Isiah Kiner-Falefa News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/isiah-kiner-falefa/ Minnesota sports, but different Mon, 14 Mar 2022 13:57:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Isiah Kiner-Falefa News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/isiah-kiner-falefa/ 32 32 Twins Trade Josh Donaldson and New Shortstop to Yankees https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/twins-trade-josh-donaldson-and-new-shortstop-to-yankees/ Mon, 14 Mar 2022 02:45:03 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=38267 What was your favorite Isiah Kiner-Falefa moment, Minnesota Twins fans? Because just hours after trading for their new shortstop, Derek Falvey turned around on Sunday night and dealt him to the New York Yankees, along with Josh Donaldson, all of his money and Ben Rortvedt. In return, the Twins get veteran catcher Gary Sanchez and 30-year-old shortstop/3rd baseman, Gio Urshela.

What is happening?

It’s difficult to know what this move means for the Twins competitiveness this season. There have been conflicting reports coming from respected national baseball reporters (Rosenthal vs Nightengale) on whether or not the Twins plan flip Sanchez, much like they did with Kiner-Falefa.

With moves they had made leading up to this one, it felt like the Minnesota front office was well on its way to fielding a competitive team baseball team, come April 7. And while this trade doesn’t necessarily signal a rebuild, it’s certainly a step backwards for their immediate chances.

But what’s clear, is how much money they will save now and into the future. Josh Donaldson was on the books for $23 million in 2022 and $21 million in 2023. Sanchez and Urshela will combine to make just $14 million in 2022 and both are scheduled to be free agents when the season is over.

What Falvine does with money they’ve saved is what will dictate their relevancy in the upcoming season. If the Minnesota Twins really want to win now, they’ll double down and deal for more and better pitching. Currently, they sit $40 million short of what they paid in 2021 player salaries.

Stay tuned.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Mon, 14 Mar 2022 08:57:24 +0000 Minnesota Twins Twins Trade Mitch Garver for New Shortstop https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-trade-mitch-garver-for-new-shortstop-isiah-kiner-falefa/ Sat, 12 Mar 2022 17:10:20 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=38230 Well, the Minnesota Twins have made their first splash trade of this new Major League Baseball era. No, it’s not a pitcher. But it’s still somewhat of a blockbuster. They partnered with the Texas Rangers, dealing away Mitch Garver in exchange for 27-year-old starting shortstop, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and the #15 prospect in their organization, 24-year-old (AA) RHP, Ronny Henriquez.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a solid hitter in 2021, posting a .271 average to go with his 53 RBI. Just as importantly, he was available, playing in 153 games. But the Twins didn’t trade for him because of his offense. Kiner-Falefa is one of the top defensive shortstops in the MLB, and should give head coach, Rocco Baldelli, what he hade hoped to have in Andrelton Simmons last season.

If IKF can be as available to the Minnesota Twins as he was last season for the Rangers, and prove to be the lockdown defender he’s touted as, this would be a great start to their shortened offseason. But it’s far from over… hopefully.

Read more on AA pitcher, Ronny Henriquez here.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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