The Yankees have added some veteran depth for their second and third base openings in a three-way deal with Arizona and Tampa Bay.
Infielder Brandon Drury heads to New York from the Diamondbacks while Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and Yankees RHP prospect Taylor Widener go to Arizona.
The Rays get Yankees 2B prospect Nick Solak, along with LHP prospect Anthony Banda and two players to be named later from the D-Backs. The clubs have confirmed.
The Yankees have acquired INF/OF Brandon Drury from ARI. As part of the trade, INF Nick Solak was sent to TB and RHP Taylor Widener to ARI. To make room on the 40-man, OF Jabari Blash was DFAed.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 21, 2018
Drury, 25, appeared in 135 games for the D-Backs last season. He slashed .267/.317/.447 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI in 480 plate appearances. It was the infielder’s second full season in the Majors, having appeared in 20 games in 2015.
His addition will add some much needed veteran presence at second and third base, with rookies Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres competing to make the Big League roster. He also provides great depth with the ability to play the outfield as well.
The Yankees No. 8 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, 23-year-old Solak hit .297/.384/.452 between Tampa and Trenton last season.
Widener, also 23, was the Yankees No. 14 overall prospect and pitched solely with Tampa in 2017. Across 27 games, the righty went 7-8 with a 3.39 ERA.
Solak and Widener were attending 2018 Major League spring training with the Yankees as non-roster invitees.
To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Jabari Blash was designated for assignment.
