Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been traded. Seahawks fans don’t need to worry one bit though because he’s not going to another NFL team, he’s being traded to another MLB team. The New York Yankees.
Wilson is expected to head to Yankees Spring Training this year in Tampa, Florida.
Jeremy Crasnick of ESPN reported that the Yankees acquired Wilson from the Rangers for cash considerations.
The Texas Rangers on Wednesday traded Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to the Yankees for future considerations. Wilson, a four-time Pro Bowler, is expected to appear at the Yankees’ Grapefruit League camp in Tampa, Florida, sometime in February or March.
Wilson, 29, has no plans to emulate Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson and try to reinvent himself as a two-sport athlete, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. But he’s maintained his love for baseball and wants to continue his ties to the sport.
He has long expressed a desire to play for the Yankees, and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and his New York counterpart, Brian Cashman, have spent several weeks working to accommodate his wishes, a source told ESPN.
The New York Yankees also made the news official.
We have acquired INF @DangeRussWilson from the Rangers in exchange for future considerations. Wilson is expected to be at camp in March.
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— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 7, 2018
Baseball has been a part of Wilson’s athletic career for years. He played two sports at North Carolina State from 2008-10. The Colorado Rockies drafted Wilson in the fourth round in 2010 and he appeared in 93 games over two seasons in short-season ball and Low-A, hitting .229/.354/.356 with five home runs. The Rangers acquired Wilson from Colorado in the 2013 Rule 5 Draft and appeared at spring training in 2014 and 2015. Wilson thanked the Rangers for helping him see his dreams come true.
“I want to personally thank the Texas Rangers for giving me the chance to experience professional baseball again,” Wilson said. “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.”
