The New York Yankees have acquired shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and former American League MVP Josh Donaldson, along with catcher Ben Rordvedt, from the Minnesota Twins, in exchange for catcher Gary Sanchez and infielder Gio Urshela.
Kiner-Falefa was traded to the Twins from the Texas Rangers less than 24 hours prior to be flipped to the Yankees, who have been in desperate need of a shortstop after Gleyber Torres failed to make a successful transfer from second base. Kiner-Falefa also plays third base and won a Gold Glove at the position during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
In Donaldson, now 36, the Yankees acquired a three-time All-Star, 2015 AL MVP and two-time AL Silver Slugger Award winner. Donaldson was also named the 2019 National League Comeback Player of the Year during his one-year stint with the Atlanta Braves. Donaldson was also one of the most vocal critics of Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for his diminished spin rate that coincided with MLB’s crackdown on the use of foreign substances by pitchers.