Wed Jun 25 17:20:29 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Pirates acquire P Bautista from Tigers

---

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired pitcher Denny Bautista from the Detroit Tigers for minor league pitcher Kyle Pearson on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Bautista was 0-1 with a 3.32 earned run average in 16 relief appearances before being designated for assignment by the Tigers on June 20. The right-hander struck out 10 and walked 14 over 19 innings.

In parts of five major league seasons with Baltimore, Kansas City, Colorado and Detroit, Bautista is 4-11 with a 6.42 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 51 appearances, 21 of which have been starts.

Pearson pitched in 16 games within the Tigers organization this season, notching four saves in 11 outings with Double-A Lynchburg. For his career, he is 13-27 with a 4.95 ERA and 12 saves in 118 minor league games.

To make room for Bautista on the 40-man roster, Pittsburgh released minor league outfielder Kevin Thompson.

In parts of two major league seasons with the New York Yankees and Oakland, Thompson, who has not been called up this season, has a career batting average of .215 with a home run and nine runs batted in.