Headlines

  • Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority
  • Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension
  • Blue Jays Sign Chad Green
  • Rays Extend Yandy Diaz
  • Dexter Fowler Announces Retirement
  • Mets Sign Jeff McNeil To Four-Year Extension
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Phillies Acquire Nick Nelson From Yankees

By Steve Adams | November 19, 2021 at 5:19pm CDT

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.

Share 0 Retweet 1 Send via email0

New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Donny Sands Joel Valdez Nick Nelson T.J. Rumfield

Red Sox Select Jeter Downs, Three Others
Main
Padres Select MacKenzie Gore, Three Others
View Comments (33)

Comments

  1. Lloyd Emerson

    1 year ago

    Nelson’s still a fascinating prospect

    Reply
    • Joe Says..

      1 year ago

      No. No, he’s not.

      Reply
      • RobM

        1 year ago

        I believe we first have to define “fascinating.”

        Reply
      • Yankee-4-Lifer 75

        1 year ago

        Yeah he throws a 100 mile per hour heater, and he still can’t get nobody out.

        Reply
  2. phillies give me depression

    1 year ago

    phillies got screwed

    Reply
  3. lordd99

    1 year ago

    Surprised only one trade announced so far. They should open up a few more spots in advance of the Rule 5.

    Reply
  4. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    are you kidding me…

    Reply
    • RobM

      1 year ago

      I laughed.

      Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      1 year ago

      Why? What’s up with the recalcitrance?

      Reply
    • DarkSide830

      1 year ago

      wait, shoot, we got Sands. that aint bad.

      Reply
      • Yankee Clipper

        1 year ago

        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.

        Reply
        • DarkSide830

          1 year ago

          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.

  5. Yankee Clipper

    1 year ago

    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 –

    Reply
    • Joe Says..

      1 year ago

      Clipper, Yankees DFA Frazier, Odor and Wade.

      Reply
  6. whyhayzee

    1 year ago

    Live at the Sands, great album. Basie Band. Sinatra.

    Ricky Nelson not so much, just a heart throb.

    yankees clearing out the record collection.

    Reply
    • bobtillman

      1 year ago

      Digging through my 8-Tracks for that album (which was SENSATIONAL,BTW).

      Then I’ll go to a Garden Party.

      Reply
      • whyhayzee

        1 year ago

        Opening cut, All Of Me. My brother knows the trumpet part by heart. Loves that arrangement.

        Reply
  7. bucketbrew35

    1 year ago

    This has Kilambi’s fingerprints all over it. I’ll reserve judgment for now.

    Reply
  8. lordd99

    1 year ago

    Surprised the Yankees moved Sands.

    Reply
    • mack423

      1 year ago

      They have a lot of catching depth, but yeah, he’s an interesting piece for sure

      Reply
  9. Eatdust666

    1 year ago

    Good riddance

    Reply
  10. StudWinfield

    1 year ago

    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.

    Reply
  11. Asfan0780

    1 year ago

    Yankees fans were hoping to trade their fringe rule 5 draft depth for Matt Olson lol

    Reply
    • emac22

      1 year ago

      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..

      Reply
    • Joe Says..

      1 year ago

      As fans hoping to have a team that doesn’t finish last for the next few years.

      Reply
    • Darryl Rose

      1 year ago

      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.

      Reply
  12. emac22

    1 year ago

    a 3 year vet of the DSL and a 1st baseman .with a.263 slugging percentage in A ball?

    What’s the point?

    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      1 year ago

      Rumfield is a neat prospect in my estimation. soild college stats, fairly young for an ex-college player.

      Reply
  13. dave frost nhlpa

    1 year ago

    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.

    Reply
  14. Darryl Rose

    1 year ago

    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!!!

    Reply
    • Ducky Buckin Fent

      1 year ago

      Yeah.
      He was a pyromaniac out of the pen for us.

      Reply
      • mlbnyyfan

        1 year ago

        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.

        Reply
        • all in the suit that you wear

          1 year ago

          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.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority

    Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension

    Blue Jays Sign Chad Green

    Rays Extend Yandy Diaz

    Dexter Fowler Announces Retirement

    Mets Sign Jeff McNeil To Four-Year Extension

    Red Sox, Marlins Swap Matt Barnes For Richard Bleier

    Darren O’Day Announces Retirement

    Royals To Re-Sign Zack Greinke

    Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker Through 2025

    Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension

    Royals Sign Aroldis Chapman To One-Year Deal

    Athletics Sign Jesús Aguilar

    Orioles Acquire Cole Irvin From A’s

    Astros Name Dana Brown General Manager

    Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs

    Royals, Red Sox Swap Adalberto Mondesi For Josh Taylor

    Red Sox Designate Matt Barnes For Assignment

    Scott Rolen Elected Into Baseball Hall Of Fame

    Red Sox Sign Adam Duvall

    Recent

    Friedman: Dodgers Won’t Trade From Roster To Avoid Luxury Tax

    Twins Appear Unlikely To Trade Max Kepler

    Orioles Outright Darwinzon Hernandez

    Cubs Sign Mark Leiter Jr. To Minor League Deal

    Pirates Sign Chris Owings To Minor League Deal

    Read The Transcript Of Today’s Chat With Former MLB Pitcher Scott Feldman

    Luis Arraez Wins Arbitration Hearing Against Marlins

    Mariners Notes: Left Field, Brash, Rotation

    Was Brad Hand Good Or Lucky Last Year?

    The Opener: Darwinzon, Mariners, Player Chat

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version