Yankees acquire Nady, Marte from Pirates

[July 26, 2008]  BOSTON (AP) -- The New York Yankees got a win over their biggest rival, and two of the most coveted players on the trade market. Not a bad way to begin the weekend.

Stocking up for a run at the pennant in their final 60 games, the Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates and beat the Boston Red Sox 1-0 Friday night for their seventh straight win.

"It's definitely a positive day for us," Johnny Damon said.

The Yankees, with Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada on the disabled list and possibly lost for the year, needed another right-handed bat for their lefty loaded lineup.

Their all-righty bullpen has a 1.67 ERA over its last 23 games, and adding Marte gives them one of the top lefty specialists in baseball.

"There's so many unexpected things (that) happen this time of year," Alex Rodriguez said, "but when you hear those names, I don't think anyone can expect to get two quality players like that in the middle of their prime to help our team."

Two people familiar with the deal confirmed the trade on condition of anonymity because physicals were still pending.

"I can't speak to something that hasn't happened yet," New York general manager Brian Cashman said after Friday's win.

The Yankees were nine games out of first place in the AL East after games of July 6. Now they trail division-leading Tampa Bay by three. The Red Sox are one game behind the Rays.

"The Yankees ownership always gives us an opportunity to win so it's really not surprising," Derek Jeter said. "It seems like every year if they feel as though we need some different pieces to help us win they go out and get them."

Nady and Marte were coveted by several teams, and New York parted with top outfield prospect Jose Tabata and three other minor leaguers to complete the deal one day after team executives met at the club's facility in Tampa, Fla.

Nady is batting .330 with 13 home runs and 57 RBIs in 88 games. Marte is 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 46 2-3 innings.

"They were two special guys in our clubhouse and two special guys on the field, and obviously they will be dearly missed," Pirates manager John Russell said.

Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.

Pittsburgh, 48-55 and in fifth place in the NL Central after a 6-5 loss to San Diego, is trying to rebuild and avoid a 16th consecutive losing season at the same time.

In addition to Tabata, the Pirates acquired right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and George Kontos, and left-hander Phil Coke.

"We felt that this was the best move for the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as being a very good move for X and Damaso," Russell said.

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.

High-ranking Yankees officials gathered for meetings at their spring training complex Thursday. After a three-hour meeting, co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner confirmed one of the topics was indicted home run king Barry Bonds.

Steinbrenner wouldn't say if the Yankees are interested in Bonds, but it appears highly unlikely the team will pursue him after acquiring Nady.

"It helps out the team, not only now but also in the long run," Damon said of acquiring Nady. "He's one of the most underrated players around. I think he's one of the best outfielders in the game."

Marte fills a need for a lefty in an already strong bullpen.

"He's high energy," Damon said. "He's throwing legs and arms and everything at you."

Nady is in his sixth major league season. The 29-year-old played with San Diego and the New York Mets before joining Pittsburgh in the middle of the 2006 season. The 33-year-old Marte, in his ninth season, played for Seattle, Pittsburgh and the Chicago White Sox before returning to the Pirates at the start of the 2006 season.

"If those two play for us the way they've played against us," Jeter said, "they're really going to help."

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AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker in New York and AP freelance writers Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., and Chris Adamski in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.

[Associated Press; By HOWARD ULMAN]

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