The New York Yankees have acquired utilityman Eric Hinkse from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for two minor leaguers.

Pittsburgh will receive right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer. In addition, the Pirates will give the Yankees cash considerations for Hinske's remaining $1.5 million contract (maybe the most shocking part of the whole deal).

Hinske, 31, was batting .255 with one homer and 11 RBIs for the Pirates this season.

Erickson, 23, was 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 21 games, including three starts, with Single-A Charleston. He was the Yankees' 10th-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Fryer, also 23 and a 10th-round pick in 2007, was batting .250 with 15 extra-base hits and 24 RBIs at Single-A Tampa.

Fryer will be assigned to Lynchburg and Erickson will be assigned to West Virginia. Both are Class A teams.

Good move for the Yankees.  They give up a couple low level prospects and acquire a solid utilityman to help add depth to their bench.  Not an earth shattering deal that is going to rock the baseball world, but sometimes a collection  of good solid small deals makes your team better in the long run.

For the Pirates they pick up two prospects and hope for the best.  It mainly clears roster space to allow them to call up Garrett Jones from Triple-A Indianapolis. 

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