BUCS GET CATCHER CERVELLI FROM YANKS
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Francisco Cervelli from the New York Yankees for pitcher Justin Wilson.
What does it give the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are clearly moving on from catcher {P Russell Martin}, a free agent who is being courted by many big-league clubs. Therefore, the acquisition of Cervelli makes sense at this time. He should see more playing time in Pittsburgh and may emerge as a starter for the first time in his career. Cervelli's bat is underrated. This was a solid pickup for the Bucs, as they dealt from a position of strength to plug a big hole.
What does it give the New York Yankees
For the Yankees, adding lefty reliever Wilson should help their bullpen situation greatly. In 2014, New York struggled to find a consistent late-inning option from the left side. So Wilson was a solid pickup, especially since closer {P David Robertson} is a free agent and may not be back. Furthermore, they have plenty of catching depth in the system to overcome the loss of Cervelli--who was a backup in the Bronx anyway.
Fantasy impact
Both Cervelli and Wilson should benefit from a fantasy perspective following this trade. The former should compete with {P Tony Sanchez} for the No. 1 catching job, while Wilson should emerge as the top lefty in the Yanks' bullpen--and might even be in line for saves in 2015.
