Jul 25, 2008 10:15 pm US/Eastern
Yankees Acquire Nady, Marte From Pirates
Ohlendorf Among 4 Minor Leaguers Going To Pittsburgh For Corner Outfielder And Dominant Lefty Reliever
By JEFF CAPELLINI, WCBSTV.com Senior Sports Producer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The Yankees may have just made themselves the team to beat in the AL East race.
MLB.com confirmed on Friday night that the Yankees had traded a package of four minor leaguers, including right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, to Pittsburgh for outfielder Xavier Nady and dominant lefty reliever Damaso Marte.
The trade, which is contingent on the passing of physicals, was said to include blue-chip outfield prospect Jose Tabata, lefty Phil Coke and right-hander George Kontos. Coke pitched one inning for Double-A Trenton on Friday before being pulled. More details will be released pending the passing of physicals.
The move more than satisfies two of the Yankees' three major needs heading into next Thursday's trade deadline. Odds are they'll be looking for a starting pitcher in the coming days.
Nady, a former member of the cross-town Mets, had been having a standout season with Pittsburgh, batting .330 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs. He batted .278 with 20 homers and 72 RBIs last season.
Marte, a former Yankees farmhand, is largely regarded as the best lefty reliever available. The 33-year-old southpaw had been 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA and five saves in 47 appearances this season.
Ohlendorf was 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA in 25 games with the Yankees this season. He was demoted on June 27, and had a 1-1 record with a 4.03 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Tabata, Kontos and Coke all were with Double-A Trenton. Tabata was batting .248 with three homers and 36 RBIs entering play Friday, and Coke was 9-4 with a 2.60 ERA in 20 games, 19 starts. Kontos was 3-9 with a 3.77 ERA in 20 starts.
Please stay with CBS 2 HD and wcbstv.com for more on this developing story.
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