After weeks of reading of nothing but lockout news on the baseball front, some real transaction updates in the MLB are starting to trickle down. For this one, it involves the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers, with both teams making a weekend swap.
Via Jeff Passan of ESPN:
The Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers are in agreement on a deal that will send shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Twins, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN.
While this isn't even remotely a blockbuster trade, it's refreshing to hear some news — any non-lockout news! — that makes baseball fans feel that the gears of an MLB offseason are truly beginning to grind.
In a follow-up update, Passan also noted that the Twins get catcher Mitch Garver in the deal. Kiley McDaniel of ESPN also reported that Isiah Kiner-Falefa will be joined by right-hander Ronny Henriquez in a two-man package to Minnesota.
The Rangers were not expected to move Kiner-Falefa after Josh Jung went under the knife to repair a shoulder injury in February. However, Texas still decided to deal the infielder to Minnesota. Kiner-Falefa is set to earn $5 million in 2022 and is arbitration-eligible in 2023, so the Twins have at least two years of control over Kiner-Falefa, who isn't too shabby with the bat. He is a career .271 hitter, though he has a mediocre .312 OBP and just a .670 OPS.
Meanwhile, Mitch Garver is a 31-year-old catcher who won't be hitting free agency until 2024. He appeared in 68 games in the MLB for the Twins in 2021 and slashed .256/.358/.517 with 13 home runs.
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