Mariners send shortstop Ryan to Yankees
Defensive standout relegated to bench role this year behind rookie Miller
SEATTLE -- The Mariners announced during Tuesday night's game against the Astros that the club traded shortstop Brendan Ryan to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later.
"It's an opportunity for [him] to go somewhere and compete," manager Eric Wedge said. "They were interested in him, so that was the move we made."
Ryan, who is regarded as one of the finest defensive shortstops in the game, was acquired by Seattle on Dec. 12, 2010, in a trade from St. Louis. He appeared in 351 games for Seattle, batting .215 with 48 doubles, six triples and nine home runs.
The emergence of rookie shortstop Brad Miller this season had relegated Ryan to a part-time role. Since July 1, the 31-year-old Ryan has started just 12 games at shortstop. He batted .192 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 87 games for Seattle in 2013.
If the Yankees make the playoffs, Ryan would be ineligible for postseason play. New York is two games behind the Rays for the second Wild Card in the American League.