Yankees Acquire C Chris Stewart from Giants in exchange for RHP George Kontos
The New York Yankees today announced they have acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for RHP George Kontos.
Stewart, 30, appeared in a career-high 67 games with the Giants in 2011, batting .204 (33-for-162) with three home runs and 10 RBI. He threw out 19-of-53 attempted base stealers (35.8%), tied for seventh-most caught stealing in the National League. The California native was originally selected by Chicago-AL in the 12th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He has appeared in 93 games at the Major League level in parts of four seasons with Chicago-AL (2006), Texas (2007), New York-AL (2008), San Diego (2010) and San Francisco (2011), combining to hit .200 (42-for-210) with 10 doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI.
Kontos, 26, spent a majority of the 2011 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 4-4 with a 2.62 ERA (89.1IP, 26ER) in 40 appearances (four starts). The Illinois native joined the Yankees as a September call-up, making his Major League debut and posting a 3.00 ERA (6.0IP, 2ER) without recording a decision in seven relief appearances. Kontos was originally selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and went 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA (6.1IP, 2ER) and 7K in five spring training relief appearances.