Brewers ship McGehee to Pirates By Sports Network

Casey McGehee runs the bases after hitting a home run during against the Cubs at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisc., Aug. 27, 2011. (SCOTT BOEHM/Getty Images/AFP)

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired third baseman Casey McGehee from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed reliever Jose Veras.

McGehee struggled at the plate last season and may have been expendable after reports surfaced on Monday that Milwaukee signed free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

After a pair of promising seasons in which he belted 39 home runs and compiled a .349 on-base percentage over 273 games, McGehee hit just .223 with a .280 OBP in 155 games last year.

Veras appeared in a career-high 79 games for Pittsburgh in 2011, throwing to a 3.80 earned-run average with 1.24 walks/hits per inning pitched. The Brewers will be the fifth stop for Veras in four years, having also spent time with the Yankees, Indians and Marlins.