The New York Yankees today announced they have acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for RHP George Kontos.

Stewart, 30, appeared in a career-high 67 games with the Giants in 2011, batting .204 (33-for-162) with three home runs and 10 RBI. He threw out 19-of-53 attempted base stealers (35.8%), tied for seventh-most caught stealing in the National League. The California native was originally selected by Chicago-AL in the 12th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He has appeared in 93 games at the Major League level in parts of four seasons with Chicago-AL (2006), Texas (2007), New York-AL (2008), San Diego (2010) and San Francisco (2011), combining to hit .200 (42-for-210) with 10 doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI.

Kontos, 26, spent a majority of the 2011 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 4-4 with a 2.62 ERA (89.1IP, 26ER) in 40 appearances (four starts).  The Illinois native joined the Yankees as a September call-up, making his Major League debut and posting a 3.00 ERA (6.0IP, 2ER) without recording a decision in seven relief appearances.  Kontos was originally selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and went 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA (6.1IP, 2ER) and 7K in five spring training relief appearances.