Padres acquire infielder Jose Pirela from Yankees

The Padres have acquired infielder Jose Pirela from the Yankees in exchange for minor-league right-hander Ronald Herrera, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.

Pirela, 25, was among the candidates for the New York second base picture all throughout the 2015 campaign. Upon his arrival to the Bronx, he struggled during limited action. In 37 games with the big league club, Pirela hit .230 with a .247 on-base percentage, which was nothing like his performance in Triple-A. In 259 plate appearances there, Pirela slashed .325/.390/.433.

Pirela played shortstop early in his career, but has spent much more time at second base in the higher levels of the minors. That would make him a long shot to play short for San Diego next season, penciling in more as a utility, bench piece for the Padres.

Herrera is only 20 and made it to the Double-A level last season. He originally came to the Padres as the player to be named later in a deal that sent Kyle Blanks to the Oakland A's. In 145.2 innings over High-A and Double-A, Herrera sported a 4.08 ERA with a 6.4 K/9 and a 2.6 BB/9.