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Post-Gazette beat writers Dejan Kovacevic and Chuck Finder blog about the Pittsburgh Baseball Club.

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Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees

By Dejan Kovacevic | 1:59 p.m. Saturday

The Pirates have acquired minor league starter Eric Hacker from the New York Yankees, a source disclosed this afternoon. The rest of the trade details are not yet known.

Hacker, 26, had been designated for assignment last Saturday and was not going to clear waivers, so the Yankees opted to make a trade. He is right-handed, has a power arm and is coming off a strong 2008 in which he had a 2.43 ERA, 115 strikeouts and 37 walks split between Class A and AA in the Yankees' system. So far this season, he had a 4.11 ERA in three Class AA starts, 7.88 ERA in three Class AAA starts.

Hacker's career has been slowed by major injuries: He lost all of 2004 to reconstructive elbow surgery, all of 2006 to shoulder surgery.

UPDATE 3:24 p.m.: The Pirates sent Romulo Sanchez to the Yankees. That is the trade. And Phil Dumatrait was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day to clear space on the 40-man for Hacker. Hacker will be assigned to Class AAA Indianapolis.

These are his full statistics.


Posted May 16 2009, 01:59 PM by Dejan Kovacevic

Comments

mazfromiowa wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 2:22 PM

Is he noun or a verb?

tedkin43 wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:10 PM

yes

roxtar wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:14 PM

If he can get three guys out in the ninth, I don't care if he's a past pluperfect participle!

roseyrosewell wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:15 PM

Looks like another Dumatrait project to me, only from the right side --- a history of arm problems and two decent recent seasons that earned him a spot on the 40-man roster. But at least Dumatrait had a major league track record, albeit small and shaky.

But to remove Hacker from the 40 man to add the well-travelled and 36 year old Brett Tomko screams of Yankee desperation. Or it shows that they have controlled Hacker for 6 years and decided that he has no future with them.

Maybe Kerrigan has a history with, or knowledge of, Hacker from his time with the Yankees.

But this just speaks of the lack of pitching in the Pirate organization. Hopefully, they are not giving up anyone of significance in return.

Who knows --- maybe it's a worthwhile crapshoot. But that is certainly what it looks like from here, hopefully with a very small "bet".

tedkin43 wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:15 PM

at this rate his ERA should be in the 10's by the time he gets to Pittsburgh.

Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a statistician!

Srsly

tedkin43 wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:15 PM

good one, rox

G-Man wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:18 PM

>>Is he noun or a verb?<<

In other words, is it his name or a description of his performance/skill level?

G-Man wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:20 PM

If anyone is thinking this guy is going to be a major leaugue player, I'm thinking NO. This is someone to fill out a minor league team roster. He has minimal AAA experience and is mostly a A and AA player.

G-Man wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 3:21 PM

Ants marching to game thread.

==================================

Cave Bonifield wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 5:34 PM

We will miss you, "Chief".  

marty34156 wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 5:45 PM

Well at least with his history of arm trouble he'll fight right in.

Cave Bonifield wrote re: Pirates acquire Hacker from Yankees
on Sat, May 16 2009 6:02 PM

We will miss you, "Chief".