The Yankees now have the best quarterback in New York.
According to Jerry Crasnick, the Yankees have acquired Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson from the Texas Rangers for future considerations. This isn’t a joke. The Rangers controlled Wilson’s baseball rights and they traded him to the Yankees.
Here is the statement the Yankees released after the trade:
“We’ve admired Russell’s career from afar for quite some time,” Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said. “This is a unique opportunity for us to learn from an extraordinary athlete who has reached the pinnacle of his profession.
“After talking to a number of our players, there is a genuine excitement in having Russell join us for a short time in camp. We are all looking forward to gaining insight into how he leads teammates toward a common goal, prepares on a daily basis for the rigors of his sport, and navigates the successes and failures of a season.”
Wilson, 29, has no plans to retire from football to pursue baseball, but, as the statement says, Wilson will show up to Spring Training at some point. The Yankees say Wilson will participate in pregame workouts and watch games from the dugout. I imagine he’ll also be a guest speaker and meet with young players, things like that.
Wilson released a statement earlier today:
“I want to personally thank the Texas Rangers for giving me the chance to experience professional baseball again. Growing up taking grounders, hitting BP, and throwing deep post routes early in the mornings with my dad and brother is where my love of sports came from, and those memories stick with me every morning I wake up. I remember how excited I was when Texas selected me in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2013. During my two springs in Arizona with the Rangers, I was reminded just how much I love the game of baseball.
“While football is my passion and my livelihood, baseball remains a huge part of where I came from and who I am today. 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.”
Back in the day the Rockies selected Wilson in the fourth round of the 2010 draft and he played two years in their farm system, hitting .229/.354/.356 with five homers in 93 Single-A games as a second baseman. He continued playing college football at the same time and was later drafted by the Seahawks, and he’s been in the NFL ever since.
The Rangers selected Russell in the minor league phase of the 2013 Rule 5 Draft and brought him to Spring Training as a guest speaker a few times. Now the Yankees will do the same.
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