Yanks acquired OF Xavier Nady & lefty relieve Damaso Marte from the Pirates for three minor leaguers, only one of whom is really mentionable according to the story. Yanks might have just stole the East or Wildcard.
PITTSBURGH (TICKER) —The Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday reportedly have traded outfielder Xavier Nady and lefthander Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees for righthander Ross Ohlendorf and three minor leaguers - outfielder Jose Tabata, righthander George Kontos and lefthander Phil Coke. Nady was removed from Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres in the second inning for undisclosed reasons and was replaced in left field by Jason Michaels.
The deal reportedly is pending medical reports on all the players involved.
Nady was one of the most sought-after names on the trade market due to a career year that has him fifth in the National League with a .330 batting average to go along with 13 homers and 57 RBI. He will add a righthanded bat to New York’s lineup, which generally features just three other righthanded hitters.
Nady’s exit presumably opens the door for top prospect Andrew McCutchen, who is batting .280 with nine homers and 26 stolen bases at Class AAA Indianapolis this season and is considered Pittsburgh’s center fielder of the future.
Marte, who has been filling in as the Pirates’ closer with Matt Capps on the disabled list, is 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA this season and will slot nicely into a Yankees bullpen that currently is without a lefthander. He has held lefthanded hitters to a .198 average in his career, though that mark is up to .255 this season.
Marte briefly was property of the Yankees in 2001 but never appeared in a major league game for the franchise before being traded to the Pirates in exchange for Enrique Wilson.
The jewel of the crop going back to the Pirates is Tabata, who has been one of the Yankees’ top prospects since being signed out of Venezuela in 2005. Baseball America ranked him as the No. 3 prospect in New York’s system entering this season due to his ability to make solid, hard contact and his power potential.
However, Tabata’s stock has fallen this season due to his struggles both as a hitter and a teammate as a 19-year-old at Class AA. He was pulled from a contest in June and suspended three games in April for disciplinary reasons.
Tabata has been sidelined since July 1 with an injury.
Ohlendorf has struggled as a rookie in the bullpen for New York this season, going 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA. A starter in the minors, the righthander could provide immediate help to the Pirates, either in the bullpen or the rotation.
Kontos has struggled at Class AA Trenton this season, going 3-9 with a 3.77 ERA while issuing 43 walks in 107 1/3 innings.
Coke was pulled from his start at Trenton on Friday after one inning. He is a combined 9-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 21 games - 20 starts - with Trenton and Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year.
Both Coke and Kontos will add depth to Pittsburgh’s system, which is short on pitching prospects.
The deal reportedly is pending medical reports on all the players involved.
Nady was one of the most sought-after names on the trade market due to a career year that has him fifth in the National League with a .330 batting average to go along with 13 homers and 57 RBI. He will add a righthanded bat to New York’s lineup, which generally features just three other righthanded hitters.
Nady’s exit presumably opens the door for top prospect Andrew McCutchen, who is batting .280 with nine homers and 26 stolen bases at Class AAA Indianapolis this season and is considered Pittsburgh’s center fielder of the future.
Marte, who has been filling in as the Pirates’ closer with Matt Capps on the disabled list, is 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA this season and will slot nicely into a Yankees bullpen that currently is without a lefthander. He has held lefthanded hitters to a .198 average in his career, though that mark is up to .255 this season.
Marte briefly was property of the Yankees in 2001 but never appeared in a major league game for the franchise before being traded to the Pirates in exchange for Enrique Wilson.
The jewel of the crop going back to the Pirates is Tabata, who has been one of the Yankees’ top prospects since being signed out of Venezuela in 2005. Baseball America ranked him as the No. 3 prospect in New York’s system entering this season due to his ability to make solid, hard contact and his power potential.
However, Tabata’s stock has fallen this season due to his struggles both as a hitter and a teammate as a 19-year-old at Class AA. He was pulled from a contest in June and suspended three games in April for disciplinary reasons.
Tabata has been sidelined since July 1 with an injury.
Ohlendorf has struggled as a rookie in the bullpen for New York this season, going 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA. A starter in the minors, the righthander could provide immediate help to the Pirates, either in the bullpen or the rotation.
Kontos has struggled at Class AA Trenton this season, going 3-9 with a 3.77 ERA while issuing 43 walks in 107 1/3 innings.
Coke was pulled from his start at Trenton on Friday after one inning. He is a combined 9-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 21 games - 20 starts - with Trenton and Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year.
Both Coke and Kontos will add depth to Pittsburgh’s system, which is short on pitching prospects.
