Twins Trade C Mitch Garver to Texas for SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa

(KDLM) – The Minnesota Twins made their first big post-lockout move on Saturday, trading catcher Mitch Garver to the Texas Rangers in exchange for shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and minor league pitcher Ronny Henriquez.

Kiner-Falefa, who won a gold glove at short in 2020, hit.271 with eight home runs and 53 RBI last season, and stole a career-high 20 bases. In four MLB seasons, he is a career .265 hitter with 16 home runs, 118 RBI, and 38 stolen bases. The Rangers spent $500 million upgrading their middle infield by signing Corey Seager ($325 million) and AL MVP runner-up Marcus Semien ($175 million) before the lockout, so Kiner-Falefa became expendable.

Henriquez will turn 22 years old this June and split the 2021 season between high-A Hickory and AA Frisco, going 5-7 with a 4.71 ERA, 105 strikeouts (10.5 K/9) and 25 walks (2.4 BB9) in 93 innings pitched.

Garver posted career numbers for the Twins in 2019, batting .273 with 31 home runs with 67 RBI which won him the Silver Slugger award at catcher. Injuries have kept him out of the lineup each of the last two seasons. Last year, he hit .256 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 68 games. In five seasons with the Twins, he hit .256 with 53 home runs and 154 RBI in 309 games.