The New York Yankees made another move in their quest to recreate the Mookie Betts trade, this time picking up infielder Jeter Downs just two weeks after acquiring outfielder Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox. It’s all part of an ambitious plan to collect the key pieces from that historic trade.
Jeter Downs, whose first name pays homage to the Yankees’ legendary captain, is no stranger to facing the Yankees. He hit his first career home run off Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole and was part of the trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, a deal that didn’t sit well with Yankees fans.
However, Downs’ future with the Yankees is far from certain. He was added as infield depth but could be on the chopping block when the team needs to make roster space. While he may not be in pinstripes for the long haul, his arrival has already generated excitement among fans.
But why not add more excitement to the mix? This offseason, 28-year-old minor-league free agent infielder Joe Dunand hit the open market. What makes this intriguing is that Dunand happens to be the nephew of none other than Alex Rodriguez. After struggling in the minors and a brief stint with the Marlins, Dunand had a breakout season at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Braves system, boasting an impressive .800+ OPS with 17 home runs in 95 games.
Some fans have suggested a camp battle between Downs and Dunand, representing two different strands of Yankee DNA. While neither player is likely to feature prominently in the Yankees’ 2024 plans, Dunand brings top-100 prospect pedigree from the era before the Betts trade.
In light of the Jeter Downs news, I remind you that Alex Rodriguez’s nephew Joe Dunand had an .844 OPS at AAA and plays 3 positions. Let’s get a real Spring Training battle going
— Virginia Yankee (@VirginiaYankee1) December 19, 2023
With other prospects out of the picture and a need for infield depth, signing A-Rod’s nephew could add an interesting twist to the Yankees’ roster decisions. Downs has an option, and so do the Yankees. The option? Sign A-Rod’s nephew and bring some extra intrigue to the team.