Word broke late Sunday that the Yankees had made a blockbuster deal, sending Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela to Minnesota for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and catcher Ben Rortvedt. It’s a move that came together quickly, but one that GM Brian Cashman noted helped the Yankees in two distinct ways.
“We feel like this trade upgraded us offensively and defensively at third base and shortstop, and placed Gleyber (Torres) in position he’s best at, second base, so we upgraded the infield at three spots and improved the defense on the catching side as well,” Cashman said Monday of the first upgrade.
The second way? The Yankees did it all in a three-for-two off their major-league roster, not having to worry about any free agent compensation or prospects, even if it did raise the Yankees’ luxury tax number a bit.
“I think the overall feel for us is that it settled a lot of interests on our end with one transaction,” Cashman said. “It solved a lot of areas of focus we had targeted, and at the same time we were able to retain prospects and not have to lose draft pick compensation, so we were able to save some bullets.”
The Yankees got a player in Kiner-Falefa who, in addition to solving the Yankees’ short-term needs at shortstop, told Cashman he always wanted to be a Yankee, and a third baseman in Donaldson who will bring an edge the GM admitted maybe the Yankees needed.
“He's got a chip on his shoulder that he brings every day; he’s an uber-competitor who is not afraid, and maybe that’s something we were lacking,” Cashman told Meredith Marakovits on YES. “He’s definitely got an edge to him, and maybe that type of personality will be good for us. He’s been wreaking havoc, but the big thing for him is health – when he’s healthy, he can do a lot more than what we’ve seen in the past. We appreciate what Gio has done, but he’s not Josh Donaldson.”
Added manager Aaron Boone: “Josh has been an elite player for a long time. He can still really impact the baseball, and what doesn’t get talked about is how good of a third baseman he still is. I feel like we got a really good two-way player. It’s always difficult to see guys you’ve been through the war with leave, but I’m grateful for all Gio and Gary did for this team and wish them well.”
Of course, there’s a down side to the deal, too, and in Cashman’s case, that’s having to tell a player in Sanchez, whom he personally flew to the Dominican Republic to sign way back in 2009, that he would be headed elsewhere.
“He had just left Mets camp, which is across the street from ours, and I wouldn’t let him out of our camp, essentially, because we thought he had a chance to be an impact MLB player,” Cashman recalled of his trip to the Yankees’ academy Boca Chica, D.R., in July 2009 to get Sanchez under contract. “He’s been that, and he’s got love for this franchise and cares a great deal.”
Not an easy call to make baseline, but harder when it’s someone you literally brought on board 13 years ago and have watched blossom into an All-Star caliber player, says the GM.
“You’re never comfortable telling most of the players that – some guys it’s a little more difficult than others – but he’s been with our family for a long time, so it’s even more difficult when you trace the connections all the way back to the beginning,” Cashman said. “We watched him overcome adversity and saw a lot of people bet against him, but he eventually climbed the ladder and that’s something to be proud of. It wasn’t a call I was looking forward to because I like Gary and we’ve invested a lot of time in him, and he us.”
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And that said, Cashman wouldn’t be surprised to see Sanchez at the All-Star Game this year, and he’s hopeful that the catcher has a great season…at least in 155 of the 162 games.
“It’s his free agent walk year so I wouldn’t be surprised to see an All-Star caliber performance, because he’s capable of that,” Cashman said. “I wish him well…except when he’s playing against us.”
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