Yankees Official Press Release on the Acquisition of Granderson

The following is the official statement released by the New York Yankees about their acquisition of Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers:

The New York Yankees today acquired outfielder Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers in a three-team, seven-player deal, sending left-handed pitcher Phil Coke and outfielder Austin Jackson to Detroit and right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Granderson batted .249 (157-for-631) with 23 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs, 71 RBI and 20 stolen bases with the Detroit Tigers in 2009, setting a career high in home runs and recording at least 60 extra-base hits for the third straight season. He was selected to the AL All-Star team for the first time in his career and was one of only three American Leaguers to collect 30 homers and 20 stolen bases, joining Texas’ Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz.

Originally selected by Detroit in the third round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Granderson owns a .272 career batting average with 125 doubles, 57 triples, 102 home runs, 299 RBI and 67 stolen bases in six seasons (2004-09) with the Tigers. Over the last five seasons (since 2005), he ranks third in the Majors with 56 triples, while his 206 extra-base hits since 2007 are tied with Boston’s David Ortiz for the most among American Leaguers. His 24 career leadoff home runs are the most in Tigers franchise history.

In 2007, Granderson became one of three players in Major League history to compile at least 30 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season, joining Frank “Wildfire” Schulte with the Chicago Cubs (1911) and Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins (also 2007). He was the only Major Leaguer to score 100 runs with at least 20 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases in both 2007 and 2008.

Among AL outfielders since 2005, Granderson ranks third with 1,745 total chances and seventh in fielding percentage (.993), committing only 13 errors over the span.

In 2008, he established the Grand Kids Foundation, which implements youth educational initiatives and works to reinvigorate the sport of Baseball in the nation’s inner cities. In 2009, he was selected as the Tigers’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee for his work in the community.

Granderson is currently entering the third season of a five-year contract that includes a club option for 2013.