Yankees Add Positional Depth, Acquire Dustin Ackley From Mariners
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees' bench just got a bit deeper.
With the trade deadline less than 24 hours away, the AL East leaders acquired outfielder/infielder Dustin Ackley from the Seattle Mariners on Thursday for outfielder Ramon Flores and reliever Jose Ramirez.
Ackley, 27, came up a second baseman in 2011, but was moved exclusively to the outfield after the Mariners signed Robinson Cano to a 10-year contract prior to the 2014 season. Ackley played 63 games in left, 21 in center and two in right this season for Seattle.
"(Ackley) is a guy who can play all over the place," Girardi told WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Thursday evening. "He'll give us versatility. We'll move him around."
If the Yankees have a hole in the field it's at second base, where Stephen Drew, despite playing very good defense and providing some pop (13 home runs), is hitting just .192. The Yankees also have the option of playing backup infielder Brendan Ryan at second and have given youngster Rob Refsnyder a look there as well. Refsnyder was eventually sent back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after going 2-for-12 with a homer in four games.
Girardi said he's more inclined to keep the current status quo at second base.
Overall, Ackley hit .215 with six home runs and 19 RBIs with a .270 on-base percentage this season with the Mariners, and is a career .243 hitter with 42 homers and 201 RBIs in 584 games.
Flores, 23, broke into the majors with the Yankees this season, batting .219 (7-for-32) in 12 games.
Ramirez, 25, made three relief appearances this season, posting no record and a 15.00 ERA.
The Yankees' biggest need leading up to the deadline appears to be a starting pitcher, but so far general manager Brian Cashman has scoffed at the idea of giving up any of his top four prospects -- right-hander Luis Severino, outfielder Aaron Judge, first baseman Greg Bird and shortstop Jorge Mateo.
