Yankees trade Gary Sanchez to Twins


It started with a bang and had many ups (and quite a few lows), but the Gary Sanchez era in New York ended on Sunday when the Yankees traded the two-time All-Star catcher to the Minnesota Twins.

In the deal, announced by both teams, the Yankees sent Sanchez and infielder Gio Urshela to Minnesota for third baseman Josh Donaldson, short-back Isiah Kiner-Falefa and goalkeeper Ben Rortvedt.

With the 29-year-old Sanchez, the promise of their pinstriped debut had become a somewhat distant memory. In his first 177 games with the team, his base percentage reached 0.353 and the home team 53 to 0.283, but only 0.201 in the last four seasons, bottoming out with an average of 0.147 in the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic. . He also struggled with passes behind the plate for most of his career.

The deal dramatically remakes the left side of the Yankees’ home field, with Donaldson, winner of the 2015 American League’s Most Valuable Player Award, in third place and a short take over by a defensive ace, Kiner-Falefa.

Donaldson, 36, has slowed down a bit defensively over the past few years, but has had a solid season on offense in 2021, shooting .247 with a .352 base percentage and 26 home runs. Kiner-Falefa, who will turn 27 later this month, is a stunning improvement in defense over the Yankees’ other options and has spent time at catcher, second base, short stop and third base in his career. He has only .316 career percentage at base, but has solid contact and speed to steal bases.

Rortvedt, 24, was called up for the first time in 2021 and struggled at the plate. He was a .241 career hitter and a second-round pick in 2016 in the minors.

While Kiner-Falefa and Rortvedt are low-cost options, Donaldson has more than $43.5 million in debt over the next two seasons and has a $16 million team option with an $8 million buyout in 2024. He also has a history with Gerrit Cole. Yankees accuse ace of playing baseballs to improve performance.

Urşela, 30, exceeded all expectations In New York, he hits .292 with 41 home runs over three seasons, providing excellent defense sometimes at third base.



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