TAMPA — Right after news broke late Sunday about the Yankees' surprise trade with the Minnesota Twins, we tracked down a longtime Major League pro scout to get some ideas on the deal and on those leading the way. Received latest scouting report. And as always, we allowed anonymity to receive an honest evaluation.
Here were opening remarks from scout for third baseman Josh Donaldson, shortstop Isiah Kenner-Falefa and catcher Ben Rorthwaite for the Yankees trading catcher Gary Sanchez and infielder Gio Ursella:
"The Yankees got lucky and pulled one off. Wow! I don't know what Minnesota is up to after all."
And here was his reaction that the Yankees eventually parted with Sanchez, who endured years of massive offensive and defensive struggles after being a star early in his career:
"I guarantee you the Yankees pitchers are partying because Sanchez is gone!"
Sure, especially Gerrit Cole, who wanted no part of Sanchez to catch him and usually got his way.
Here are the bios on the Yankees newcomers, along with a scouting report provided by MLB Scout:
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Age: 36 (37 as on December 8, 2022).
Size: 6-1, 210.
Bat: Okay.
2021 Hitting Stats: Twins, .247 average, 457 AB, 73 runs, 113 hits, 26 doubles, 26 HR, 72 RBI, 74 BB, 114K, .827 ops, 135 games.
2021 fielding stats: Twins, 13 errors, 271 chances, 952 fielding percentage in 92 games (91 starts) at third base.
The Skinny: Three-time All-Star (2014-16). ... won the 2015 AL MVP to lead the Blue Jays to a division title after setting a career high with 41 homers and 123 RBIs. ... was drafted as a catcher by the Cubs in the first round in 2007. ...was in the A-Ball in 2008 when traded to the Athletics. ... switched to third base in spring training of 2012 and was a regular season for the A. ... Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was called last season for using illegal substances on baseball before MLB's crackdown on the sticky stuff. ... scored 2 million runs in MLB history in 2021.
Scouting Report: "He's a power-lift guy, and it's all-field power. This guy will slay a fastball. He kills gals. You smash him stuff, he'll crush him. I really like him." Prefer aggressively. He's really aggressive, but it's a controlled aggression. He hits the balls hard. He can drive them to the other side. He's got great pulling power. And he's a solid third baseman. Who can really throw. Ursella is a better defender, but you don't lose much playing Donaldson at number three. He's going to do all the plays he should. He bags to make a play. And he has enough hands to get people out there. Makeup-wise, Donaldson is a little different. This is one of those guys where you have to treat him warmly in the clubhouse. He's on his own terms. Mann Ki Baat Kehga. He had a home run off (White Sox pitcher) Lucas Giolito last year and was running around the bases shouting, 'Now you sticky Can't use crap!' He'll pass out. But out on the field, he's a gamer. I'll go to war with him. One concern is that Donaldson has had enough injuries over the past five years to keep him off the field. If he can stay healthy So it's a big help for the Yankees."
Isiah Kenner-Falefa, SS
Age: 26 (27 March 23, 2022).
Size: 5-11, 190.
Bat: Okay.
2022 Hitting Stats: Rangers, .271 average, 635 AB, 74 runs, 25 doubles, 3 triples, 8 HR, 53 RBI, 20 SB, 5 CS, 28 BB, 90K, .670 OPS, 158 games.
2022 fielding stats: Rangers 19 errors, 669 chances, .972 fielding percentage in 156 games (155 starts) at shortstop.
The Skinny: Friday was traded by the Rangers to the Twins, then flipped to the Yankees a day later. …played full-time third base in 2020 and won the Gold Glove. ... is a mixture of Samoan, Hawaiian, and Japanese descent, a native of Honolulu.
Scouting Report: "Kinner-Falefa is good defensively. It just matters how much advantage you're going to have with the bat. He's more of a line-drive man, but his swing can be big. I guess That's a good opportunity for the Yankees. They're getting a cost-effective shortstop that's a stopgap until Anthony Volpe is ready. I have no problem going this route. Kiner-Falefa definitely over Gleber Torres There is a defensive upgrade. This guy can also play across the field. He played a great third base in 2020 and he can hold on for a bit."
Ben Rottvedt, c
Age: 24 (25 as on September 25, 2022).
Size: 5-10, 205
Bat: Left.
2021 MLB Hitting Stats: Twins, .169 average, 89 AB, 8 runs, 15 hits, 1 double, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 29K, .510 ops, 39 games.
2021 MLB fielding stats: Twins, 3 errors, 2 passed balls, 44% steals (7-for-16) in 39 games (28 starts on catcher).
2021 minor-league hitting stats: St. Paul (AAA), .254 average, 122 AB, 18 runs, 31 hits, 6 doubles, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 10 BB, 35K, .750 ops, 34 games.
2021 minor-league fielding stats: St. Paul (AAA), 1 error, 5 pass balls, 13% caught while stealing on catcher in 29 games (28 starts).
The Skinny: Career 44% has caught up in theft rate (94-for-253) as a minor leaguer. ... Drafted by the Twins in the second round from Verona (Wisk.) High in 2016. ... a native of Madison, Wisc.
Scouting Report: "At first, no one upgrades on Sanchez defensively, but this is a guy that everyone says is a really good receiver and his stats throwing base steerers are tremendous. He gets you to the plate." Won't bring much, but the Yankees are probably thinking they have enough offense. He'll be an upgrade handling the pitching staff better than Sanchez. I think the Yankees want to flip this kid over with Kyle Higashioka. Me OK with that. Also, the Yankees took care of the need to get a young catcher here who can play the position. The catchers they've got in the minor leagues... the jury is out on whether to catch former first rounder Austin Wells Going and two others who have used high draft picks in recent years, Josh Breaux and Anthony Siegler, I'm not feeling it with those guys."