suitor — well, here we are.
Gio Ursella debuted during the juice-ball campaign in 2019, but spent time in third and shorter last season, racking up just 96 OPS+.
Of course, Ben Rortvedt knew his forerunners in 39 games with Minnesota last year.
So, what the hell is here? Well, a key element of the deal is finance:
#Yankees are taking on all of the $50M that Donaldson is owed.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 14, 2022
This was probably inevitable for two reasons - one, it explains the need to take on Gary Sanchez. Two, it would have made no sense for the twins to part ways with the still valuable Donaldson, unless the arrangement freed up payroll. who does. At a Glance:
Donaldson owed $21M each of next two seasons. Kiner-Falefa projected to earn about $5M in arbitration, with another year of control remaining. Sánchez projected at $7.9M in final season before free agency, Urshela at $6.55M with another year of control left. @MLBTradeRumors
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 14, 2022
Okay, so —
- Trade your starting C
- Acquire a SS
- Trade the SS, your starting 3B, and a third-string C for a worse C and a worse 3B
- Then, indicate you don’t want the C
The Minnesota #Twins wanted to dump third baseman Josh Donaldson's contract. He is owed $50 million over the next two years, and they now will try to find a taker for catcher Gary Sanchez, who they have no interest in keeping.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 14, 2022
Then, point out that you don't want CThat to leave the twins with Ryan Jeffers, no other backstop, no shortstop, a fine third baseman, and about $20MM in free-up payroll. However, Ken Rosenthal's source contradicts that of Bob Nightingale:
Twins are *not* flipping Gary Sánchez, source tells @TheAthletic. He will share time with Ryan Jeffers.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 14, 2022
I'm not a betting guy, but if I were -- I'd say there's a free agent takeover in the works, and it could be a big one. With the moves made this winter, this move doesn't mean being a straight salary dump... there could be a new face on the twins within the next 24 hours, and maybe - just maybe! - It's an exciting one.
Josh Donaldson and Gerrit Cole are now teammates. #MNTwins #Yankees
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 14, 2022