HOT STOVE LEAGUE Pirates deal prospect to K.C. for Santiago

The veteran catcher hit .274 with six homers last season.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Benito Santiago was traded Thursday by the Kansas City Royals to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have sought a veteran catcher since dealing Jason Kendall to Oakland last month.
On a busy day for the Royals, they also acquired outfielder-catcher Eli Marrero and cash from Atlanta for right-hander Jorge Vasquez.
The Royals get right-handed prospect Leo Nunez for Santiago, but also must pay about $1 million of Santiago's $2.15 million salary in the second season of his two-year contract.
The deal with Pittsburgh was first discussed during last weekend's winter meetings in Anaheim, Calif., but wasn't completed until Santiago took a physical in Pittsburgh this week.
Second choice
The Pirates were initially interested in dealing for Rockies catcher Charles Johnson, but he wanted a second year tacked onto his contract and the two sides could not work out terms.
Santiago, a five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, hit .274 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 49 games in 2004, but didn't play after fracturing his left hand June 18 in Philadelphia.
The right-handed hitting Santiago is seventh in major league history with 1,911 games caught and will pass Al Lopez and Jim Sundberg if he catches at least 18 more games.
Trading Kendall, who regularly leads the majors in games caught, left backup Humberto Cota as the only Pirates catcher with more than minimal major league experience. Cota is expected to back up Santiago and start 65-70 games.
Been around
The Pirates will be Santiago's ninth team since he broke in with San Diego in 1986. He also has played for the Marlins, Reds, Phillies, Blue Jays, Cubs, Giants and Royals, hitting .263 in 1,972 games with 217 homers and 920 RBIs.
Santiago's name surfaced last year in the federal case involving the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative, which is being investigated for distributing steroids.
Nunez, 21, was 10-4 with a 3.06 ERA and three complete games for Class A Hickory in 2004 and was fifth among South Atlantic League pitchers with 140 strikeouts.
The Royals felt Santiago was expendable because they plan to start prospect John Buck, with the 34-year-old Albert Castillo as his backup. Buck, 24, hit .235 with 12 homers and 30 RBIs in 71 games last season, while Castillo hit .270 in 29 games.