Yankees land reliever Wilson from Pirates

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have acquired left-hander Justin Wilson from the Pirates in exchange for catcher Francisco Cervelli, both clubs announced on Wednesday evening.

Wilson, 27, was 3-4 with a 4.20 ERA in 70 appearances with Pittsburgh in 2014, and he projects to compete for a bullpen role with the Yankees this coming spring. In three Major League seasons, the lefty is 9-5 with a 2.99 ERA in 136 appearances.

"Thank you Pittsburgh!" Wilson said on his Twitter account. "Will never forget the great time I had with the Pirates. Going to miss the organization and my teammates, but excited to join the Yankees! Tradition and a first class organization. Can't wait for Yankee baseball. Hope I look good in pinstripes!"

but excited to join the Yankees! Tradition and a first class organization. Can't wait for Yankee baseball. Hope I look good in pinstripes!

- Justin Wilson (@J_J_Wilson) November 13, 2014

Cervelli, 28, batted .301 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 49 games with the Yankees last season, serving as one of the backups to starting catcher Brian McCann, but missing two months with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain.

Injury-related setbacks have been a frequent occurrence during Cervelli's seven-year big league career, all spent with the Yankees, during which he has compiled a .278 lifetime average.

With Cervelli out of the organization, the Yankees could enter the season with John Ryan Murphy or Austin Romine as McCann's backup, both of whom saw time at the big league level this past season.

Cervelli's departure leaves the Yankees with just four active members from the 2009 World Series-winning club -- Brett Gardner, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.