Lance Berkman & Austin Kearns

[MSBNYY]

So it looks like tomorrow, the Yanks will acquire Lance Berkman in a salary dump. It'll cost $3.5 million and garbage prospects, according to reports.

It would be great if Berkman wasn't washed up.

I hope he performs well, but shit tends to sink.

[sean]

I wouldn't like this deal if it were long term. But for 3 months (October included) it's well worth it. This is a guy who hit 312 just 2 years ago. He went thru a stretch where noone could get him out. Plus, it's been reported Houston is paying 4 of the 7.5 million berkman is owed. Word is Melancon is the big chip in the trade, along with an A ball middle infielder. Playing on a contending team, in a field very conducive for 70% or so his at bats (when he hits righthanded) The one thing i don't like is they lose the ability to DH the older guys once a week, ARod, Jeter, Posada, even Tex and Cano. Between berkman & Dunn, clearly Dunn is the better hitter right now, but the price for Dunn is reportedly huge. Let tamp get him and give up a future All Star, just to watch Dunn re-sign with DC, where he is said to be extremely happy and very close with several guys on the team. That's not Tampa's style, but we'll see if they feel a need to respond to the Berkman trade, and the Sox getting healthy

What i think is a terrible move would be trading for Austin Kearns, which a few people are reporting

[pags03]

I think this is a great move for the Yanks, all it does is allow Berkman to take Cervelli's AB's and even in an off year Berkman is 100% more productive. Yes, now Jorge has to catch more but he's been limited all year and should be fresh for the home stretch. They can still give guys 1/2 days @ DH; play Berkman in the OF occassionally as he's done in the past. I think this just adds more flexibility to the lineup to add another switch hitter. Also, by adding Kearns will allow Granderson a few days off vs. lefties and deepens the bench. I like these moves, but the big move would have been getting Soria from K.C. and this point I don't care if it means putting Joba in the deal!!! Soria is a stud! Also, the deal for Berkman is a shot to Tampa by keeping him away from them, cuz there getting zero production from there DH. Basically got Berkman/Kearns for Melancon & 3.5mill this year.....no brainer

[MSBNYY]

Yankees also get Austin Kearns for a player to be named later.

I think that's a good sign of the failure in the Granderson trade. We wouldn't need Kearns if Granderson could hit a lefty. That was a dismal mistake.