Yankees send Chad Qualls to Pittsburgh for righty hitter Casey McGehee
Casey McGehee circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run. (July 18, 2012) Credit: AP
Brian Cashman predicted a "quiet" period for the Yankees leading up to Tuesday's trade deadline, and that proved mostly to be the case.
The general manager did make one minor move, shipping righthanded reliever Chad Qualls to the Pirates for infielder Casey McGehee, who can play first and third, and cash considerations.
There was quite a bit of Internet noise in the final two hours before the 4 p.m. deadline regarding the Yankees and Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster, but a team official said it was just that -- noise. "Never close," the official said, adding that no one in the organization at any point "thought it was serious."
Dempster went to the Rangers.
The Yankees did scout Marlins first baseman Carlos Lee extensively, and were having discussions about dealing for him, but multiple reports said he would not waive his no-trade provision to come to the Bronx.
So Cashman is prepared to go forward with what he has, though a waiver-wire pickup in the next month never can be ruled out.
In the 29-year-old McGehee, the Yankees picked up a utilityman they hope can help them get through two injuries: the short-term one to Mark Teixeira and the long-term one to Alex Rodriguez, who is expected to be back by mid-September.
"Obviously, with the Alex injury, he gives us another righthanded bat," Cashman said, referring to McGehee. "We've become pretty lefthanded, especially with the recent temporary loss of [Nick Swisher] and now Tex being down three to five days, we're pretty lefthanded, so this just gives Joe more choices."
The deal came together in the final hours before the deadline when the Pirates acquired Gaby Sanchez from the Marlins, making McGehee more expendable.
The Yankees essentially got him for nothing as Qualls was going to be discarded once Joba Chamberlain was activated. Chamberlain, scheduled to throw his final rehab game for Double-A Trenton Tuesday night, was told to turn his car around and be in uniform for the Yankees versus Baltimore instead.
McGehee hit .230 (61-for-265) with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games with the Pirates. In parts of five seasons with the Cubs (2008), Brewers (2009-11) and Pirates (2012), McGehee hit .260 with 60 homers, 96 doubles and 277 RBIs in 529 games.
