The New York Yankees have acquired catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for embattled reliever Kyle Farnsworth.
A 14-time All-Star, Rodriguez will replace injured catcher Jorge Posada, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Posada signed a four-year contract for US$52 million this past off-season to stay with the Yankees, but the five-time All-Star was hampered by a right shoulder injury throughout the season and batted just .268 with three homers in 51 games.
Less than 24 hours before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline, the Yankees obtained a short-term stopgap at catcher in the 36-year-old Rodriguez, who is scheduled to make US$13 million this year and will become a free agent after this season.
"[Rodriguez] has been a great player for a long time," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
"He's been a world champion and he also has played in another World Series, so he knows what it takes."
Rodriguez had his contract option exercised this past winter by the Tigers, who signed the 13-time Gold Glove winner to a four-year, US$40 million deal prior to the 2004 season.
Wednesday's deal marks the second major trade pulled off in the past five days by the Yankees, who acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte last Friday from Pittsburgh.
The Yankees (59-48), who also signed first baseman Richie Sexson earlier this month, are four games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays (63-44) in the American League East Division.
Rodriguez is batting .295 with five homers and 32 RBI this season for Detroit. He provides New York with a definite offensive upgrade over Jose Molina, a defensive specialist who is batting just .229 this year.
"We're talking about a Hall of Fame catcher coming in here," said Girardi.
"He's been playing well and he's hitting .290."
Farnsworth, 32, is in the final season of a three-year, US$17 million deal with the Yankees, who signed the hard-throwing righthander to serve as a bridge to All-Star closer Mariano Rivera.
But Farnsworth struggled for the most part in his two-plus seasons with New York. He showed signs of improvement this season, going 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 games.
"It's hard because [Farnsworth] was a big part of our bullpen and he loved being here," said Girardi.
"I had a relationship with Kyle, so it's hard."
Despite his fond feelings toward Farnsworth, Girardi has to be pleased with the acquisition of Rodriguez, a career .302 hitter who has appeared in two World Series since 2003.
An 18-year veteran, Rodriguez helped lead Florida to the World Series championship in 2003 and was an integral member of the 2006 Tigers, who won the AL pennant before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the Fall Classic.
Rodriguez has 293 homers and 1,214 RBI in 2,234 career games with Detroit, Florida and Texas.
Farnsworth constantly drew ire from Yankees fans and the local media during his first two seasons with New York, when he posted a 4.57 ERA and frequently battled control problems.
A 10-year veteran, Farnsworth could fill a need with the Tigers, who is are a postseason contender despite enduring problems at the back of its bullpen throughout the season.
The 6-4 Farnsworth figures to compete with recently named closer Fernando Rodney and veteran Todd Jones for late-inning work with the Tigers, who saw hard-throwing reliever Joel Zumaya suffer an arm injury during Sunday's game against the White Sox.
It will mark the second stint with the Tigers for Farnsworth, who appeared in 46 games with Detroit during the 2005 season before being traded to Atlanta at the trade deadline that year.
Farnsworth owns a 29-47 record with a 4.42 ERA in 596 career games with the Yankees, Tigers, Braves and Chicago Cubs.