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Yankees trade Thairo Estrada after DFA following Rougned Odor signing

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 25: Thairo Estrada #71 of the New York Yankees is hit by a pitch in the fifth inning of game one of the MLB doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 25: Thairo Estrada #71 of the New York Yankees is hit by a pitch in the fifth inning of game one of the MLB doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

The Yankees don’t have the ability to hold onto somewhat-anonymous middle infield backups forever — unless they’re Tyler Wade, of course.

So even though we knew the delightful Thairo Estrada probably wouldn’t be around for too long, we were still shocked by the way his departure came about.

Estrada was DFA’d this past week so the Yankees could trade for Rougned Odor, DFA’d himself in Texas before the season began and basically free of charge to Hal Steinbrenner.

Cha-ching!

On Sunday, we got a final resolution on Estrada’s limbo, as the versatile backup went to the San Francisco Giants.

Farhan Zaidi was kind enough to send the Bombers more cash in exchange. Got to save that while you can!

The Yankees have traded Thairo Estrada to the San Francisco Giants.

Estrada’s big break with the Yankees came in 2019, when he fought back from a bullet wound (it was lodged in his hip!) to hit .250 with a trio of home runs in a solid 35-game sample size.

Unfortunately, the pugnacious infielder was unable to replicate that production when given a major chance in 2020, hitting just .167 in 26 games in the shortened season, sharing the infield with Wade and Jordy Mercer while the starters battled myriad injuries.

Would a powerhouse 2020 have made a difference here? Likely not; the Yankees love a reclamation project, and couldn’t help biting at a dangling Odor once the Rangers agreed to pick up the tab.

Much like Ronald Torreyes before him, though, Estrada became a fan favorite, and for good reason. The pop was always surprising, and the road he took to fight to the big leagues in the first place was extremely commendable.

Hopefully, Estrada gets a chance to be a spark plug in San Francisco, a team that turned Yankees castoff Donovan Solano into a near All-Star last year.

At the very least, it’ll be out of sight, out of mind for the Yanks, with Estrada commuting to the west coast. Ideally, their Odor gamble pays off, too, making this move look savvy instead of heartless.

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