A massive offseason for the New York Yankees continued on Wednesday, as they added a four-time Pro Bowler to an organization that has already acquired the reigning NL MVP. That’s right, we said Pro Bowler — as in football.
The Texas Rangers have traded Russell Wilson to the New York Yankees in exchange for future considerations. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that the Seattle Seahawks quarterback has no intentions of trying to play two sports like Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders, but he will be assigned to the Yankees’ Double-A Trenton roster and is planning to make an appearance in the Grapefruit League later this month or next month.
Wilson has long expressed a desire to be a member of the Yankees organization, and Crasnick was told New York GM Brian Cashman and Rangers GM Jon Daniels have spent several weeks finding a way to grant him his wish.
“While football is my passion and my livelihood, baseball remains a huge part of where I came from and who I am today,” Wilson said in a statement. “I’ve learned so much on the baseball field that translates to my game physically and mentally playing quarterback in the NFL. I thank the Rangers and their great fans for making me feel at home and a part of the family! While I embrace the chance to be a New York Yankee, I will forever be grateful to have been a part of a world class organization like the Texas Rangers.”
Wilson appeared in 93 minor league games with the Colorado Rockies’ system over two years after he was selected in the fourth round of MLB’s 2010 first-year player draft. He hit .228 with five home runs in 315 at-bats. Wilson said as recently as 2015 that he still wants to play pro baseball at some point, but a few spring training appearances is probably the closest he will ever get.
