Yankees acquire two minor league players from Phillies

Art or Photo Credit: YES Network

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.