A one-time hot commodity in the Yankees’ farm system is moving on again.
Outfielder Nick Solak, the Yankees’ second-round draft pick in 2016, was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday for cash considerations.
Solak, 27, hit a career-low .207 with two homers playing 35 games for the Rangers this year. A converted infielder, the right-handed hitter was productive in his first three seasons, each of them with the Rangers. He batted .242 with 11 homers and 49 RBI in 127 games in 2021 after hitting .293 as a rookie in 2019 and .268 in 2020.
For a short time, Solak was viewed as a potential second baseman of the future for a short time.
Things changed when the Yankees had a big hole to fill at third base as spring training 2017 was starting up. Chase Headley was out of baseball, Todd Frazier left as a free agent, Miguel Andujar had just five games of experience and Gio Urshela was with the Cleveland Indians.
The Yankees’ attempt at a quick fix was working a three-team trade that brought in Brandon Drury from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The deal included GM Brian Cashman parting with two prospects, pitcher Taylor Widener to the Diamondbacks and Solak, who was coming off a standout season playing High A ball, to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Drury became a quick bust for the Yankees — he was on the IL for most of the 2018 season before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in July — Solak got to the big leagues in a hurry following another trade.
Dealt to the Rangers in July 2019, Solak finished that season playing second and third base for the Texas. He played second base and left field in 2021, then mostly left field this year for the Rangers and in Triple-A. His season ended in September when he suffered a right foot fracture on a hit by a pitch during a Rangers-Atlanta Braves’ game.
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Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected].