Yanks trade veteran reliever Coke to Pirates
The Yankees completed a Minor League deal on Thursday, trading veteran left-hander Phil Coke to the Pirates for cash considerations.
Coke, 34, last pitched in the Majors for the Yankees in the beginning of May, when he allowed five runs over six relief innings. Since then, Coke has pitched for New York's Triple-A affiliate at Scranton-Wilkes Barre, where he posted a 5-3 record and a 3.20 ERA in 23 appearances (11 starts) during the International League regular season.
In his Yankees tenure, which spanned two stints and three seasons, Coke posted a 3.90 ERA across 87 appearances (15 starts).
Coke shined for the Rail Riders during the recent Minor League postseason, going 1-0 while recording a 0.55 ERA and 18 strikeouts over three appearances (two starts). Scranton captured the Triple-A National Championship on Tuesday.
The Pirates' acquisition of Coke is the second trade made by the team for a left-handed reliever, following the acquisition of southpaw Wade LeBlanc from the Mariners on Sept. 13.
In 404 career appearances over nine Major League seasons, Coke is 22-27 with a 4.23 ERA.