Done Deal: Yankees Lands With Another Infielder Worth 186.5 Million For…..

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the New York Yankees announced on Tuesday that infielder Jeter Downs will be joining Fukuoka SoftBank Hanks in Japan. Downs, 25, was formerly regarded as a top prospect by the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him 32nd overall in 2017. As part of a significant deal, he played for two clubs during his stint in the minor levels. The first was a seven-player transaction that sent Downs to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two of the three players that went to Boston as part of that trade, including Alex Verdugo who left the Boston Red Sox with Connor Wong, were Yankees players.

The hype surrounding Downs’ potential status was not met. In the previous three minor league seasons, he hit.200/.309/.365 with an 80 wRC+. In 2023, the Red Sox placed him on waivers, and the Washington Nationals briefly claimed him. Downs, a shortstop, third baseman, and second baseman, played in six Washington games, batting.400 and stealing two bases. In December, he was given an assignment.

In 60 combined games with Triple-A Rochester, the FCL Nationals, and High-A Wilmington, Downs batted.222, had three home runs, 20 RBI, and 11 steals during the majority of the 2023 season. According to Downs, his mother named him after Derek Jeter, who made his debut three years before to his birth.