Pirates' Phil Coke: Traded to Pirates

Coke was traded to the Pirates on Thursday for cash.

The journeyman southpaw logged six innings out of the Yankees' bullpen this year but spent the majority of the season pitching as both a starter and reliever for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He posted a 2.96 ERA and 61:21 K:BB in 70 innings at Triple-A. The 11 starts he made in the minors this year marked the first time he was used as a starter since 2011, so perhaps the Pirates' scouts saw something they thought they could work with in that role. However, in the short term, Coke is expected to join the big league club Friday and work out of the bullpen.