Pirates acquire catcher Chris Stewart from Yankees for player to be named
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The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the New York Yankees on Monday for a player to be named.
Stewart hit .211 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in a career-high 109 games for New York in 2013. He threw out 17 runners, the fifth-highest total in the American League.
To make room for the 31-year-old Stewart on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated catcher Mike McKenry for assignment. McKenry hit .217 in 41 games last season for Pittsburgh before tearing cartilage in his left knee in July.
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Stewart will contend with former first-round pick Tony Sanchez as the primary backup to ex-Yankee Russell Martin when spring training opens in February.
Stewart because expendable to the Yankees when they agreed Nov. 23 to an $85 million, five-year contract with Brian McCann, a deal likely to be finalized this week. After making $515,100 this year, Stewart is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.
Teams faced a midnight deadline to offer 2014 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters.
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Francisco Cervelli, who figures to be the McCann's backup, didn't play after April 26 because of a broken hand. He also served a 50-game drug suspension.