Neal Huntington had been trying to acquire Delwyn Young from the Los Angeles Dodgers since practically the day he became the Pirates' general manager late in the 2007 season.
The Pirates finally landed the switch-hitting outfielder Wednesday in a trade for two players to be named or cash considerations. Young will join the Pirates on Friday night when they open a three-game series against Atlanta. "We feel he gives (manager) John Russell another option off the bench, gives him a third or fourth bat off the bench that he can use a pinch hitter or in double switches," Huntington said.
The Dodgers designated Young for assignment Monday after he began the season the disabled list while recovering from offseason elbow surgery. Young was on an injury-rehabilitation assignment with Class AAA Albuquerque when the Dodgers dropped him from the roster.
Young, 25, spent parts of the last three seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .267 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 110 games. He led the Dodgers and was fourth in the major leagues with 14 pinch hits last season.
Young has been used mainly in the outfield in the major leagues but came up through the Dodgers' farm system as a second baseman. The Pirates will try him there and at third base to see if he can give them added versatility.
"We joked internally that we'll find out how good Perry Hill is," Huntington said, referring to the Pirates' infield defense instructor and first base coach. "Delwyn played a lot of second base in the minor leagues and he certainly has the arm strength to play third. Ideally, he could help us in the infield, too."
ASTROS 4, PIRATES 1: Mike Hampton pitched six scoreless innings and the Pirates were shut out until Adam LaRoche led off the ninth inning with a solo home run off closer Jose Valverde. Ross Ohlendorf (0-2) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings to take the loss.
