Chris Stewart traded to Pirates from Yankees for PTBNL

The Pirates have acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the Yankees, according to Buster Olney. Joel Sherman adds that the Yankees will receive a player to be named later in return. Stewart, 31, spent the last two seasons in pinstripes, serving as the Yanks' primary catcher in 2013. He hit a meager .211/.293/.272 and prompted the Yankees to spend big to get Brian McCann.

Stewart was considered a non-tender candidate for the Yankees, but he will likely serve as caddy for Russell Martin in Pittsburgh. The Pirates designated fellow catcher Michael McKenry for assignment to make room for Stewart, so this is likely the plan. Stewart backed up Martin in the Bronx in 2012, so he's not unfamiliar with the role. There is no word yet as to whether or not this is part of a bigger plan for the Pirates to harvest all of the Yankees' cast-off catchers, but the pattern is undeniable at this point.

Martin had success in Pittsburgh in 2013, his first with the club after signing a free agent deal last offseason. He was given much credit for the Pirates' success, as they reached the playoffs for the first time since Constantinople fell (give or take a few centuries). A.J. Burnett, another Yankee cast-off, was also a big part of the team's resurgence. If science is any indication, the addition of Stewart will catapult the Pirates to a World Series championship next year.