Yesterday, the Yankees acquired Lance Lynn and cash considerations from the Twins in exchange for Tyler Austin and Luis Rijo. Austin spent the last eight years in the organization, and he was a part of several unforgettable moments that will live on in Yankees history. Here’s a look back at some of his most memorable highlights. Austin and Aaron Judge homer in debuts Who could forget this? Aaron Judge and Austin both made their MLB debuts on August 13, 2016. Yankees fans were most excited to get their first look at Judge, but it was thrilling when Austin and Judge hit back-to-back home runs. Walk-off home run versus Tampa Just a couple weeks later, the Yankees entered the ninth inning all tied up with the Rays. With two outs, Austin stepped up to the plate to face Erasmo Ramirez. After working a 3-2 count, he launched a home run into right field to walk it off. Two multi-homer games Austin had two multi-homer games this season. The first came on March 31st when he homered twice during the opening series against the Blue Jays. The second came when the Yankees faced the Royals back in May. Over the course of two games, the Bombers went deep a whopping nine times. Two of those home runs were off the bat of Austin. The brawl I don’t think Yankees fans will ever forget this one. The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry was feeling a bit stale over the past few years, but Austin ignited a new spark. It all started when he tried to break up a double play by sliding into second base. His leg clipped Brock Holt, and the second baseman didn’t like the play. Joe Kelly later retaliated by throwing at Austin in the seventh inning. After a couple of tries, he plunked him in the ribs. It was pure chaos after that as benches cleared, and the two teams brawled for a few minutes. Honorable mention: This home run off of Chris Sale. What was your favorite Tyler Austin moment?<doc-sep>The Minnesota Twins made another trade this evening, shipping veteran right-hander Lance Lynn to the New York Yankees. In exchange the Twins will receive rookie outfielder/first baseman Tyler Austin and right-handed minor league prospect Luis Rijo. Here’s a quick look. Tyler Austin, 1B-OF: The Yankees drafted Austin in the 13th round in 2010 from high school in Conyers, Georgia. He was on New York prospect lists for years but found his progress slowed by a series of significant injuries. He’s split 2018 between Triple-A Scranton (.253/.315/.525 in 99 at-bats) and the major league roster (.223/.280/.471 in 121 at-bats). Overall he’s had 244 at-bats over parts of three MLB seasons, hitting a composite .230/.287/.459 with 15 homers, 19 walks, and 106 strikeouts. Austin is now 26 years old, a right-handed hitter listed at 6-2, 220. Power is his best tool although his ability to deploy it in the majors has been hampered by contact problems. It should be noted that he’s shown a steadier approach in the minors and it is possible he could be a more productive hitter with the change of scenery. Luis Rijo, RHP: Rijo was signed by the Yankees out of Venezuela in 2015. He’s been successful at the lower levels of the organization and has pitched well in limited action in 2018, posting a 2.77 ERA in 39 innings this year between the Appalachian, New York-Penn, and Florida State Leagues, giving up 42 hits but with a stellar 32/3 K/BB ratio. Rijo is 19 years old, listed at 6-1, 200. Scouting details are vague at the moment. Greg Corcoran at Bronx Baseball Daily reported Rijo in September 2017 as “a low velocity guy, sitting in the high 80’s, low 90’s right now. He has good secondary pitches though and at his age should add some velocity as the years go on”. We’ll update when we get more information but his control and youth make him intriguing.<doc-sep>The Yankees have acquired right-handed starting pitcher Lance Lynn from the Twins for first baseman Tyler Austin and minor-league right-hander Luis Rijo. Fancred’s Jon Heyman and the New York Post’s Joel Sherman first broke news of the deal on Monday evening: Sources: Tyler Austin goes to twins — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2018 #Yankees are getting Lance Lynn — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2018 Lynn, who was an impactful reliever on the Cardinals’ 2011 World Series championship team, likely will begin his Yankees career in the bullpen for a team that already has a fully-stocked rotation with Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, C.C. Sabathia, Sonny Gray, and the newly-acquired J.A. Happ. Though Gray has posted a 3.44 ERA and 1.26 during July, Lynn provides New York with some extra protection for the back of the rotation if Gray has a recurrence of his first-half struggles. Though Lynn went into the offseason as one of the top free-agent starting pitchers on the market, he’s struggled this season after signing with the Twins — the first new organization he’s played for since being drafted by the Cardinals in 2008. Lynn, who has a 3.54 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over seven major-league seasons, has posted career-worst numbers in virtually every category this year. Over 20 starts (102.1 innings), he has a 5.10 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 100 strikeouts, and 62 walks. Austin, the Yankees’ Opening Day first baseman this year, didn’t have much of a role in New York going forward, and he became particularly expendable over the weekend after the Yankees acquired right-handed-hitting first baseman Luke Voit from the Cardinals. In 132 major-league plate appearances this season, Austin has posted a .223/.280/.471 slash line with eight homers. Heading into play on Monday, he had a .247/.311/.495 line with five homers over 106 plate appearances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The acquisition of Austin may increase the chances that the Twins decide not to re-sign Joe Mauer following this season, though Austin could also be a cheaper (and likely more effective) replacement for DH Logan Morrison while spelling Mauer at first like Morrison has this year. With the acquisition of Austin, it will be interesting to see how the Twins handle Morrison the rest of the way — he’s signed to a one-year deal but has a club option for 2019 that vests at 500 plate appearances. The 19-year-old Rijo has posted a collective 2.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and three walks in 39 innings over seven appearances (five starts) split between High-A Tampa, Short-Season Class A Staten Island, and Advanced Rookie Pulaski this season. He was not ranked among the Yankees’ top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline. Though they’ve had one of the strongest pitching staffs in the majors this year — particularly in the bullpen — the Yankees obviously weren’t content with the group they had heading into the stretch run. Since last Tuesday, they’ve added Lynn, Happ, and Zach Britton while subtracting Chasen Shreve and Adam Warren as well as minor-leaguers Giovanny Gallegos and Caleb Frare.<doc-sep>
Update (7:26 PM ET): The trade is official. * Fancred’s Jon Heyman reports that the Twins have acquired first baseman Tyler Austin and minor league pitcher Luis Rijo from the Yankees in exchange for starter Lance Lynn. Lynn is owed the remainder of his $12 million salary, some of which the Twins will cover in the trade. Austin, 26, has hit .223/.280/.471 with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 132 plate appearances this season for the Yankees. The Twins could choose to go with Austin full-time at first base next season if the club declines Logan Morrison‘s $8 million option for 2019. If the club picks up that option, Austin could platoon with Morrison. Austin will be under club control through 2022. Rijo, 19, was signed by the Yankees as an international free agent out of Venezuela. He has pitched in rookie ball as well as Low-A Staten Island and High-A Tampa this season. Altogether, Rijo has posted a 2.77 ERA with 32 strikeouts and three walks in 39 innings of work. Lynn, 31, got off to an abysmal start, carrying a 5.94 ERA through the end of May. He has turned things around since, compiling a 4.30 ERA in his last 10 starts. Still not great, but better. Overall, the veteran right-hander is 7-8 with a 5.10 ERA and a 100/62 K/BB ratio in 102 1/3 innings. The Yankees already bolstered the back end of the rotation by acquiring J.A. Happ from the Blue Jays. It would seem Lynn would work in middle relief for the Yankees and serve as an emergency starter if needed. Follow @Baer_Bill