[.fang]

Quote

6:04pm: The Astros are picking up a lot of the money owed to Berkman and won't obtain top prospects in return, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. The Yankees expect to make one or two more moves and continue working on trades (all Twitter links).

5:09pm: The deal is done and Berkman has approved it, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Yankees have to wait 24 hours before the deal is officially complete because of Berkman's ten and five rights.

4:32pm: Berkman approved a possible deal to the Yanks earlier today, according to Rosenthal (on Twitter links). Rosenthal points out that Berkman has 24 hours to approve a deal, thanks to his ten and five rights. That means we won't likely hear an official announcement today.

4:20pm: The deal is "imminent," according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).

4:19pm: Berkman is considering four possible destinations, according to Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

4:16pm: The Yankees are "likely" to get Berkman, a source tells Newsday's Ken Davidoff. The teams are in serious talks, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter links).

4:00pm: The Yankees are on the verge of acquiring Lance Berkman, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that the Steinbrenners have given pre-approval for the Yankees to take on a major salary such as Berkman's. The Yankees appear to be progressing quickly toward a Berkman deal, according to Olney (Twitter links). Though there's increased chatter on Berkman, nothing is done, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Berkman would require that any team that trades for him not to pick up his 2011 option, according to Alyson Footer of the Astros (Twitter links). Sherman says the option is now mutual.

MLBTR

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I like this move a lot. No idea how Girardi is going to form the lineup, Swisher is having a great year and is too valuable to move down in the lineup. I could see him hitting behind Cano but I think he's really benefitted from the protection of Tex and A-Rod behind him.

[SOS4Prez]

Washed up.

[.fang]

He's been awful since the All-Star break, but he still gets on base and has pop. He had a nice June. Hopefully Yankee Stadium helps him a bit when he's hitting lefty.

[tbuc15]

I like it. A good bat off the bench who will probably play the majority of the time at DH.

From what I've heard The Astros will pay 4 of the $7M owed to Berkman and the Yankees aren't giving up a top 10 prospect.

[tbuc15]

Just read the Yankees are giving up Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes. Parting ways with Paredes is fine with me. He's 21 and still a good 3/4 years away. 3B is his position of the future and A-Rod has the locked up for years. It hurts to see Melacon go. I've always been a big fan of his, and I thought he was going to be the closer once Mo retires. Melancon has has success in the minors, but seem to struggle whenever he gets called up.

[.fang]

Melancon has a 5 BB/9 this year, I won't be missing him.

[tbuc15]

.fang, on 30 July 2010 - 09:49 PM, said:

Melancon has a 5 BB/9 this year, I won't be missing him.

So. He's still a very good pitcher will a good FB and curve. I think, now that he's in Houston, he'll get legit time in the bigs and will show down the road that he can be a dominate pitcher out of the pen.

[tbuc15]

It's official!!

Yankees send Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes to Houston. I was reading up in Paredes and it sounds like the Yankees actually saw his future in the OF. I would have guessed 3B.

Question is who do the Yankees send down? My guess is Curtis and Mirada. The only other option I see, is to DFA Thames.

[.fang]

Why would we DFA Thames? Look at his stat line this year, he's been a great bat to have off the bench and I'd rather have him than Berkman. Send down Miranda and Curtis, they'll be back up in a month for September call-ups.

[tbuc15]

.fang, on 31 July 2010 - 02:32 PM, said:

Why would we DFA Thames? Look at his stat line this year, he's been a great bat to have off the bench and I'd rather have him than Berkman. Send down Miranda and Curtis, they'll be back up in a month for September call-ups.

Someone has to be DFA'd to create space on the 40 man roster for Berkman. Now that Kearns is a Yankee, Thames will never see the field. His only value to the Yankees is at the plate against LHP. Therefore, I'm sure that Thames is one of the players that is being discussed to be DFA'd. Like I said before, my guess is Curtis and Miranda are both head back down to AAA. Thames is to valuable to be DFA. Berkman has struggled against LHP. And the Yankees brought in Thames at the start of the season because of his success against LHP. I'm sure they will platoon at DH.

Other names I see as candidates of being DFA's: Chad Huffman, Greg Golson, Reegie Corona, and Wilkin De La Rosa.

I hope it's WDLR. He probably has the most potential of the group to be the most success player, but he's getting old (25) and hasn't pitched above AA. I don't think he has the stuff to be a starter in the bigs. As much as I would love to hang on to him, he'd be the guy I'd let go. Plus, I would guess he's the guy most likely to clear waivers and be brought back.

[tbuc15]

.fang, on 31 July 2010 - 02:32 PM, said:

Why would we DFA Thames? Look at his stat line this year, he's been a great bat to have off the bench and I'd rather have him than Berkman. Send down Miranda and Curtis, they'll be back up in a month for September call-ups.

Someone has to be DFA'd to create space on the 40 man roster for Berkman. Now that Kearns is a Yankee, Thames will never see the field. His only value to the Yankees is at the plate against LHP. Therefore, I'm sure that Thames is one of the players that is being discussed to be DFA'd. Like I said before, my guess is Curtis and Miranda are both head back down to AAA. Thames is to valuable to be DFA'd. Berkman has struggled against LHP. And the Yankees brought in Thames at the start of the season because of his success against LHP. I'm sure they will hang on to Thames and him platoon at DH with Berkman.

Other names I see as candidates to be DFA'd: Chad Huffman, Greg Golson, Reegie Corona, and Wilkin De La Rosa.

I hope it's WDLR. He probably has the most potential of the group to be the most success player, but he's getting old (25) and hasn't pitched above AA. I don't think he has the stuff to be a starter in the bigs. As much as I would love to hang on to him, he'd be the guy I'd let go. Plus, I would guess he's the guy most likely to clear waivers and be brought back.

[The Lone Granger]

Love it for the Yankees again. Berkman may not be having a great season, but in all honesty does anyone really think he is trying his hardest? I mean not trying to knock the Astros, but they are absolutely horrible. He probably really wanted a change of scenery, and now that he has it (especially to a winning team like the Yankees) I really expect him to come out full force and pick his bat up again. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he brings.