Yankees acquire Brendan Ryan from Mariners

The New York Yankees have acquired shortstop Brendan Ryan from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a player to be named later, according to a team announcement. Ryan will spend the final few weeks of the season in pinstripes, but will not be eligible for the team's postseason roster if they make the playoffs.

Ryan, 31, will help the Yankees fill the shortstop position left vacated by Derek Jeter, who is once again sidelined due to injury. In 87 games with Seattle on the season, Ryan has hit only .192 with 3 HR and 21 RBI, but has remained one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. For the rest of the season, Ryan will likely share time with the defensively-challenged Eduardo Nunez at shortstop in an effort to help the Yankees reach the postseason. Nunez has hit .257 with 1 HR and 23 RBI in 76 games for the Bronx Bombers this season, but is known as one of the worst defensive infielders in the American League.

Ryan will be a free agent after the season, and will likely draw interest from a few teams looking for a solid infield defender to come off the bench. In seven major league seasons with the Cardinals (2007-2010) and Mariners (2011-2013), he is the owner of a lifetime .238 average with 18 HR and 186 RBI. He has only made 64 errors throughout his career, which ranks him among the best defensive shortstops in the game.

Ryan is the second player to be picked up by the Yankees today, joining left-handed reliever Mike Zagurski.