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Pittsburgh • The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck from the New York Mets.
Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington announced the deal on Tuesday afternoon. The Pirates will send New York minor league infielder Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later in exchange for two veterans Pittsburgh hopes will help the franchise to its first playoff berth in 21 years.
Byrd, 35, is hitting .285 with 21 home runs and 71 RBIs this season and will give the Pirates needed depth in the outfield while leadoff hitter Starling Marte recovers from a wrist injury.
Buck, 33, is batting .215 with 15 home runs and 60 RBIs. Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Buck's 63 home runs as a catcher rank third in the majors.
He is expected to back up Russell Martin.