Wish Granted, Rhoden Goes to Yankees

Pitcher Rick Rhoden, the principal figure in a trade between the Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates that involved five other pitchers, said he is relieved to be in New York.

Rhoden, 33, a right-hander, was sent to the Yankees with relievers Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements for pitchers Doug Drabek, Brian Fisher and minor leaguer Logan Easley in a trade completed Wednesday. Rhoden, 15-12 last year with a 2.84 earned-run average for the Pirates, was eligible to become a free agent after 1987 but signed a guaranteed contract through the 1988 season.

“I let it be known that I wanted to be traded, and I’m fortunate to come to a contending club like the Yankees,” he said. “I couldn’t be more pleased. Earlier in my career, I might not have wanted to come to New York, but now I feel I can handle it.”

Rhoden joins a Yankee team that finished 5 1/2 games behind Boston in the American League East and was in need of quality pitching down the stretch.