Pirates Acquire Minor-League Infielder From Mariners
PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired veteran minor-league infielder Robert Andino from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later, it was reported during the penultimate game of their series with the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park Wednesday night.
Andino, 29, was a 2002 amateur draft second-round draft choice of the Florida Marlins. He has professional experience as a second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop with the Fish and the M's, with a four-year stint with the Baltimore Orioles organization sandwiched in between.
This year, in 29 big-league games with Seattle, he has hit just .184 with a .490 OPS, striking out 27 times in 85 plate appearances. He also has four doubles and four RBI. In 44 minor-league games with Triple-A Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League, he has hit .229 with a .615 OPS, three home runs, a dozen RBI, and 17 runs scored.
His best season as an everyday big-leaguer came with the Orioles in 2011, when he hit .263 with a .670 OPS, drove in 36 runs, doubled 22 times and scored 63 in 139 games.
In ten minor-league campaigns, Andino is a lifetime .258 hitter with 58 homers and 353 runs batted in. In parts of nine Major League seasons, he has hit .232 with 18 and 96, respectively.
He is slated to join the Pirates' Triple-A club, the Indianapolis Indians, according to James Santelli of PiratesProspects.com, who also reports Andino, approaching the last full year of his contract, will earn about $500,000 the rest of this season and is eligible for his third year of arbitration next season.
Earlier today it was reported Pirates backup catcher Michael McKenry would be out for the remainder of the season after a successful meniscus surgery on his left knee. The Pirates, presumably, will move him to the 60-day disabled list at some point, which would open up a 40-man roster spot for the newly-acquired Andino.
McKenry, meanwhile, has been replaced on the Pirates' depth chart by Tony Sanchez, who has spent the majority of 2013 with Indianapolis.
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