Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired outfielder Jake Cave from the Yankees in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Luis Gil.
Cave, 25, split the 2017 season between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .305 (124-for-406) with 26 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs, 56 RBI, 66 runs scored and a .351 on-base percentage. The 6-foot-0, 200-pound Cave was originally drafted by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. The Hampton, Virginia native was named an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com after the season.
Luis Gil was signed by the Twins in February of 2015 and made 14 starts for the Dominican Summer League Twins last season.
To make room for Cave on the 40-man roster, the Twins have designated first baseman Kennys Vargas for release or assignment. Vargas appeared in 12 games this spring for the Twins, hitting .281 (9-for-32) with three doubles, four walks and 10 strikeouts. Vargas was originally signed by the Twins in February of 2009 and played parts of four seasons with Minnesota, hitting .252 (197-for-783) with 38 doubles, 35 home runs and 116 RBI in 236 career games.