Major League Baseball

Pirates acquire catcher Chris Stewart from Yankees

Published Dec. 3, 2013 5:55 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the New York Yankees on Monday for a player to be named.

Stewart and the Pirates then agreed to a $1 million, one-year deal.

The 31-year-old Stewart hit .211 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in a career-high 109 games for New York in 2013. He threw out 17 runners, the fifth-highest total in the American League.

To make room for Stewart on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated catcher Michael McKenry for assignment - they then non-tendered McKenry before the midnight deadline. McKenry hit .217 in 41 games last season for Pittsburgh before tearing cartilage in his left knee in July.

Stewart will contend with former first-round pick Tony Sanchez as the primary backup to ex-Yankee Russell Martin when spring training opens in February.

Stewart because expendable to the Yankees when they agreed Nov. 23 to an $85 million, five-year contract with Brian McCann, a deal likely to be finalized this week. After making $515,100 this year, Stewart is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.

Teams faced a midnight deadline to offer 2014 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. Pittsburgh chose to let go first baseman Garrett Jones and right-hander Kyle McPherson. Both had been designated for assignment last week, when the Pirates acquired outfielder Jaff Decker and right-hander Miles Mikolas from the Padres.

Jones hit .233 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs in 144 games this year. The 32-year-old played at least 144 games each of the last four seasons for Pittsburgh.

McPherson was 0-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 10 games in 2012. He had ligament reconstruction surgery on his right elbow this July.

Francisco Cervelli, who figures to be the McCann's backup, didn't play after April 26 because of a broken hand. He also served a 50-game drug suspension.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball