Yankees Get Leary From Reds

The New York Yankees, desperate to improve their pitching staff, acquired former Dodger Tim Leary from the Cincinnati Reds today for two minor leaguers.

The Yankees, whose 4.50 earned-run average was the second-worst in baseball last season behind Detroit, sent outfielder Hal Morris and right-hander Rodney Imes to Cincinnati for Leary and minor-league outfielder Van Snider.

“In getting Leary, we are adding an experienced, quality pitcher to the staff who can give us 200 innings,” said George Bradley, Yankees’ vice president of player development and scouting. “Snider is a good left-handed hitter who provides us with depth in the outfield.”

The Yankees were determined to get starting pitching after failing in their bid for free agent Mark Langston. In Leary, they got a 31-year-old who will be playing for his fifth major-league club.

Leary was 8-14 last season with a 3.52 ERA and is 45-56 lifetime.

He was 17-11 with a 2.91 ERA with the Dodgers in 1988 but was just 6-7 last July 18 when Los Angeles traded him to Cincinnati with Mariano Duncan for Kal Daniels and Lenny Harris. Leary went 2-7 in 14 starts for the Reds with a 3.71 ERA.

He was a star at UCLA when the New York Mets picked him in the first round of the June, 1979, draft.

The Mets brought him up to the majors to start the 1981 season. But he strained a muscle in his right elbow at Wrigley Field in his major league debut and did not pitch again in the major leagues until 1983.

Leary was 1-1 for the Mets in 1983 and 3-3 in 1984, then was dealt to Milwaukee. He was 1-4 for the Brewers in 1985 and 12-12 in 1986 before Milwaukee traded him to Los Angeles with pitcher Tim Crews for first baseman Greg Brock.

He was 3-11 in 1987 and then had the best year of his career in 1988 as Los Angeles won the World Series.

The 26-year-old Snider was 1 for 7 last season with the Reds and batted .222 at Nashville of the Class AAA American Assn. He is 7 for 35 lifetime in the big leagues.

The 24-year-old Morris was 5 for 18 for the Yankees in 1989 after batting a league-leading .326 with Columbus of the International League. He is 7 for 38 lifetime in the majors.

Imes, 23, was 17-6 with a 2.73 ERA for Albany of the Eastern League.