Brian Cashman finally sprung into action on March 13.
After months of offseason inactivity due to the MLB lockout, the Yankees general manager pulled off a trade that he later said “settled a lot of business,” landing Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa — along with catcher Ben Rortvedt — from the Twins in exchange for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela.
The Yankees believed the blockbuster trade allowed them to get better at three positions in the infield, as well as behind the plate. At the time, the Yankees had not yet acquired catcher Jose Trevino from the Rangers (for practically nothing, as it turned out).
“We feel by doing this trade we upgraded defensively and offensively at third and at shortstop and placed [Gleyber Torres] in a position that he’s best at: second base,” Cashman said during spring training in Tampa. “So I think the infield side upgraded for the defense and on the catching side as well. So the overall feel for us is that it settled a lot of interests on our end with one transaction with one particular team … and still provides flexibility. And at the same time, we retain prospects a lot of people ask for.”
