Major League Baseball

Pirates acquire infielder McDonald

Published Mar. 20, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

The Pirates, bolstering their infield depth, acquired John McDonald from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

The D-Backs will receive a player to be named or cash considerations.

The Pirates needed infield help. Chase d'Arnaud had surgery Tuesday after suffering a partially torn thumb ligament. He's expected to miss six to eight weeks.

McDonald, 38, was caught in a numbers crunch in Arizona behind infielders Cliff Pennington and Willie Bloomquist.

''He's a very accomplished defensive player and a veteran presence,'' Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. ''He brings depth and stability at a position where all of a sudden we didn't have much depth or stability.''

McDonald spent a sesason and a half with the D-backs after being acquired from the Blue Jays on Aug. 23, 2011. In 89 games with the D-backs, he hit .230 with 11 doubles, 6 homers and 24 RBI while seeing action at shortstop, second base and third base.

"We like the defense and we like the player,'' Huntington said. ''Secondarily, he brings experience. He's been through the battles.''

Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers had wanted to trade McDonald to an eastern team. McDonald is from Connecticut.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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