NEW YORK -- In a trade aimed at bolstering their bench, the New York Yankees acquired Glenallen Hill from the Chicago Cubs on Friday for minor league pitchers Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena.

	Hill

General manager Brian Cashman said he would continue to work the phones in an effort to obtain a left fielder to replace Shane Spencer, who is out for the season. Hill can play that position, but has historically been a below-average defensive player.

"His role will be a right-handed bat off the bench, as well as providing Joe (Torre) with some flexibility at designated hitter," Cashman said. "I'm not done lining up choices for George (Steinbrenner) to say yea or nay to."

The trading deadline is July 31 for deals that do not require waivers.

Hill, 35, was batting .262 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI for the Cubs. He has hit 164 home runs over his 12-year major league career, including 11 as a pinch-hitter.

"I'm not surprised," Hill said. "I know that because of our season that there would be changes."

Hill had four pinch-hit homers for the Cubs last season. He said he expects to join the Yankees on Sunday.

"He's got some serious power, and he'll be a threat every time up there," Cashman said.

Cashman had been discussing a trade for Hill with Cubs general manager Ed Lynch before Lynch resigned earlier this week. New Cubs GM Andy McPhail took over the trade talks Thursday, and the deal was completed early Friday evening before the Yankees played host to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"My first game in the major leagues was in Yankee Stadium. Now that I'm at the end of my career, it would be nice to finish there," said Hill, who went 2-for-3 at Yankee Stadium in his major league debut.

"I know Andy had some tough decisions to make. He likes me and appreciates me. He's trying to improve the organization," he said.

The Yankees have made three trades in the past month, acquiring David Justice from Cleveland and Denny Neagle from Cincinnati.

Justice, acquired for left fielder Ricky Ledee, started in left field for the Yankees on Friday night. Ryan Thompson also has been playing left for the Yankees since Spencer went down two weeks ago with a torn knee ligament.

Ford, 24, made four appearances (two starts) for the Yankees earlier this season, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. The 6-foot-7 right-hander was 3-0 with a 3.07 ERA for Triple-A Columbus.

Mairena, a left-hander, split time at Double-A Norwich and Triple-A Columbus this season, going 1-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 40 games. A native of Nicaragua, Mairena has never pitched in the big leagues.