YANKS GET NADY, MARTE
The New York Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and pitcher Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Jose Tabata as well as pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutchen.
What does it give the New York Yankees
GM Brian Cashman pulled off a nice deal here, getting the Yankees the help they needed just as the streaking team seems poised to challenge anew for another AL East crown. Nady's right-handed bat will be a welcome sight in the Bronx, especially if he continues to put up career-year type numbers. He'll probably split time between OF and DH, but he'll likely be in the everyday lineup. Marte is also a great stretch-run addition, as New York has been operating for awhile without a single left-hander in the bullpen. In Marte they get a very good one who'll become one of Mariano Rivera's top setup men immediately and can even spell him as closer if need be.
What does it give the Pittsburgh Pirates
The centerpiece here is clearly Jose Tabata. The Double-A outfielder has struggled with injuries in the minors this year but the soon-to-be-20-year-old has star potential. The three pitching prospects Pittsburgh gets are solid if not as promising. Ohlendorf, almost 26, struggled out of the bullpen in a stint this year with the Yankees and is back in Triple-A. Karstens has been solid as a starter at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA) this year and will also be 26 this season, so needs to start showing more; and McCutchen, also soon to be 26, has been equally dependable in AAA after dominating earlier in the summer at AA. Nady's absence means highly-touted OF/1B prospect Steve Pearce will (reportedly) rejoin the Pirates, and the slugger will get a shot in right field.
Fantasy impact
