Eric Hacker traded for bullpen help

The Yankees paired up with their favorite trading partner again, dealing AAA starter Eric Hacker (who was added to the 40-man roster before the Rule V draft, though recently designated for assignment) to the Pirates in exchange for righty reliever Romulo Sanchez, who was rated the Pirates’ #25 prospect by Baseball America.

Hacker, who pitched very well in AA last season, has been a disappointment to this point, with a 6.03 ERA combined between Trenton and Scranton.

Sanchez has not exactly set the world on fire with a 4.38 ERA, but his peripherals are solid, with 15 strikeouts against 5 walks in 12 1/3 innings. He also has a very good 1.63 groundout:flyout ratio. Sanchez is big (6′5″ 260) with a power fastball that sits at 92-94, touching 98. His curveball is a solid secondary offering. He sounds like the doppelganger of another fat Sanchez in the Yankee system, though hopefully less injury prone.

Hacker was going nowhere fast with the Yankees this season, and Sanchez gives the Yankees another power arm that could be in the bullpen mix.  Though he’ll likely be sent to AAA, maybe they could catch lightning in a bottle with him.

Related posts:

1. Yanks Trade for Eric Hinske
2. Gene Michael: Yanks almost traded Mo for Wells in '95
3. Bruney traded to Washington
4. Snell traded to Seattle
5. Will There Actually Be a Spring Training Battle For The Bullpen?