NEWSLETTER
I’m befuddled right now. The theoretically rebuilding Washington Nationals reportedly just pulled off the biggest win-now move on the market … OPE WAIT, AS I’M TYPING THIS ALL JUST GOT CRAZIER.
OK, peep all this:
BREAKING NEWS: The Nationals sign DH Nelson Cruz to two-year deal, per @TenchyRodNYC. https://t.co/3oD3KqTGEY
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) March 14, 2022
CORRECTION: 2022 – $15 million & 2023 – $13 million. No option player, per @TenchyRodNYC. https://t.co/NEHbBxPM7V
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) March 14, 2022
BREAKING: The New York Yankees are finalizing a deal to acquire third baseman Josh Donaldson and shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Minnesota, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 14, 2022
Source confirms: Yankees acquiring 3B Josh Donaldson, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt for Gary Sánchez and Gio Urshela. First: @JeffPassan.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 14, 2022
So you’ve got the Nationals picking up Nelson Cruz on a two-year deal, the Yankees getting Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Twins (who just got him from the Rangers), and the Twins getting Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. My head is spinning.
Are the Nats about to make a huge push or something? Are the Yankees now satisfied with the left side of their infield with these two guys (and Gleyber Torres at second)? Are the Twins … what ARE the Twins doing?
Now what happens with the teams that wanted Cruz, like the Padres and Dodgers? Are the Padres confident they’re getting Seiya Suzuki as their big bat, so they moved on and Cruz pivoted? Does that mean prospect-buying trades are off the table, or are they as important as ever? And does this mean the Dodgers think they maybe really are getting Freddie Freeman? Does this open up the floodgates on the other bat-only guys? I’M STARTING TO LOSE IT.
This is madness. I’ll have to think.
UPDATE: In the meantime, the reporting out of New York suggests, yes, this takes them out of the shortstop market (to the extent they were ever really in it):
Kiner-Falefa was long a target of the #Yankees. See him as SS until Peraza or Volpe is ready. At this moment, NYY IF likely LeMahieu at 1b, Torres at 2b, Kiner-Falefa at SS, Donaldson at 3b.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 14, 2022
UPDATE 2: Indeed, other folks are wondering what the Twins are doing. But they moved a lot of money out:
The #MNTwins aren't done doing whatever they are, especially after all of Josh Donaldson's $50 million comes off the books.
"Lots of irons."
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 14, 2022
UPDATE 3: On Cruz, it really is happening with the Nationals, though Rosenthal says it’s one year, and Heyman clarifies that the second year is a mutual option:
Free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz in agreement with Nationals on one-year contract, pending physical, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 14, 2022
Cruz deal is 1 year plus mutual option #nats
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 14, 2022
UPDATE 4: Now the Yankees might move on to Anthony Rizzo, and talks between the Astros and Carlos Correa are “intensifying.” NEAT!
