Yankees trade Sanchez, Urshela to Twins for Donaldson, Kiner-Falefa

The New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins agreed to a trade that will see third baseman Josh Donaldson, shortstop Isiah-Kiner Falefa, and catcher Ben Rortvedt head to New York in exchange for catcher Gary Sanchez and shortstop Gio Urshela, the teams announced Sunday.

The Yankees will take on the remaining $50 million owed on Donaldson's contract, according to The New York Post's Joel Sherman.

Donaldson is no stranger to playing in the American League East, winning the AL MVP in 2015 as part of a four-year stint with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The three-time All-Star hit .247/.352/.475 with 26 home runs and 72 RBIs in 135 games last season in Minnesota.

Kiner-Falefa is on the move for the second time in as many days after the Texas Rangers dealt him to Minnesota on Saturday.

Rortvedt posted a .510 OPS across 39 contests for the Twins in 2021.

Sanchez will likely replace catcher Mitch Garver in Minnesota after the Twins traded the 31-year-old to Texas for Kiner-Falefa.

The two-time All-Star struggled at the plate in 2021 hitting .204/.307/.423 with 23 home runs and 54 RBIs in 117 games.

The Twins have no plans to flip Sanchez to another club, planning for him to split time with catcher Ryan Jeffers, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Urshela hit .267/.301/.419 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs over 116 contests last campaign for New York.