Yankees trade Gary Sanchez for former AL MVP Josh Donaldson

Josh Donaldson Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees acquire former AL MVP Josh Donaldson, send two-time All-Star Gary Sanchez to Twins in five-player trade

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 3/13/22

The first weekend of a hectic, abbreviated post-lockout MLB offseason featured plenty of player transactions. Sunday night ended with a doozy of a deal involving five players swapping teams between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees.

Catcher Ben Rortvedt is headed to the Yankees along with Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, sources tell ESPN. Catcher Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela are going to Minnesota.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 14, 2022

Earlier on Sunday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was quoted as saying "we can win now with what we have", but the reported deal with the Twins will undoubtedly alter their starting lineup. While Sanchez has struggled as a defender, and has gone through multiple prolonged slumps at the plate over his seven MLB seasons since debuting with New York, his power is undeniable.

In 538 career games, the 29-year-old has mashed 138 home runs and posted a pair of 30-plus home run campaigns. Urshela meanwhile has been somewhat of a late-bloomer, as he broke out during his age 27 season (and first with the Yankees) in 2019.

That year, the infielder posted career-highs across the board in games played (132), at-bats (442), home runs (21), RBIs (74), runs scored (73), hits (139) and doubles (34), while posting a career-best .314/.355/.534 slash line as well.

Since making his MLB debut in 2010 with the Oakland Athletics, Donaldson has put together a resumé that includes an AL MVP award (2015), three All-Star nods and two Silver Slugger awards. He is coming off of a season in which he hit 26 home runs and collected 72 RBIs, while posting a .247/.352/.475 slash line over 457 at-bats in 135 games.

Crucial detail in the trade, per @Joelsherman1. ⬇️ https://t.co/IBIuiB4MCz
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 14, 2022

The versatile Kiner-Falefa has made at least 20 appearances at catcher, second base, third base and shortstop over his four-year career and had career-best marks in nearly every category in 2021 including games played (158), at-bats (635), home runs (eight), RBIs (53), steals (20), runs scored (74), hits (172) and doubles (25). This is the second trade in as many days for Kiner-Falefa, after he was dealt from the Texas Rangers to the Twins on Saturday.

After being selected in the second round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft, Rortvedt made his way through the minor league system and made his big league debut in 2021, earning 89 at-bats over 39 games. He finished the year with three home runs and seven RBIs.

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