The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Francisco Cervelli from the New York Yankees on Wednesday, the teams announced. The Yankees will receive reliever Justin Wilson in exchange for the 28-year-old backstop.
Yankees trade Francisco Cervelli to Pirates for Justin Wilson
Pittsburgh will send Justin Wilson to New York in return.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Cervelli hit .301/.370/.432 in 162 plate appearances for the Yankees in 2014. He dealt with hamstring injury and migraine issues that limited him to only 49 games but his 127 OPS+ was easily his best in any season with more than 100 plate appearances.
Wilson posted a 4.20 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 30 walks in 60 innings of work for the Pirates. The 27-year-old right-hander was one of the better rookie relievers in the league in 2013, finishing with a 2.08 ERA in 73⅔ innings that season.
Cervelli could serve as an insurance plan for Pittsburgh in the event it isn’t able to re-sign free agent catcher Russell Martin. Chris Stewart, who was also acquired from the Yankees in a trade, is the only catcher on the Pirates’ current 40-man roster with significant big league experience.
Wilson tweeted this after learning of the trade.
Good thing Yankee gear is sold all over! pic.twitter.com/Tc6MmVU3aZ
— Justin Wilson (@J_J_Wilson) November 13, 2014
See More:
