The Phillies have acquired right-hander Nick Nelson and catcher Donny Sands from the Yankees in exchange for minor league first baseman T.J. Rumfield and minor league lefty Joel Valdez, per announcements from both clubs.
Nelson, 26 next month, has seen action in parts of two big league seasons with the Yankees, pitching to a combined 6.43 ERA in a small sample of 35 innings. The former fourth-rounder has whiffed 23.8% of his career opponents against a problematic 16.1% walk rate in that time. It hasn’t been an illustrious start to his career, but Nelson has averaged 96.6 mph on his heater with a solid 12.5% swinging-strike rate — and he carries a solid track record in the upper minors as well.
Outside of a brief run in Rookie ball back in 2016, Nelson has posted at least a 26.2% strikeout rate at every level, topping out with a 4.07 ERA in 73 Triple-A frames to this point in his still relatively young career. The righty has also kept the ball on the ground at a 48% clip in the Majors while averaging just 1.03 HR/9. With a pair of minor league options remaining and extensive work both as a starter and a multi-inning reliever, Nelson can be a useful depth piece for the Phils for the next couple seasons at least — even if he doesn’t cement himself as a regular on the big league roster.
The 25-year-old Sands spent the 2021 season in Double-A and Triple-A with the Yankees, logging a combined .261/.326/.466 with 18 homers and 16 doubles. Sands also has corner infield experience — albeit mostly coming in the low minors — and he has the potential to step up as an immediate backup option to J.T. Realmuto now that Andrew Knapp is no longer with the Phils.
Rumfield, 21, was the Phillies’ 12th-round pick just this past summer, meaning he only just became eligible to be traded following the season. He was assigned to the Phils’ Class-A affiliate out of the draft, where he hit .250/.426/.263 with a double, 21 walks and 11 strikeouts in his first 107 pro plate appearances. Given his status as a recent 12th-round pick, he’s obviously not regarded among the Phillies’ best farmhands, but he’ll give the Yankees a lefty bat with some obvious plate discipline to plug into the low levels of their minor league system.
Valdez, meanwhile, has yet to advance beyond the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. He’s posted a 2.62 ERA with a 70-to-32 K/BB ratio in 75 2/3 professional frames, albeit against considerably younger competition. Valdez pitched this last season at 21 — more than two full years older than the average competition in the DSL.
At the end of the day, the move for the Yankees boils down to parting with some depth options to open a pair of 40-man roster spots and backfilling at the low levels of the system. Both Nelson and Sands give the Phillies some present-day depth options at positions where their own organization was thinner than the Yankees.
Nelson’s still a fascinating prospect
No. No, he’s not.
I believe we first have to define “fascinating.”
Yeah he throws a 100 mile per hour heater, and he still can’t get nobody out.
phillies got screwed
Surprised only one trade announced so far. They should open up a few more spots in advance of the Rule 5.
are you kidding me…
I laughed.
Why? What’s up with the recalcitrance?
wait, shoot, we got Sands. that aint bad.
No, not at all. He’s a good player and really came around this year offensively. He [may] not stay at C depending on which scout you believe, but he’s got a good bat.
Nelson has some good stuff too, just hasn’t put it all together yet.
i think he’s our backup C with Marchan not being ready.not a bad stopgap to try out. I wanted us to get a young backup C for the heck of it anyways.
Oh yeah! Cash moved….. 1+1= 2, guys off the forty. Wait, that seems like less than the five he needs to protect, and I didn’t think Olson was on the Phillies. Hm.
Watch Donny Samds become the next JT Realmuto –
Clipper, Yankees DFA Frazier, Odor and Wade.
Live at the Sands, great album. Basie Band. Sinatra.
Ricky Nelson not so much, just a heart throb.
yankees clearing out the record collection.
Digging through my 8-Tracks for that album (which was SENSATIONAL,BTW).
Then I’ll go to a Garden Party.
Opening cut, All Of Me. My brother knows the trumpet part by heart. Loves that arrangement.
This has Kilambi’s fingerprints all over it. I’ll reserve judgment for now.
Surprised the Yankees moved Sands.
They have a lot of catching depth, but yeah, he’s an interesting piece for sure
Good riddance
Nelson is still more of a thrower than pitcher and had a habit of blowing up. Sands is a converted catcher who had a good year with the bat. Nelson has decent upside if he ever gets it together. Sands is really a career backup in the making. I wouldn’t be surprised if NY took him back if he doesn’t stay on the 40.
Yankees fans were hoping to trade their fringe rule 5 draft depth for Matt Olson lol
Sorry,
800,000 people beat you to the exact same joke.
I can’t wait until next year when you guys come up with another one..
As fans hoping to have a team that doesn’t finish last for the next few years.
Why add lol to a joke that has been played by every yankee hater this year? You’re like the guy who references someone living in their mom’s basement and actually thinks it’s still a clever insult.
a 3 year vet of the DSL and a 1st baseman .with a.263 slugging percentage in A ball?
What’s the point?
Rumfield is a neat prospect in my estimation. soild college stats, fairly young for an ex-college player.
If Nick Nelson can drop 20 pounds,he can be a dominant reliever. Maybe 25.
Let’s just say he has the Sizzler app.
Sands could develop into a C/1B type if he hits. Could. If. Good gamble by Joe.
Sounds like Philly gave up nothing for a little something. As a yankee fan I’m so grateful to see Nelson gone. I don’t care if he later wins the Cy Young … See ya!!!
Yeah.
He was a pyromaniac out of the pen for us.
Sands should of been given the opportunity to split time with Higgy next year. Keeping Gittens over Wade and Sanchez over Sands. Is just crazy. Yankees better have a strategy because I’m not sure what they thinking about the moves today.
I am surprised about Wade being DFA’d. He looked like he was starting to have an impact last year and then they cut back his playing time. I remember Michael Kay being baffled by them pulling the plug on him.