Brewers get Mitre from Yanks for Dickerson

Right-hander has experience as both starter and reliever
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 03/25/11 11:18 AM ET
Brewers added a versatile pitcher to their staff and the Yankees eliminated one from their starting-pitcher competition on Friday, when New York sent right-hander Sergio Mitre to Milwaukee for outfielder Chris Dickerson.

Mitre, 13-29 with a career 5.27 ERA, would give Milwaukee an experienced hand as a starter or reliever. He has pitched in 117 Major League games, 64 of them as a starter.

The Brewers added right-handers Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum to their starting rotation during the offseason, but Greinke will be sidelined for part of April due to an offseason rib injury and Marcum has experienced shoulder stiffness. In adddition, Mark Rogers and Manny Parra have also experienced aches and pains this spring.

Roenicke on Brewers' injuriesThe right-hander, who was originally selected by the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, has pitched for three teams over parts of seven seasons. He was 4-10 with a 6.12 ERA in three seasons as a Cub and 6-13 with a 4.88 ERA in two years with the Marlins. The 30-year-old was 3-6 with a 5.03 ERA in 29 games over the past two seasons for the Yankees.

Dickerson, 28, was acquired by Milwaukee from the Reds on Aug. 9 for outfielder Jim Edmonds. Dickerson, who spent parts of three seasons with Cincinnati, batted .208 with five RBIs in 25 games with the Brewers. He was hitting .278 (10-for-36) with five RBIs in 17 Spring Training games.

He played in a career-high 97 games in 2009, batting .275 and stealing 11 bases.

Mitre had been in competition for the fifth spot in the Yankees' rotation, or as a long reliever, but he seemingly had fallen out of the race earlier this month, allowing seven runs in 11 innings for a 5.73 ERA. His departure could allow the Yankees to carry Bartolo Colon or Freddy Garcia as a long reliever.

The Yankees appear ready to open the season with CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett and Ivan Nova in their rotation. Colon or Garcia is expected to be the fifth starter, with the other going to the bullpen.

New York reportedly signed veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood early Friday, adding another pitcher to the mix.