New York Yankees acquire reliever Clay Holmes from Pittsburgh Pirates for 2 minor league infielders

The New York Yankees, facing some important decisions with Friday's trade deadline looming, on Monday acquired right-handed reliever Clay Holmes from the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league infielders Diego Castillo and Hoy Park.

Holmes, 28, is 3-2 in 44 relief appearances with 44 strikeouts and 35 walks in 42 innings. He has held right-handed batters to a .173 average (17-for-98). Holmes is 5-7 with a 5.57 ERA over 91 games, including four starts, in four major league seasons.

Park, 25, appeared in one major league game, on July 16 against Boston. He is batting .307 with 10 doubles, 11 homers and 32 RBIs for Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Castillo, 23, is hitting .277 with 17 doubles, 11 homers and 32 RBIs at Somerset.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees returned catcher Rob Brantly to Scranton.

The Yankees (51-47) started Monday nine games behind AL East-leading Bostonand eight back of the second-place Tampa Bay Rays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.