Yankees Hope to Close Strongly With Lee Smith

The New York Yankees, looking for a bullpen closer most of the season, acquired all-time save leader Lee Smith from the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night for a minor league relief pitcher.

New York, chasing Toronto in the American League East, has been going with Steve Farr and Bob Wickman to finish games.

“Being in a pennant race, we feel fortunate to add Lee Smith,” Yankee General Manager Gene Michael said. “We feel we have to give something up at this time to get this needed help.”

Farr, who leads the Yankees with 25 saves, has an inflamed elbow and was placed on the 15-day disabled list after Tuesday night’s 11-3 loss to Chicago.

The Yankees sent pitcher Richard Batchelor to the Cardinals. Batchelor was 1-1 with a 2.76 earned-run average and six saves in 15 games at triple-A Columbus.

Smith, 35, is in the final year of his contract and can become a free agent after the season.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Smith said. “It’s just one of those things. I just want to go out and show the rest of baseball I can still pitch. If I get a job for next year, fine enough.”

He has 398 career saves, breaking Jeff Reardon’s all-time record earlier this year. Smith was 2-4 with 43 saves for the Cardinals this season in 55 games with a 4.50 ERA. Some other teams interested in Smith were concerned he had given up 11 home runs this season.

Smith led the NL with 47 saves in 1991 and 43 last season to become the first to lead the league in saves for consecutive seasons since Bruce Sutter (1980-81).

“Since he was acquired from the Red Sox in 1990, Lee has been an outstanding reliever for the Cardinals, maybe the best in baseball during that span,” General Manager Dal Maxvill said.