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Yanks get Hinske in swap with Bucs

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By Tom Singer / MLB.com

06/30/09 11:50 AM ET

The Yankees acquired veteran utilityman Eric Hinske on Tuesday from the Pirates in exchange for two Minor Leaguers, right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer.

Hinske, a 31-year-old left-handed hitter who was part of Boston's 2007 World Series champions, batted .255 in 54 games with the Pirates. He had one home run and had driven in 11 runs.

The Yankees also received cash considerations along with Hinske, whose 2009 contract is for $1.5 million.

The Pirates said they will purchase the contract of outfielder Garrett Jones from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill Hinske's roster spot. Jones is expected to join the Pirates in Pittsburgh in time for Tuesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Fryer will be assigned to Lynchburg and Erickson will be assigned to West Virginia. Both are Class A teams. Hinske is a former AL Rookie of the Year, earning those honors in 2002 with the Toronto Blue Jays, who had made him their 17th-round selection in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.

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.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.