Yankees trade for Dodgers' right-hander Sturtze

New York's Jose Contreras is struggling in the minors.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Still searching for a reliable fifth starter, the New York Yankees acquired right-hander Tanyon Sturtze from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday for a player to be named.
Sturtze has pitched for five teams during eight big league seasons, going 29-39 with a 5.20 ERA in 159 games. He was 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Las Vegas this year.
With struggling right-hander Jose Contreras in the minors working on his mechanics, the Yankees have turned to Donovan Osborne as their No. 5 starter. But few expected the 34-year-old left-hander to be more than a short-term fill-in.
Osborne lasted just 1 1/3 innings last Sunday in Seattle. He pitched better Saturday against the Mariners, allowing six runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in five-plus innings, but hasn't won as a starter since May 1, 1999, with St. Louis.
Osborne is 2-0 with a 7.13 ERA in nine appearances this season.
Sturtze's best season came with Tampa Bay in 2001, when he went 11-12 with a 4.42 ERA. The next season he was 4-18 in 33 starts, throwing 224 innings.
Leiter rejoins Mets
HOUSTON -- Al Leiter rejoined the Mets before Saturday's game against the Houston Astros after undergoing an MRI on his ailing left shoulder the previous day in New York.
Doctors confirmed that the left-hander has tendinitis in the shoulder, and he won't pitch his scheduled start today. Leiter, who was also given a cortisone shot, was examined Friday by team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito.
A replacement wasn't immediately announced, but right-hander Matt Ginter could be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.
The Mets expect Leiter to pitch again next weekend against Colorado. He is 1-2 with a 2.52 ERA this season.
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