The New York Yankees announced today that they have acquired minor leaguers INF T.J. Rumfield and LHP Joel Valdez from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for RHP Nick Nelson and C Donny Sands.
Rumfield, 21, made his professional debut this season with Low-A Clearwater, batting .250 (19-for-76) with 13 R, 1 double, 7 RBI and 21 BB in 27 games. The Richmond, Va., native was originally selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft.
Valdez, 21, went 1-1 with a 1.63 ERA (55.1 IP, 43H, 12 R/10 ER, 16 BB, 54 K, 0 HR) in 15 starts for the DSL Phillies Red in 2021. In two minor league seasons (2019, ’21), the left-hander has gone 2-2 with one save and a 2.62 ERA (75.2 IP, 68 H, 29 R/22 ER, 32 BB, 70 K, 0 HR) in 26 appearances (19 starts). The El Seibo, D.R., native was originally signed by the Phillies as a non-drafted free agent on September 22, 2018.
Nelson, 25, went 0-2 with an 8.79 ERA (14.1 IP, 14 ER) and 22K in 11 appearances (two starts) with the Yankees over six stints (4/1-25, 5/27, 5/30-6/4, 7/6-23, 8/7-8, 8/9-18) in 2021. Additionally, he went 3-4 with a 3.81 ERA (52.0 IP, 50 H, 31 R/22 ER, 29 BB, 62 K, 6 HR) in 29 appearances (five starts) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Panama City, Fla., native saw his first Major League action in 2020, making 11 relief appearances, going 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA (20.2 IP, 11 ER). Over his two Major League seasons, he has a 1-2 record with a 6.43 ERA (35.0 IP, 25 ER) and 40 K in 22 appearances (two starts). He was originally drafted by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.
Sands, 25, split the 2021 season with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, combining to hit .261/.326/.466 (89-for-341) with 47R, 16 doubles, 18 HR, 56 RBI and 32 BB in 94 games. Over six minor league seasons (2015-19, ’21), the right-handed batter has hit .268/.331/.382 (351-for-1,310) with 156 R, 69 doubles, 1 triple, 26 HR, 183 RBI and 115 BB in 368 minor league games. The Tucson, Ariz., native was originally selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.
