{"id":861435,"date":"2026-08-20T01:01:04","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T01:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/861435\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T01:01:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T01:01:04","slug":"trade-yankees-send-8-year-mlb-veteran-to-pittsburgh-pirates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/861435\/","title":{"rendered":"Trade: Yankees Send 8-Year MLB Veteran to Pittsburgh Pirates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"780\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/taylor-hooton-foundation-hosts-give-a-hoot-benefit-new-york-new-york-e1784748533160.jpg\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>The Yankees have been urged to not acquire a shortstop at the trade deadline<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"New York Yankees\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/new-york-yankees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405486\">New York Yankees<\/a> have traded veteran catcher <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Christian Bethancourt\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/christian-bethancourt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405490\">Christian Bethancourt<\/a> to the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Pittsburgh Pirates\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/pittsburgh-pirates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405497\">Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> for cash considerations.<\/p>\n<p>New York Yankees PR wrote on X: \u201cThe New York Yankees today announced that they have traded C Christian Bethancourt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>New York Yankees Trade 8-Year MLB Veteran Christian Bethancourt to Pittsburgh Pirates<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6271622\" class=\"size-inline wp-image-6271622\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-world-baseball-classic-pool-a-colombia-v-panama-san.jpg\" alt=\"2026 World Baseball Classic - Pool A - Colombia v Panama\" width=\"782\" height=\"522\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6271622\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettySAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO \u2013 MARCH 09: Christian Bethancourt #22 of Team Panama celebrates after hitting an RBI single against Team Colombia during the eighth inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 09, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The Yankees signed Bethancourt to a minor-league deal late last month.<\/p>\n<p>The catcher hit .333\/.407\/.708 with three home runs and seven RBI across eight games with Triple-A Scranton\/Wilkes-Barre before being dealt to the Pirates.<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Chicago Cubs\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/chicago-cubs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"360959\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/chicago-cubs\/\">Chicago Cubs<\/a>\u00a0released\u00a0Bethancourt, who can also play first base, on July 17.<\/p>\n<p>Looking at Christian Bethancourt\u2019s Career<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6271643\" class=\"size-inline wp-image-6271643\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-world-baseball-classic-pool-a-panama-v-puerto-rico.jpg\" alt=\"2026 World Baseball Classic - Pool A - Panama v Puerto Rico\" width=\"782\" height=\"521\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6271643\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettySAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO \u2013 MARCH 07: <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Jonathan Ara\u00faz\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/jonathan-arauz\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405511\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Ara\u00faz<\/a> #28 of Team Panama scores a run on a double hit by Christian Bethancourt #22 (not pictured) against Team Puerto Rico during the fifth inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 07, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>Bethancourt, 34, signed a minor-league deal with the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Atlanta Braves\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/atlanta-braves\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"360996\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/atlanta-braves\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Braves<\/a>\u00a0in 2008.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The catcher made his MLB debut with the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Braves\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/atlanta-braves\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405512\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Braves<\/a> in 2013. He appeared in 80 games with the club from 2013-15.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6271651\" class=\"size-inline wp-image-6271651\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/san-diego-padres-v-arizona-diamondbacks-phoenix-az-may-29-christian.jpg\" alt=\"San Diego Padres v Arizona Diamondbacks\" width=\"782\" height=\"521\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6271651\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyPHOENIX, AZ \u2013 MAY 29: Christian Bethancourt #12 of the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"San Diego Padres\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/san-diego-padres\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405508\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Diego Padres<\/a> hits a RBI single against the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Arizona Diamondbacks\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/arizona-diamondbacks\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405518\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 29, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The Braves traded Bethancourt to the\u00a0<a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"San Diego Padres\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/san-diego-padres\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"360993\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/san-diego-padres\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Diego Padres<\/a>\u00a0for right-hander <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Casey Kelly\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/casey-kelly\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405509\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Casey Kelly<\/a> and catcher Ricardo Rodriguez during the 2015-16 offseason. He appeared in 73 games with the Padres in 2016 and eight in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>After 2017, Bethancourt didn\u2019t return to the majors until 2022, when he played with the Oakland Athletics and <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Tampa Bay Rays\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/tampa-bay-rays\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405507\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tampa Bay Rays<\/a>. He spent the 2023 season with the Rays, then appeared in games with the\u00a0<a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Miami Marlins\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/miami-marlins\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"360998\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/miami-marlins\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Miami Marlins<\/a>\u00a0and Cubs in 2024. He hasn\u2019t played in a big-league game in two seasons.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6271653\" class=\"size-inline wp-image-6271653\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/chicago-cubs-v-pittsburgh-pirates-pittsburgh-pa-august-28-christian-bethancourt.jpg\" alt=\"Chicago Cubs v Pittsburgh Pirates\" width=\"759\" height=\"531\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6271653\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyPITTSBURGH, PA \u2013 AUGUST 28: Christian Bethancourt #60 of the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Chicago Cubs\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/chicago-cubs\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405510\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago Cubs<\/a> hits a two RBI single in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>During his <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"MLB\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405520\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MLB<\/a> career, Bethancourt has accumulated 1.4 bWAR with a .229\/.259\/.362 slash line, 35 home runs, 60 doubles and 135 RBI across 427 games.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Bethancourt represented Panama in the 2023 and 2026 World Baseball Classics. He went 4-for-13 in this year\u2019s WBC.<\/p>\n<p>New York Yankees Right Now<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6252318\" class=\"size-inline wp-image-6252318\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seattle-mariners-v-new-york-yankees-new-york-new-york-august-5.jpg\" alt=\"Seattle Mariners v New York Yankees\" width=\"782\" height=\"521\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6252318\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK \u2013 AUGUST 12: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees calls to the bullpen during the sixth inning against the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Seattle Mariners\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/seattle-mariners\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405519\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Mariners<\/a> at Yankee Stadium on August 12, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The Yankees are 6-4 in their last 10 games.<\/p>\n<p>They hold the first American League Wild Card spot with a 70-55 record.<\/p>\n<p>New York is five games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East.<\/p>\n<p>Pittsburgh Pirates Right Now<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6271668\" class=\"size-inline wp-image-6271668\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/boston-red-sox-v-pittsburgh-pirates-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-august-16-bryan.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Red Sox v Pittsburgh Pirates\" width=\"782\" height=\"450\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6271668\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA \u2013 AUGUST 16: <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/bryan-reynolds\/\" title=\"Bryan Reynolds\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405899\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryan Reynolds<\/a> #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Brandon Lowe\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/brandon-lowe\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405521\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon Lowe<\/a> #5 after they both came around to score in the third inning during the game against the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Boston Red Sox\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/boston-red-sox\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405516\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Red Sox<\/a> at PNC Park on August 16, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The Pirates are 62-66 this season.<\/p>\n<p>They are 17 games back of the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Milwaukee Brewers\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/milwaukee-brewers\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"405517\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> for first place in the National League Central.<\/p>\n<p>In the Wild Card standings, Pittsburgh is 6 1\/2 games back of the final spot.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/jackson440f252922\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jackson Kruse<\/a> Jackson Kruse covers Major League Baseball for Heavy Sports. He is also the site expert for FanSided&#8217;s Minnesota Twins site, Puckett&#8217;s Pond, and writes for Nolan Writin&#8217;, FanSided&#8217;s Texas Rangers site. Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media from Texas State University&#8217;s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Before joining Heavy Sports and FanSided, he served as sports editor of The University Star, Texas State University&#8217;s student-run newspaper. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/jackson440f252922\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More about Jackson Kruse<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty The Yankees have been urged to not acquire a shortstop at the trade deadline The New York&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":861436,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[64,63,591,85],"class_list":["post-861435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/861435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=861435"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/861435\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/861436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=861435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=861435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=861435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}