IN a trade aimed at bolstering their bench, the New York Yankees acquired Glenallen Hill from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitchers Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena.
General manager Brian Cashman said that he would continue to work the phones in an effort to obtain a leftfielder to replace Shane Spencer, who is out for the season. Hill can play that position, but has historically been a below-average defensive player.
'His role will be a right-handed bat off the bench, as well as providing Joe [Torre] with some flexibility at designated hitter,' Cashman said. 'I'm not done lining up choices for George [Steinbrenner] to say yea or nay to.' The trading deadline is July 31 for deals that do not require waivers. Hill, 35, was batting .262 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs for the Cubs. He has hit 164 home runs over his 12-year Major League career, including 11 as a pinch-hitter. 'I'm not surprised,' Hill said. 'I know that because of our season that there would be changes.' Hill had four pinch-hit homers for the Cubs last season. He said he expected to join the Yankees today. 'He's got some serious power,' Cashman said.
Cashman had been discussing a trade for Hill with Cubs general manager Ed Lynch before Lynch resigned earlier this week.
New Cubs general manager Andy McPhail took over the trade talks and the deal was completed before the Yankees played the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
'My first game in the Major Leagues was in Yankee Stadium. Now that I'm at the end of my career, it would be nice to finish there,' said Hill, who went 2-for-3 at Yankee Stadium in his Major League debut.