New York Yankees trade Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Minnesota Twins 

New York Yankees trade Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Minnesota Twins 

Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela, Josh Donaldson, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (L-R)

Shortstop and catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa had just found a new home with the Minnesota Twins and less than 24 hours later, he was traded to the New York Yankees. Alongside him, former American League MVP Josh Donaldson and catcher Ben Rortvedt were also exchanged for catcher Gary Sanchez and infielder Gio Urshela.

The 36-year-old Donaldson is under contract through 2023 after signing a four-year, $92 million deal with the Twins in 2020. Last season, he hit .247 with 72 RBIs and 26 home runs in 136 games.

The 30-year-old Urshela has spent three seasons with the Yankees. He batted .267 with 14 HRs and 49 RBIs in 116 games last season. Lastly, the 29-year-old Sánchez signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 2009 and has played his entire seven-year MLB career with them and batted .204 in 117 games in 2021.

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“Working to find a place to potentially improves our club”

Aaron Boone
Aaron Boone

Earlier, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had confirmed Urshela as the Yankees’ starting shortstop. The Cartagena native, whose natural position is third base, had started only 41 games at shortstop in six Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons with Cleveland (2015, 2017), Toronto (2018) and the Yankees (2019-21).

Boone further hinted that he was still expecting the Yankees to make some additional moves.

“I’m sure there are still things to be done across the game, and certainly with us, that is going to change that landscape potentially along the way,” Boone said Sunday morning. “I know Cash [GM Brian Cashman] and the front office right now is in overdrive and evaluating and having those conversations, whether it’s free agents, through trade markets. I know they’re working to find a place where it potentially improves our club.”

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