PITTSBURGH -- The Chicago White Sox acquired utilityman Rob Mackowiak from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday for left-handed reliever Damaso Marte.
The deal was pending physicals, according to a baseball official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized yet.
Mackowiak gives the World Series champions a solid, left-handed bat on the bench. He also can provide insurance at third base behind Joe Crede and help replace Aaron Rowand in the outfield.
An outstanding defensive center fielder, Rowand was traded by Chicago to Philadelphia for slugger Jim Thome last month.
Mackowiak got regular playing time all over the field last season, batting .272 with nine homers, 58 RBI and 21 doubles for Pittsburgh. He appeared in 142 games, including 65 at third base, 41 in center field, 23 in right and 20 at second base.
Marte went 3-4 with a 3.77 ERA and four saves in 66 relief appearances, often struggling with his control. He struck out 54 batters and walked 33 in 45 1/3 innings.
The 29-year-old Mackowiak is from Oak Lawn, Ill., a short drive from U.S. Cellular Field. He earned $1.5 million this year and is eligible for arbitration.
Marte, traded by the Pirates to Chicago in March 2002, is owed $2.25 million next year. His contract contains club options at $3 million annually for 2007 and 2008.
Pittsburgh also released former starting third baseman Ty Wigginton to create a 40-man roster spot for pitcher Victor Santos, who was chosen in the winter meeting draft.
Santos, a right-hander, was 4-13 with a 4.57 ERA in 29 games with Milwaukee last season.
The small-budget Pirates, who went 67-95 this year, were active at the meeting. They also acquired first baseman Sean Casey and $1 million from the Cincinnati Reds for left-hander Dave Williams, and shipped pitcher Mark Redman to Kansas City for right-hander Jonah Bayliss and minor league pitcher Chad Blackwell.
"We'll use those dollars that we budgeted for other things," Pittsburgh general manager Dave Littlefield said. "We've been reconfiguring our roster for a couple of years now."
In another move, the Pirates acquired minor league right-hander Clayton Hamilton from San Diego as the player to be named in the Nov. 21 trade that sent infielder Bobby Hill to the Padres.
The deal was pending physicals, according to a baseball official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized yet.
Mackowiak gives the World Series champions a solid, left-handed bat on the bench. He also can provide insurance at third base behind Joe Crede and help replace Aaron Rowand in the outfield.
An outstanding defensive center fielder, Rowand was traded by Chicago to Philadelphia for slugger Jim Thome last month.
Mackowiak got regular playing time all over the field last season, batting .272 with nine homers, 58 RBI and 21 doubles for Pittsburgh. He appeared in 142 games, including 65 at third base, 41 in center field, 23 in right and 20 at second base.
Marte went 3-4 with a 3.77 ERA and four saves in 66 relief appearances, often struggling with his control. He struck out 54 batters and walked 33 in 45 1/3 innings.
The 29-year-old Mackowiak is from Oak Lawn, Ill., a short drive from U.S. Cellular Field. He earned $1.5 million this year and is eligible for arbitration.
Marte, traded by the Pirates to Chicago in March 2002, is owed $2.25 million next year. His contract contains club options at $3 million annually for 2007 and 2008.
Pittsburgh also released former starting third baseman Ty Wigginton to create a 40-man roster spot for pitcher Victor Santos, who was chosen in the winter meeting draft.
Santos, a right-hander, was 4-13 with a 4.57 ERA in 29 games with Milwaukee last season.
The small-budget Pirates, who went 67-95 this year, were active at the meeting. They also acquired first baseman Sean Casey and $1 million from the Cincinnati Reds for left-hander Dave Williams, and shipped pitcher Mark Redman to Kansas City for right-hander Jonah Bayliss and minor league pitcher Chad Blackwell.
"We'll use those dollars that we budgeted for other things," Pittsburgh general manager Dave Littlefield said. "We've been reconfiguring our roster for a couple of years now."
In another move, the Pirates acquired minor league right-hander Clayton Hamilton from San Diego as the player to be named in the Nov. 21 trade that sent infielder Bobby Hill to the Padres.
Unless it keeps us all safe , just swear off Pit for the whole season. 