Yankees trade for catcher Pudge Rodriguez

The New York Yankees have replaced injured Jorge Posada with a catcher of equal impact, acquiring Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for reliever Kyle Farnsworth on Wednesday.

Rodriguez, a 14-time all-star, fills the void left by Posada, who had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday morning.

"It is going to be very exciting," Rodriguez said. "They're in the race and I'm ready to do my job."

"I'm sure he was very surprised by this," Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "But for him, this is a good situation.

"He is going to New York City. They're in contention."

Rodriguez is hitting .295 with five home runs, 32 runs batted in, 33 runs scored and six stolen bases in 82 games this season. 

The 36-year-old is making $13 million US in the option year of a four-year, $40-million US contract and, though the Tigers had not planned to trade him, they needed to bolster the bullpen.  

"We think Brandon Inge can do a fine job at catcher and, at the same time, we have done some repair to our bullpen," Dombrowski said.

"Pudge had a no-trade clause and he waived it today to go to New York," said Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent. "Pudge has always wanted to play in New York, and Detroit felt it needed a relief pitcher, so both sides were able to get what they wanted to some degree."

Rodriguez has won a record 13 Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence, and is one of three players in major-league history with at least 12 Gold Gloves and a lifetime batting average of .300 or better. 

The others: Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente.

Rodriguez is a .302 hitter with 293 HRs, 1,214 RBIs, 1,242 runs and 120 steals in 2,234 games over 18 MLB seasons with the Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and Tigers.

He has caught 2,142 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225) in that category.

"You talk about a Hall of Fame catcher coming in here," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He has been hot, so I'm looking forward to him being here."

'You have to give up to get'

Farnsworth is 1-2 with a 3.65 earned-run average and one save in 45 appearances this season.

The 32-year-old right-hander has struck out 43 batters and walked 17 over 44 1/3 innings, all in relief. 

"It is always hard, no matter what," Farnsworth said of being traded. "Just one of those things you have to deal with."

"You have to give up to get," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. "You have to do the balancing act."

Farnsworth is 29-47 with a 4.42 ERA and 27 saves in 596 appearances (26 starts) since he broke into the majors with the Chicago Cubs on April 29, 1999.

He pitched for both the Tigers and Atlanta Braves in 2005.