A year ago, the Yankees' big midsummer acquisitions were named Hinske and Hairston, but the team won the World Series. After missing out on Cliff Lee and Dan Haren, Brian Cashman went after one of the more recognizable hitters available and got him. Lance Berkman waived his no-trade clause and will head to New York in exchange for minor leaguers Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes. The deal is now official.
Berkman, who vetoed a trade to the White Sox, brings a .245/.372/.436 line to the Bronx. The 34-year-old switch hitter comes with a substantial price tag, but the Astros are contributing $4MM or so of the $7.1MM owed to Berkman. He can become a free agent after the season, since the $15MM option for 2011 is now mutual (it was a club option). Berkman is in the midst of a disappointing offensive year, but he did post a .907 OPS in 2009.
Melancon had brief stints with the Yankees this year and last year, but most of his pro experience has come in the minor leagues. The right-hander has a 3.67 ERA in Triple A this year with 9.3 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9. The high walk rate is alarming, but the 25-year-old had never posted a walk rate higher than 2.3 BB/9 at any minor league stop before this year. Baseball America ranked Melancon 15th among all Yankees prospects before the season, citing his closer's mentality and strong makeup.
Paredes, 21, is a switch-hitting infielder who has played second, short and third. He has stolen 36 bases in 46 attempts at A ball this year and has a .282/.312/.408 line. Unlike Melancon, he did not place in Baseball America's top 30 Yankees prospects before the season.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the deal was imminent, that it was complete, some financial details and that the Yanks gave up Melancon and Paredes. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, ESPN.com's Buster Olney, Alyson Footer of the Astros, USA Today's Bob Nightengale, MLB.com's Scott Merkin and Jon Heyman of SI.com also contributed to the story.
Which means the Rays don’t think the Yankees will get Dunn anymore?!!?!?
And the rich get richer.
Yanks get fatter.
Pinstripes are slimming. Just ask CC.
Pinstripes still don’t help him cool off. The man can’t pitch three innings in Florida.
Crybabies get whinier
Sir, put the flamethrower down, just casually observin’! 🙂
Haters gon Hate.
No hate whatsoever. George Herman Babe Ruth… CC Sabathia… David Wells… Steve Balboni… Cecil Fielder… Yanks have always been known to have the true giants of the game pass through. Okay, Balboni is a stretch. Seriously tho guys not a Yankee Hater at all, just an opportunity make a little light (no pun) of the Berkman trade; and for the record he’s still got plenty of value and the change of scenery may do him & NYY well.
Maybe no hate from you, G65, but plenty from me. I don’t know why anyone would want to cheer for the pimp daddy of all teams- there’s such suspense every year as to how they’ll manage to lose 50 games. The vicissitudes of baseball keep them from winning from time to time, but the imbalance is absolutely ridiculous. How many times the Marlins’ spending are they throwing out there? The only thing I don’t like about baseball is the complete lack of a level playing field. Lance Frickin’ Berkman- jeez.
No hate whatsoever. George Herman Babe Ruth… CC Sabathia… David Wells… Steve Balboni… Cecil Fielder… Yanks have always been known to have the true giants of the game pass through. Okay, Balboni is a stretch. Seriously tho guys not a Yankee Hater at all, just an opportunity make a little light (no pun) of the Berkman trade; and for the record he’s still got plenty of value and the change of scenery may do him & NYY well.
Haters gon Hate.
Original comment. I need more of these..
I can see economics was not your specialty. If they are paying for Berkman, wouldn’t that constitute having a higher payroll, in turn having a lesser cash flow?
If the trade is what they need to get in the postseason, then it will give them more revenue, so they will get richer. Of course, Yankees fans will say, “Of course we’re going we’re the Yankees rawr,” but it was the Rays that kept them from even getting in October in ’08.
have you seen the rangers moves in the past week….
Rangers have been pretty terrible over the last 20ish years. Think it’s about time they were able to get mvoes in.
damn yankees
Haters gon Hate
bandwagoners gonna bandwagon
Haters gon Hate
This would be a really really nice move for the Yankees. The Astros can also pretty much cherrypick the prospect(s) they want from a list i’m guessing. Let’s try to get this done Brian! Keep Brett Wallace though! he hates airplanes!
It’s Ed Wade…if were Cashman I wouldn’t be worried about keeping my best prospects.
Well bye-bye Dunn rumors
I imagine they will get both. Dunn is an ideal bat off the bench.
Dunn as a bench bat? Hilarious
Please tell me you’re joking and that Yankees fans really don’t have such a huge sense of entitlement.
I would say I don’t think the Yankees can get them both; but then I remembered, IT’S THE YANKEES.
Platoon at DH!
Eh. I don’t know how I feel about this one…there better not be any good names from the Yanks on this.
True, but since it is the Astros I assume we are more likely to give them low level (A-AA) prospects since they are in a rebuilding stage.
True, and their GM is a moron so I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but in my mind, I don’t think the Yanks needed to go and do this. I love the team that we field everyday and I love what we have on the farm.
It’s a salary dump, so the Stros will get a couple prospects who will likely never see the inside of an MLB clubhouse.
Which is sad because it feels terrible to see a franchise’s legendary figure leave just because their contract is huge and not get anything promising in return. I guess that’s the nature of the business.
He’s only going for a few months, he is coming back to the Astros in the offseason, it’s not that big of a deal really.
Its not a salary dump. He is in the last year of his contract (option excluded). The Astros can afford 8 mil. It is about rebuilding. Hopefully we can get something for Myers and Wandy also before this deadline ends.
Two legendary figures. To me, Oswalt and Berkman are (or were) the Astros. Now what?
I’m praying that is the way it goes down..
Gotta say, I was not expecting this.
thank you yankees 🙂 get him outta their before the cards face the astros. take Hunter Pence while your at it so nothing but a AAAA team is left.
The Yankees will sign Albert Pujols to a 10 year/1 Billion dollar deal. Oooohhhhh
good. means the cards can’t throw 30million+ at a 32 year firstbaseman with injury issues. frees up money for them to sign Gonzalez and Reyes 🙂
i’m joking of course.
And well done for extremely making my comment be less funny and stupid and ridiclous than it already was. I always knew you were clever Ferrariman.
haha! i love your comment! you wrote “thank you yankees 🙂 get him outta their before the cards face the astros. take Hunter Pence while your at it so nothing but a AAAA team is left.” (i copied it to show people what you wrote before you edit it) dude, you know a AAAA team is a major league team right???
….No it’s not
Swing and a miss. AAAA team, as in a team full of players who were good in AAA, but will never amount to anything in the major leagues.
actually, it may well mean that, I dunno, but in this day and age, it means a team not worth considering as major league much the way gay used to mean happy. That should be obvious, but you apparently didn’t know.
I don’t even agree with ferrariman, on principle because he’s a cards fan and in truth because, well, as a cards fan he says things that as an astros fan I can’t stomach or make sense of half the time, but even I know this. If you wanna make ignorant comments, put some thought into them. The outcome will be obvious
you must not know what AAAA means….
“i copied it to show people what you wrote before you edit it!”
oh the irony…..
I really hope this isn’t indicative of New York Yankee fans intelligence….
JK of course ;).
So where’s he going to play? Are they going to invent another lineup spot?
He will DH most days. Spell Tex at first as well as Swish and Gardner at the corner outfield spots. This enables Posada to get more whole days off.
Berkman hasn’t played the OF in 3 years and for good reason.
DH since Nick Johnson is injured. Posada will catch more.
Johnson has been out since May and thus completely irrelevant. Posada shouldn’t be catching at all.
Nick Johnson is done. He will be released by the end of August. There is no way they activate him and use that roster spot. That’s the only reason they are thinking Berkman or Dunn. Every Girardi showed a little frustration yesterday concerning Johnson. It was a waste. I’m not going to blame Cashman. He made a solid move and based on last years production a solid signing, but it just didn’t work out. It happens and it could have cost more.
Yes itll be the Pitcher’s Fielder spot, The pitcher will stand behind a net like in BP and the fielder will handle any plays on the pitchers mound
There is a line up spot called “DH”. I think you heard of it.
I heard of it and that’s where Posada should be 90% of the time.
Posada is more than competent behind the plate, and really isn’t any worse than Cervelli. Posada should catch as much as he can.
Which goes to show you haven’t seen Posada playing regularly as a catcher:
a) his throw is worse this year (yeah, it was possible);
b) he can’t block pitches that bounce in the dirt (well, he has never been capable of that but this year he’s worse at it, altough some pretty good catchers have had trouble with that, like I-Rod);
c) he is getting worse every year at calling games;
d) he never blocks the plate when there’ll be a play at home plate (usually asks for the ball 3-4 ft away from home plate, so as no interfere with the guy who’ll score);
e) I don’t think his knees will last too much, so is better to have him as a DH and teach him to bunt (like with Jeter, there’s always a big probability Posada will hit a weak grounder ideal for a double play).
a) Yes, his throwing arm isn’t any good. Cervelli’s is pretty bad too. In fact, Cervelli has thrown out a lower percentage of runners than Posada.
b) Neither can Cervelli.
c) There is no way to quantify this, thanks for trying.
d) Prove it.
e) Well yeah, he’s 38. He’s already got knee problems. Teaching him to bunt? That’s a new level of dumb. Posada has only GIDP’d twice this year.
(also the fact that someone liked this post makes that person dumb too)
it’s an epi-dumb-ic
he’s gunna he the DH spot in the line-up (i like him more than Marcus Thames lol)The real question is who is gunna be DF’d. haha im just kidding GOOD BYE CHoP!!!
DH, 1base from time to time, even field, yeah, he has not played OF in a while but then again he couldn’t be worse than Thames “fielding” (or that horrible experiment of Randy Winn and his 5 ft throws LOL, do you remember that against the Orioles? LMAO).
I don’t think “chango” Park will get DF’d right now, but who knows?
I would imagine he’ll DH mostly, play 1B when Tex needs a day off, and maybe some LF if they sit Granderson against tough lefties.
All good as long as Kenny Williams gets Dunnzo
The AL East can suck it. Back to back, baby.
Nova + Adams/ 2 C- prospects?
sounds like a lot. probably just Nova+c prospect. or something of that talent level.
yeesh, not very good news for the sox whom are very quite still with the deadline coming up tomorrow
Don’t worry, 2010 isn’t your year anyway.
ouch. were not out of it, 5 games back with two months left isnt impossible.
I respect you guys in Beantown. You are no longer the chumps you were for.. what was it, 86 years? 87 years? I forget.
Anyway, you guys have come a long way and you’re with us every year these days. That said, we are going to run away with this piece, son.
will see…
Agreed, even if the Sox don’t make a move they’ll be the same old pesky Sox down the stretch of the season. Who knows, Tampa could still fade as well.
Never say never, but the Sox are not in a great position. Agreed?
yeah there not in an ideal place, but with a couple additions in 2 places and that gap closes by September
He will only be a rental, he has said that as a condition of waiving his no trade clause the new team would have to decline his option for next year so he could re sign with the Astros.
Berkman doesn’t want his $15 mil option picked up so he can sign a 1/4 mil contract next off season?? Smart Lance….
He wants to finish his career in Houston, he is not a typical Yankee player who is just looking for money.
Not like he needed to request it not be picked up. Nobody would pick up that option anyway. He’s good, but his .808 OPS is the lowest it has been since his rookie year. He’s clearly not worth $15m anymore.
so what does the lineup look like now…?
gardner
jeter
tex
a-rod
cano
puma
posada
swisher
granderson
?
Jeter
Swisher
Teixeira
Rodriguez
Cano
Berkman
Posada
Granderson
Gardner
YES! COME ON YANKS! I am so excited to see who we get in return!
Spoiler: It won’t be anything good
At least it will be something…
enjoy certified baseball thrower jon abaladejo
Anything will be better than the nothing the ‘Stros would have gotten at season’s end when Berkman would have walked away.
Brett Wallace.
Brett Wallace is already in the Astros system? Or are you using that as an example of “getting something good”
Because Wallace is barely OPSing above .800 as a 1B in Las Vegas so that’s hardly good.
Probably nobody special. Just a way to dump some salary to make better draft signings and international free agent signings. We got off on a good start in the international market a month ago so hopefully the savings from the Berkman deal translate to some more money being spent there. Or maybe Drayton will now lower his concession prices so I don’t have to take out a loan to eat at the ballpark.
Berkman is a class act.
Phucking Yankees, where’s he going to bat 7th??? Christ their lineup is ridiculous, they still need bullpen help to win again, IMO outside of Rivera, the yanks pen is just as bad as ours……
I agree we definitely need another reliever. However, the market for such is kind of crappy. We also need to upgrade over Pena and possibly get a low-cost starter.
I think you’re rotation will be fine as long as pettitte isn’t out
longer than expected, and ya the releiver market is ridiculous right
now, it seems to be like that every year, then the price gets
realistic at 3:55 on the 31st and into august ( wagner deal in august
last year as a good example )
Those poor scrappy Red Sox and their minuscule payroll will never be able to compete with the big mean Yankees a bloo bloo bloo
Who said anything about payroll???? Who cares not my money, just an
observation at how nasty their lineup is now, also DONT HATE the teams
that put the money they make back into their teams, not pocket it like
half the owners do, your jealousy is cute………..
I am a Yankee fan, schmo.
that is the reason yankee fans have a bad rep. that stereotypical attitude and sense of entitlement.
get lost.
Wouldn’t stereotypical Yankee fan behavior be something like
“lol here comes numbah 28!!!! lets go get some pitching maybe dan haren is still available lol”
No trust me, the Yanks pen is no where near as bad as the Sox. Your bullpen REALLY sucks. Your closer can’t even be a sure bet. Bard. He’s it!
Oh stop, pap had two bad weeks, he looks REAL good now that he’s
throwing his splitter, and oh ya chan ho park, David Robertson and
Boone Logan are soooooo much better right??? Please. Our pens are
equally terrible this year
Not going to disagree and be obnoxious like some other Yankee fans, but to be fair, our bullpen has been getting better. Robertson looks good now, Aceves isn’t far away from a rehab appearance and Joba’s peripherals indicate he should get better.
On your overall point though, I agree, both bullpens have been pretty terrible.
Thank you for having a rational response, not just going zoomg red sox
suck, papelbon is washed up etc. Refreshing
So Berkman to NYY, Dunn to CHW, and LaRoche to Tampa?
Not sure if LaRoche will go to the Rays. They aren’t THAT desperate. 😉
cheap and numbers are identical to Berkman’s (I know he was on DL for a bit)
Laroche 14-62 .776 OPS
Berkman 13-49 .808 OPS
Both play in bandboxes
As an Astros fan, I agree a youth movement was needed. But if not for Carlos Lee’s albatross contract, either Berkman or Oswalt (or both) would still be around.
He will only be gone a few months….
Yea he said he wants to come back to Houston next season
They wouldn’t have room for Berkman in 2011 if they’re going with the youth movement. Brett Wallace would be their everyday 1B. And if he isn’t, what was the point of all this?
I don’t really understand why the Yanks go after Berkman. Where is he gonna play, DH? I just don’t see Berkman as a DH kinda guy, but perhaps it will work.
he’s 35…and not getting any younger…im sure he wont mind DHing on a world series team.
Haven’t they already bought everyone who is currently out there?
You and the Red Sox fan could have a little cry party about how small your payrolls are
Havent been followig Berkman, someone by kind and explain the reason he doesn’t want his option exercised?
He wants to go back to Houston next year.
Prob to return to the Astros after the season
Just hoping that Montero is in the deal…Whether the ‘Stros need him or not I want him out of the Yankees system.
Wishful thinking on the part of a Sox fan, though…
No way we give up Montero Christ for anybody but an absolutely elite starting pitcher.
Didn’t the Yankees offer up Montero for Soria? Kinda destroys your theory.
Yea, which was a complete rumor. I call BS on that.
Everything is a rumor on this site…
Yanks will have Sabathia, likely Lee, probably Pettitte, Burnett, Hughes next season. Not sure they’d continue sitting on Montero while they wait for the time they need a starting pitcher.
You and anyone else mentioning the name “Montero” in relation to this deal are all very very dumb
Maybe you missed the part where I said wishful thinking, idiot….
Good for the Yankees. They get a washed up player instead of Dunn. Go Rays!
Now there’s sportsmanship. We were a little lite on that until you showed up…
I’m just bitter because the Mets have no money, poor management and a under average team. Dunn is better than Berkman though!
The Mets have tons of money, but the Wilpons will never use it. They’ve been playing the “we’re poor!” card since 2000.
dude…Mets are poor. Ticket sales have gone way down…Wilpons are being sued…They’re dying. But it’s not just the money, we have a GM who doesn’t know how to make trades so he just backs out.
The pressure’s on now for the Rays. I assume that Dunn will be in there lineup in a day or two. There’s just no way they can keep pace with Yankees now if they don’t add another piece.
I thought we would get big bad Dunn. But oh well Berkman is good as well.
Just to think of the possibility of Oswalt facing Berkman in the world series would be a tough pill to swallow. :(….i said possibility so before people start bashing me for saying that.
I think it would be cool at first but yea having the two of them battle against each other for their first and probably only ring would be tough
Exactly i’ve been an astro fan for 14 years and i am barely 18 years old i grew up watching Oswalt and Berkman and the late stages of Baggs and Biggio respected careers. And it would be hard for most Houston fans to see that but im glad they had the chance to be in a contending team once again they deserve to win.
If Lance goes to the Yankees id want them to win over Oswalt since Berkman will be back in Houston next year, Roy can win in 2011
Yeah i would prefer that more since Berkman was and is more loyal to Houston than Oswalt will ever be.
You make a great point. The Astros can resign him after the season.
probably only ?
damn talk about apocalyptic…
Thats what they said about Lee and Haren so idk how much I believe this…..
The differences between this deal and those is that: A. With Haren, the Yankees never were close, the majority of it was false reporting. The D-Backs never shopped him around, they wanted Joe Saunders for some retarded reason (it was also an ownership deal driven by money). B. Cashman has never been one to empty the farm system for a player that he can just try to sign in the offseason. He didn’t do it with Santana, or Sabathia. Why would he have done it with Lee or Haren?
Cashman is fairly predictable in his ways, and is a generally intelligent person.
shiiit this was for Brandon, right above me.
They had reached a deal for Lee sending Montero and others only to have Seattle flake on the trade.
Yankees could have signed Johnny Damon for less money than for Berkman.
and now I have to hate Lance – good going…
only for 2 and half months then hes back with houston
Why? I may hate the yanks, but I hate some of the players for specific reasons, for instance: Arod is a whiny little child. But Mariano is classy and the greatest closer of all time and I can’t see a reason why anyone would hate him… especially Sox fans since he tends to be less than perfect against us.
I’m only kidding around. I like a few Yankees myself (Granderson and Cano) and definitely respect Posada, Mo and Jeter. I really only hate Swisher, ARod, Sabathia, Burnett, Joba and Teix.
Berkman is going to be the DH. When Posada comes back from that minor knee Injury He’s going to be catching most of the games. Lets say 4-5 in a week while Cervelli catches 2-3.
‘Yankees Close to Acquiring New Enemies’
i live close by where the yankees AAA team plays…..it was said on the news ivan nova and zach mccalister were shaking hands goodbye
Nova seems to be a pretty good pitcher based on his numbers
Bye bye Zach Mac
anyone know who is coming to houston?
The Yankees had to do this deal because obviously Mark Teixeira is stinking up the place this season with his anemic .260 avg, right? heh
you obviously don’t watch baseball.. he’s been on fire this month
hello i am kcuf914 and i am incapable of deciphering sarcasm
Hopefully if the Yankees were looking to improve over someone as productive as Tex has been this year, I’d hope they pick someone up other than Berkman. You know, someone better.
But I like the idea of Berkman being the Yankee DH…depending on who we gave up. If they gave up McCallister, I’m fine with it. Nova, ehhh.
I’ve heard either Ivan Nova and David Adams are coming to Houston or Nova and McCallister. I would rather have the first two because we have no second baseman in the minors.
where have you heard either of those? Link?
I was dreaming, at least we cleared more cap space and are getting younger
Haha, they still picked up 4 mil of his salary as well….sorry dude!
I doubt we will get Nova, Yankees said they arent giving any good prospects cuz they are taking on all the remaining salary, at least thats what Buster Olney says
Nova’s not in the trade.
for sure? do you know who is?
They are getting nothing
He’s an idiot to ask them to turn down his 2011 option. No way he makes $13 ($15 option minus $2 buyout) in the open market this offseason!
He doesnt care about the money, he wants them to decline the option so he can come back to Houston next year.
He wants the opportunity to go back to Houston next year even if it means losing alot of money i for one im glad players like him are still around setting aside their egos.
swing and ah miss…..
Betances and Brackman ought to take care of it.
Riiiiight, maybe they’ll kick in Montero too.
“Ken Davidoff says the Astros are expected to receive an unknown “non-prospect minor leaguer” in return” per riveraveblues
That means that the rays will acquire Dunn, or some other ‘surprise’ haha
The White Sox will get him… and it will be no surprise.
I hope Montero doesn’t go. Cashman would be stupid to trade one of the best hitting prospects in baseball.
And coming from a yankee fan, this is starting to get somewhat out of hand. We are the best team in baseball and all we needed was to get some bullpen/bench help. (and get rid of Chan Ho Park).
The Yankees are the best team in baseball according to who?
You should take a quick look at the updated standings.
And the standings could change tomorrow. Got something better than that?
2009 WS
It’s 2010 in case you haven’t noticed.
Lol so what the heck do you go by based on who is/is not the best team. The Yankees have the best record in baseball, if they are not the best team, then who is? Bearing a Rays sweep in this weekend series, the Yankees will still remain with the best record.
I’d be glad to hear from you who is the best team.
If you want to claim that the Yankees have the best record in MLB as of 6:53 EST on July 31, 2010, then I won’t argue with you. Otherwise the best team in baseball for this year will be known in October.
See ya then..
Mrlyngreen is either clairvoyant or very dumb.
I’m going to go with the latter.
Suit yourself.
Will do.
Suit yourself.
Mrlyngreen is either clairvoyant or very dumb.
I’m going to go with the latter.
65-36 leads MLB
28 Rings? Best Line-up in MLB. Most runs scored in MLB. In AL Top 5 for team ERA. Seven 2010 All-Stars. I could go on mrlyngreen. It’s people like you that make Yankee haters look bad. If you’re going to hate on the Yankees and try to say they’re not a good team please try to support your argument with legitimate reasons. Even most Yankee haters have to admit that the Yankees are the best team in MLB.
With the highest payroll by an easy $60M now. So they SHOULD have the best record.
Good idea. Let’s change the direction of conversation and criticize them on payroll. Thanks Red Sox Fan and $172mm.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many Yankee haters? You think it might have something to do with the fact that the Yankees think they are the center of the baseball universe?
Protip: Lots of people hate the Red Sox for the very same reason
No, can’t be that. Can it? Noooooooo not a chance….
could it be that the royals, twins, rays, brewers, reds, marlins, pirates, and maybe a few others would be out of buisness without the $$$ the yanks give them and the money they make when the yanks come to town and you wish your team could win 1/10th of the ws as the yanks ya dam baby
Could it be that you don’t know what you are talking about? My “team” is the St. Louis Cardinals and they have won much more than 1/10th the number of WS that the Yankees have (2nd most in MLB as a matter of fact). The amount of money the Cardinals make has absolutely nothing to do with the Yankees. A little more maturity on your part might be useful.
could it be that the royals, twins, rays, brewers, reds, marlins, pirates, and maybe a few others would be out of buisness without the $$$ the yanks give them and the money they make when the yanks come to town and you wish your team could win 1/10th of the ws as the yanks ya dam baby
lol. wowww.
lol. wowww.
How about setup men for the bullpen? Yankees looking for that too?
Setup man are not exactly lined up to be taken and those that even have a moniker of interest are overpriced.
Like Montero for Scott Downs that the Blue Jays wanted
The Yankees solution very well could lie internally
David Robertson has turned himself around
Alfredo Aceves could begin a rehab assignment in the coming days
Marte is going to come back off the DL
A team just needs 1 guy to step up in that role and right now David Robertson is doing that.
You sound too much like a fan.
He’s right, however. He gave up 1 ER in 9 innings in June, and 4 ER in 10.2 innings in July. He had a 9 K/9 in June and so far has a 10.8 K/9 this month. After his horrific April and bad May, he has rebounded quite well. His FIP and xFIP have been excellent over that time span as well.
The Yanks don’t need a set-up man. They just need to stabilize the bullpen with some arms.
Clearly Berkman is going to do his bulk of play DHing in the Yankees lineup
His .808 OPS this season would actually rank him 7th on the Yankees roster this season
Not to mention good riddance to “Glassman” Nick Johnson, not even DHing could keep him healthy, guys like Mark Prior, Ben Sheets, Nick Johnson are just meant to be hurt often.
Yankees lineup now will be
Jeter – SS – R
Swisher RF – S
Texieria 1B – S
Arod – 3B – R
Cano – 2B – L
Berkman – DH – S
Posada – C – S
Granderson – CF – L
Gardner – LF – L
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…………………………
This is a sad day for Astros baseball. :'(
It is but a brighter future ahead. If the Astros want he’ll be back next year.
LOL, he will probably be back next season anyway, if the Astros are interested, since he didn’t want a team that traded for him to pick up his option
Agreed, sad but exciting.
Agreed, sad but exciting.
I wonder if Yanks picking up Brandon Lyon too…been a very solid RP for Stros…
The Yankees adding an above .800 OPS guy who gets on base to their lineup and who also has underperformed and is due for a correction is scary.
I’m sure the asking price for Dunn was/is insane, so this a good move if Berkman can just hit a bit more than he has this season.
Still, the Yankees weakness in my opinion wasn’t the DH spot. It’s the bullpen.
If they don’t get an arm by tomorrow, they will be sacrificing one of their better starters in Hughes for the post season and will put him back in the pen.
I hate that they might do that as the kid just needs to start and not look over his shoulder anymore.
Berkman’s a great pickup, but he doesn’t address their biggest (and only) weakness.
With Hughes innings limit he is likely heading to the bullpen at some point anyway and as I highlighted in another thread Robertson has stepped up and pitched well for a while nowBoone Logan has pitched much better since his recall to the majors Aceves is close to a minor league rehab stintMarte will be backYou are looking at a bullpen of Logan – LAceves – RMarte – LRobertson – RRivera – Ronce the guys above returnBullpens take shape over the course of the season, its not where you start but finish.
Throw Hughes into the mix in the playoffs and you have
Logan – L
Aceves – R
Marte – L
Robertson – R
Hughes – R
Rivera – R
I mean I know teams tend to pitch around him alot and take the bat out of his hands but still. I guess now I have to look forward to the Brett Wallace Era. “Wallace” doesn’t exactly have the ring to it that “Berkman” has.
Pence has a girlfriend…..
Ignore people like this it’s probably some 13 year old kid just bored.
HUH????
That’s why I dislike the Yankees, they are where they are thanks to the money not for their farms, on the other hand, the rays are using more their farms and we’re seeing the fruits of a good preparation of their promises
You are correct…this is all about money. You don’t see these types of deals in the NFL where there is a salary cap. The problem is small market teams won’t fight for change so that leaves certain teams with a revenue advantage.
Haters gon Hate
Tell that to the Miami Heat
Tell that to the Miami Heat
Yes, there’s a small team fighting and leading de majors, durham rays, with one of the lowest payroll in the majors, hahaha
Yeah…Posada, Cervelli, Sano, Jeter, Gardner, Pettitte, Rivera, Hughes, Chamberlain, Robertson disagree with you.
…but Texiera, Burnett, Sabathia, ARod, Petitte, and the ghost of Cliff Lee future all agree fully. They fact that the Yanks have some home grown talent is not the point here. No one will argue that the Yanks simply buy ALL their talent, but to argue that they don’t buy the top tier free agents on a regular basis by simply outbidding the competition is ignorant.
“on a regular basis”
So explain to me why, just to use a small example, John Lackey and Matt Holliday are not currently wearing Yankee hats.
The Yankees do not buy the top tier free agents on a regular basis. They buy the top tier free agents when it is necessary to better the team.
They don’t buy EVERY top tier player. They buy the one they need. But, look at the vast majority of teams around the MLB who do not do this. I am not hating on the Yankees for doing what they can to win, I am saying that it’s ridiculous to say that home-growing a portion of your team puts you on the same level as the small market/small salary teams. BasballFanatic0707, who was the last top tier unrestricted free agent that the Twins signed? I respect the Yankees for using what their market properly and winning with it, but don’t pretend their spending habits are the league norm. Or, if you are going to pretend, don’t mention a few guys they didn’t get and pretend that that means anything (as though I was insinuating that they bought ALL the best players).
On a regular basis implies that they do it all the time. Unless your meaning of on a regular basis differs from a normal person’s definition of “on a regular basis.”
I’m not arguing with you saying they buy top talent. I’m arguing with your wording, in which you are, in fact, implying they buy all the top tier talent if you say “on a regular basis.”
“on a regular basis”
So explain to me why, just to use a small example, John Lackey and Matt Holliday are not currently wearing Yankee hats.
The Yankees do not buy the top tier free agents on a regular basis. They buy the top tier free agents when it is necessary to better the team.
so what team in the league has players that all came out of their own fram system, everybody signs free agents and makes trades(pena,garza,bartlett,soriano none of them were drafted by the rays)
Right, the Rays traded for many of those guys (2 of the 4 mentioned in the same trade for Delmon Young), and bought some too. Every team occasionally has the luxury of dealing from a position of surplus for that of need, but the Yankees can deal their farm system knowing they are able to pay for the proven veteran during the off season. The Twins traded Ramos last night because they already have their catcher position set with Mauer where the Yankees could trade Montero and know that even if Posada’s kneecaps fall onto homeplate during the off season, they will be able to pull the best free agent catcher available during the off season. Again, the Yankees use what they have and win with it, so I have no disrespect for them, but they are playing with more money than anyone else and much more money than the vast majority of the MLB. It’s okay, they are playing fair, but don’t pretend that their ability to spend doesn’t have an impact.
so what team in the league has players that all came out of their own fram system, everybody signs free agents and makes trades(pena,garza,bartlett,soriano none of them were drafted by the rays)
Where swisher on that list? he is who is hitting right now, Teixeira, CC Sabathia, Vazquez, Granderson and a rod are not, then who kept the team? who bat? who retire hitters? Those who move the team are the $. Not for nothing are the Bankees, hahahahaha
Someone call the waaahmbulance!
Haters gon Hate
Why are the Astros paying a major portion of the remaining salary if they arent getting a good prospect(s) in return? Makes no sense.
As I said below-because his skills have diminished to the point where he is NOT worth top/great prospects. Maybe a fringe guy, but that’s about it.
As I said below-because his skills have diminished to the point where he is NOT worth top/great prospects. Maybe a fringe guy, but that’s about it.
(it’s because the astros are real stupid)
(it’s because the astros are real stupid)
I was thinking the same thing. Some reports said if the Yanks were taking all of his salary that we shouldn’t expect much in return. But if Houston is paying ‘ a lot of money’ and still nothing in return. Something’s off here.
I was thinking the same thing. Some reports said if the Yanks were taking all of his salary that we shouldn’t expect much in return. But if Houston is paying ‘ a lot of money’ and still nothing in return. Something’s off here.
Well that puts an end to the White Sox talk.
Even better. Now they are paying Berkman to leave. Just like Oswalt. Sure hope those guys down there know what they’re doing.
Wow..Yankees will win the WS again… way to ruin baseballs guys..haha just jealous
no they won’t the Rangers, White Sox and Phillies all have better pitching and solid lineups… equal to if not better.. its a shame the best 2nd baseman in the league Ian Kinnsler is on the DL again
The Rangers rotation has 1 ace pitcher. There is no guarantee that any other pitcher in the rotation pitches well come playoff time.Phillies are no where near as good as the Yankees. Had you used the Braves an as example, you’d be correct. The Yankees are a better overall team than the Phillies.Same goes for the White Sox.
I’m not even going to bother pointing out how wrong you are in every way
That’s good because i am in no way wrong
The Rangers have Cliff Lee, Colby Lewis, CJ Wilson, Matt Harrisson and Scott Feldman. Cliff Lee is Cliff Lee (stupid good). Colby Lewis is also really freakin’ good. Wilson is a converted reliever (who has started in the past, mind you) who is outpitching his peripherals. Harrison and Feldman both suck. Tommy Hunter is a smoke and mirrors act like J.A. Happ last year. In the bullpen everyone sucks but Feliz, O’Day, and Oliver.
The White Sox have Mark Buerhle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Freddy Garcia, and Edwin Jackson. Buerhle gets by on good location and good luck. Danks and Floyd are real good. Garcia is a 5th starter and E-Jax is a power pitcher who strikes out less than 7 per 9. The bullpen, however is pretty damn good outside of Pena and Linebrink.
The Phillies have Oswalt, Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, and Kendrick. The first three own, the last two are mind-blowingly bad. The Phillies bullpen is a distaster area.
The Yankees have Sabathia, Vazquez, Pettite, Hughes, and Burnett. Sabathia is really good. Vazquez has been phenomenal since the beginning of June. Pettitte is injured, but was fantastic beforehand. Burnett has the distinct potential to be dominating any given day (but he sucks). The Yankee bullpen is a pile of ass outside of Mariano and David Robertson (and Logan but tell nobody).
As for offense, the Yankees outclass everybody except maybe the Rangers. The White Sox are laughable. The Phillies have a crippling tendency to not score for days at a time.
As for Kinsler, you’re wrong. Robinson Cano is the best keystone in all of baseball.
So yeah, you’re wrong.
What is a keystone? And “So yeah, you’re wrong.”
Are you 7, Mathew?
Keystone, second base.
He is, so I don’t see anything particularly egregious about the statement.
The Rangers have Cliff Lee, Colby Lewis, CJ Wilson, Matt Harrisson and Scott Feldman. Cliff Lee is Cliff Lee (stupid good). Colby Lewis is also really freakin’ good. Wilson is a converted reliever (who has started in the past, mind you) who is outpitching his peripherals. Harrison and Feldman both suck. Tommy Hunter is a smoke and mirrors act like J.A. Happ last year. In the bullpen everyone sucks but Feliz, O’Day, and Oliver.
The White Sox have Mark Buerhle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Freddy Garcia, and Edwin Jackson. Buerhle gets by on good location and good luck. Danks and Floyd are real good. Garcia is a 5th starter and E-Jax is a power pitcher who strikes out less than 7 per 9. The bullpen, however is pretty damn good outside of Pena and Linebrink.
The Phillies have Oswalt, Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, and Kendrick. The first three own, the last two are mind-blowingly bad. The Phillies bullpen is a distaster area.
The Yankees have Sabathia, Vazquez, Pettite, Hughes, and Burnett. Sabathia is really good. Vazquez has been phenomenal since the beginning of June. Pettitte is injured, but was fantastic beforehand. Burnett has the distinct potential to be dominating any given day (but he sucks). The Yankee bullpen is a pile of ass outside of Mariano and David Robertson (and Logan but tell nobody).
As for offense, the Yankees outclass everybody except maybe the Rangers. The White Sox are laughable. The Phillies have a crippling tendency to not score for days at a time.
As for Kinsler, you’re wrong. Robinson Cano is the best keystone in all of baseball.
So yeah, you’re wrong.
That’s good because i am in no way wrong
Yet we still have the best record in the majors in the tougher division where the top 3 teams in the AL East can all win 90 games
I knew as soon as the Red Sox inked Lackey and Cameron they were going to miss the playoff this year.. two major cancers right there.. why they went and signed Hermda is beyond me.. he’s never been good.. maybe against the Cubs but even the worst players excel against the Cubs the perfect example is Andy LaRoche worst player in baseball he hits like .800 off them. the rest of the league he’s a mere .200 hitter
I knew as soon as the Red Sox inked Lackey and Cameron they were going to miss the playoff this year.. two major cancers right there.. why they went and signed Hermda is beyond me.. he’s never been good.. maybe against the Cubs but even the worst players excel against the Cubs the perfect example is Andy LaRoche worst player in baseball he hits like .800 off them. the rest of the league he’s a mere .200 hitter
you HAD the best record in the major, in the tougher division in wich the durham rays are first, yeah, durham rays hahaha
Yet we still have the best record in the majors in the tougher division where the top 3 teams in the AL East can all win 90 games
i think robbie cano should be in the top 3 with utley and kinsler and if healthy kinsler is no utley
… You give Berkman up and get nothing in return …
ARE YOU KIDDING!?!?!??!?!??!?!!?!??!?!?!??
It’s almost like he is old…
AND DECLINING?!??!?!???!?!1!!?!/one!?
It’s almost like he is old…
AND DECLINING?!??!?!???!?!1!!?!/one!?
How is it the Astros are paying most of the salary and not getting some top prospects in return? We don’t know who they are getting to begin with, but it sounds like Ed Wade isn’t minding the store.
Because with his diminished skills, he isn’t worth top prospects even with his whole salary picked up.
I believe he is worth 1 top prospect. And maybe another AA prospect. That’s it. He is still an amazing hitter.
No he is not.
Actually he is, I would prefer him over Dunn anyday. Berkman is a patient hitter who draws alot of walks and doesnt strike out near as much.
If you prefer him over Dunn any day you are as dumb as Ed Wade and Drayton McClane
So you prefer guys that either hit homers or strike out and plays no defense? Personally I would rather have a guy that can hit for power, knows how to draw a walk, and plays pretty good defense.
Dunn has a higher career BB% than Berkman (Dunn 16.4% to Berkman’s 15.5%). Apparently Dunn knows how to draw a walk as well.
Dunn’s k rate= 26.7%, Berkmans k rate=16.7%, Yeah I’ll take the guy who will not strike out almost 200 times a season. I’ll also take a guy who can field and not a big rock in the field. I gotta admit I was all for Dunn but I’m happy with what Cashman has done.
You’ll take a guy to be your DH who is not a rock in the field. I’d personally take the better hitter (Dunn) to be my DH instead of the better fielder.
I’d take the guy who can actually field averagely and hold down the position if the starter gets injured so we dont have to panic and put in a Ramiro Pena type of player.
I’d take the guy who can actually field averagely and hold down the position if the starter gets injured so we dont have to panic and put in a Ramiro Pena type of player.
I’m not gonna argue Dunn is a better option, but Berkman sure seems like a better price.
You’ll take a guy to be your DH who is not a rock in the field. I’d personally take the better hitter (Dunn) to be my DH instead of the better fielder.
Dunn’s k rate= 26.7%, Berkmans k rate=16.7%, Yeah I’ll take the guy who will not strike out almost 200 times a season. I’ll also take a guy who can field and not a big rock in the field. I gotta admit I was all for Dunn but I’m happy with what Cashman has done.
Dunn has a higher career BB% than Berkman (Dunn 16.4% to Berkman’s 15.5%). Apparently Dunn knows how to draw a walk as well.
Adam Dunn, even with his walks being down is still on pace to walk 74 times this year – by no means a small number. He has a .927 OPS, and is only just about to turn 30 and has yet to spend any significant time on the DL. According to baseball-reference’s Fielding Runs metric, he’s an average 1st baseman.
Lance Berkman, on the other hand is about to turn 35. His power is on the decline, is fresh off of a knee surgery, and has spent a fair amount of time on the DL the past two season. He is in every sense of the word, on the decline. Sure, he’s walking more than Dunn this year, but this would be the first time he’s ever done so since 2004.
You are dumb.
Adam Dunn is not an average defensive *ANYTHING*. The fact that you called someone else dumb after stating that is mind boggling.
Currently, Dunn has a -0.6 UZR and -1.2 UZR/150 at first base.
So, this year, yes, Adam Dunn has been average defensively at first base.
Guys that hit homers or strike out and play no defense….Sounds….like a DH to me!And, if we’re talking about DHs: Adam Dunn>>>>Lance Berkman.
Anyway, now to address your point:
The price on Dunn was too high. Next best thing is Lance. The Yankees didn’t need someone to play defense for them. They just needed a DH. Plus, Melancon is a pretty good reliever, so it isn’t like the Stros got ABSOLUTELY nothing back.
I know the metrics say his bat is still good, but honestly, you need to look at this as a GM, who, as far as I know, none of them really use sabermetrics to value a player. If you look at his face numbers, they just don’t scream top prospect-value.
The only GMs who don’t use SABR are Ed Wade, Bill Smith, Dayton Moore, and Jerry DiPoto.
It’s no coincidence that they’re all tremendously dumb.
So you prefer guys that either hit homers or strike out and plays no defense? Personally I would rather have a guy that can hit for power, knows how to draw a walk, and plays pretty good defense.
If you prefer him over Dunn any day you are as dumb as Ed Wade and Drayton McClane
Actually he is, I would prefer him over Dunn anyday. Berkman is a patient hitter who draws alot of walks and doesnt strike out near as much.
Are the Astros getting any prospects?
Are the Astros getting any prospects?
Rovert, stop your QQ, blame your gm Ed wade, ok, He traded Roy Oswalt for Phillies Garbage and bag of balls lol
Haters gon Hate
If I read that phrase one more time, I’m probably going to start bleeding out of my eyes.
If I read that phrase one more time, I’m probably going to start bleeding out of my eyes.
Hey what’s up?? Hater are first no? hahahahahahaha
Haters gon Hate
Rovert, stop your QQ, blame your gm Ed wade, ok, He traded Roy Oswalt for Phillies Garbage and bag of balls lol
Berkman in the two hole for the Yankees?
I think he can have a major impact for the Yankees. This deal is very reminiscence of the St. Louis Cardinals in mid 2000s when they acquired Larry Walker . The Cards inserted Walker in to the two hole and they went on to win the title. Or another example is the Astros acquisition of Carlos Beltran during their playoff run. Beltran and Walker both were added to legit lineups and placed in the two hole that lead to late season surges.
Adding that patience professional approach to already potent lineup is dangerous. Even if the Rays add Adam Dunn, I think the Yankees are ready for a showdown in October.
Larry Walker retired the year before (’05) the Cards won it all (’06)
Berkman in the two hole for the Yankees?
I think he can have a major impact for the Yankees. This deal is very reminiscence of the St. Louis Cardinals in mid 2000s when they acquired Larry Walker . The Cards inserted Walker in to the two hole and they went on to win the title. Or another example is the Astros acquisition of Carlos Beltran during their playoff run. Beltran and Walker both were added to legit lineups and placed in the two hole that lead to late season surges.
Adding that patience professional approach to already potent lineup is dangerous. Even if the Rays add Adam Dunn, I think the Yankees are ready for a showdown in October.
How did “dumb” Ed Wade manage to build that Phillies team that has gone to the World Series the last two years?
The good news is that the NFL starts soon and baseball can go back to being ignored. Baseball has twice as many fans as football in part because small market teams like Indianapolis or Pittsburgh can compete with teams in New York.
I always love when September rolls around.
K.
K.
That’s bad.. why bother watch football they dont even let the player celebrate TDs anymore.. its a game your suppose to have fun.. TO ruined it for everyone.. the funny thing is TO was always average at best.. Chad Eight Five as his teammate the Bengals win 5 games all yr.. as long as the Cowboys lose a good 10 or 11 games it will be a good year for everyone.
Everyone complains about parity in MLB, but here is an interesting tidbit; How long has it taken for 8 different teams to win championships in each of the major sports?
MLB 9 years
NFL 10 years
NBA 30 years
And, mind you, more teams make it to the post season in those other leagues.
Also, there are so many things that support the existence of parity in baseball. It’s mind-boggling.
The good news is that the NFL starts soon and baseball can go back to being ignored. Baseball has twice as many fans as football in part because small market teams like Indianapolis or Pittsburgh can compete with teams in New York.
I always love when September rolls around.
Pat Gillick built that team, that’s how.
Pat Gillick built that team, that’s how.
Wade drafted Utley and Howard.
No, Mike Arbuckle did.
How did “dumb” Ed Wade manage to build that Phillies team that has gone to the World Series the last two years?
Are you kidding me? A potential average middle reliever and a meh but speedy infielder AND cash for Berkman!?
I know that Lance is having a very bad year, but this has to go down as the worst fleecing of Houston since the Civil War. Paredes is the only mildly valuable chip, and the salary dump is downright negligable. Bad deal for Houston.
ahahahahahahahahahaha!
Fine, f$@! you too Lance Berkman. –White Sox fans
No offense but the Astros players had a really bad experience in Chicago in the world series in 2005. Most notably a white sox fan slapped Biggio’s wife and ran. Not saying thats a reason some Astros like oswalt and Berkman well former astros now, do not want to go to chicago but incidents like that tend to shy away players.
Hard to believe my eyes. Lance Berkman for a reliever and a low A judy? WOW. Cut and run Astros fans, that’s what your owner is doing.
Can any Yankee fans give the insights on Melancon and Paredes. I really don’t know much about them.
melancon has location issues galore. im not sure about paredes… he’s really raw.
Thanks
That’s why I dislike the Yankees, they are where they are thanks to the money not for their farms, on the other hand, the rays are using more their farms and we’re seeing the fruits of a good preparation of their promises
————————————————
So are the Rangers trying to buy their way into the playoffs too? Are the Phillies buying their way into another WS appearance? It’s not like the Yankees just signed another major FA. They are trading prospects (albeit probably not great ones) to a team and assuming the balance of the contract they didn’t want to pay.
Oh yeah, by the way. Our best hitter this year is from the farm (Cano) and our 3rd best starter is too (Hughes). In fact…
Cano
Jeter
Posada
Gardner
Hughes
Pettite (as a FA return)
Mo
Joba
Robertson
Aceves
Cervelli
Pena
Colin Curtis
are all players from the farm.
And as far as doing the old fashion way the Yanks traded home grown players for Granderson (Austin jackson, Phil Coke, Ian Kennedy), Arod (Soriano), Vazquez (Cabrera and Vizcaino) and Swisher (sort of….Bettemit plus some unimportant prospects).
So really, CC, AJ, Tex and Nick Johnson are really the only substantial guys that were brought in purely as FA. You can’t knock the Yanks for extending deals for guys they either drafted (Jeter, Mo, Posada, Cano) or traded major players for (Arod).
So please…in the midst of all the deals that have gone down and all the major players that have gone elsewhere other than the Bronx (Halladay, Lee, Haren, Oswalt, etc) don’t knock the Yanks for trading for a player that’s past his prime, wanted out of Houston and no longer fit into the long term plans of the team that drafted him.
Dont forgot Nick Johnson was a yank prospect many years ago
Don’t forgot Johnson was a Yank Prospect many years ago
Don’t forget Johnson was a Yanks prospect years ago
There’s an edit button, dude.
Thames and Marte were also originally Yankee farmhands who were traded.
Well, it’s a stretch to include Pena and Curtis, though they do support your point (sorry, I don’t see either one having much future with the team).
But, to quoth the old saying, Haters gonna hate. You can sit there and give them all the reasons why the Yanks do not buy all of their talent, how there is parity in baseball despite the Yanks’s spending, etc., and they will sit there and remain ignorant and defend themselves till they’re blue in the face.
Dont forget that we brought up Thames too.
I’m kind of dissapointed the Yanks traded away Melancon. He’s a good kid. Throws in the 94-96 range and has a decent curve. I think Girardi didn’t give him enough of a chance to acclamate himself like he did some of the other guys. Considering how our bullpen is struggling a little I thought he deserved another shot this year.
As a Yankees fan, I’m not convinced by this trade, someone convince me that the Yankees won this trade.
BTW I checked out the rays rosters, here are there homegrown players (neither traded nor signed)
Balfour
Upton
Longoria
Crawford
Price
Briegnac
Sonnanstine
Jaso
Shields
Niemann
Davis
If i counted correctly (Im on vacation so cant count on that) then that s 11 players. The yankees have 13. Hmm quite intriguing if you ask me.
Boo Melancon was in the trade. Oh well, despite Berkman’s slightly diminished bat, with a huge chuck of his salary being given up, someone of some form of significance had to go back to the Stros.
A rather disappointing package of prospects considering we kicked in over half of his salary, no?
That’s Ed Wade for you….as a Phillies fan, I’m glad we didn’t have to give up much to get Oswalt, but I know what’s its like to be on the receiving end of bad Wade deals….he’s the GM who gave up Curt Schilling for Travis Lee, Omar Daal, Nelson Figueroa, and Vicente Padilla. None of those players accomplished anything, and Schilling won 3 rings after leaving Philly.
And the Phillies won a World Series with the team Ed Wade drafted.
The GM doesn’t have much to do with scouting. Arbuckle and the other guys in player development at the time had more to do with drafting this team than Wade. Actually Wade tried to trade Utley to the A’s for Barry Zito, and Howard to the Pirates for Kip friggin’ Wells. There would have been no parade in ’08 if Wade got his way with those trades.
Well what would you honestly expect to get in return for an old washed up rental bat who is having one of his poorest seasons of his career?
I am admittedly attached to our prospects. I think it comes from being tired of hearing about how we don’t value our prospects and from the ghosts of Jay Buhner and Doug Drabek. Melancon should be a good arm for Houston but I’m glad to have Berkman. Would’ve prefered a bat that could also play 3B (Tejada or Cantu) but he should fit in nicely. I would not bat him 2nd though.
Jeter
Swisher
Tex
Arod
Cano
Berkman
Posada
Granderson
Gardner
good move, makes it easier on the front office by only giving up Melancon.
I think (and I know a lot of people agree with me here) that Melancon didnt have the make up for NY, he has good stuff and a national league team, plus the worst division in baseball doesnt hurt his chances at having a very good career.
As for the Yanks; Berkman is definitely not what he was 2 even 1 year ago, a .240 plus average is a shell of his former self, the power is down and the RBI output is dissapointing; however he is a switch hitter and provides more depth and versatility in the lineup, causing very unfavorable matchups for opposing managers. Also the intangibles of being in one of the better lineups in all of baseball and also being in a pennant race may also jump start him…
we shall see for now, but overall an OK not great move.
Jeez. The astros are racking up better prospects than the Dbacks. The GMs should have a meeting and brag to each other what they got.
I like this move for Houston and Lance. I have been a big fan of the Astros organization for all my life and this a prime reason why. Lance approved the trade under the condition that his option was turned from club to mutual. It is obvious what this deal is centered around, Berkman gets a real shot at getting a ring, the Yankees get a good bat for 2.5 months, and the Astros get a couple of young guys in return. I bet a dollar against a dime that the reason Lance insisted on the mutual option is so he can resign with Houston the winter. Perfect demonstration of player/ team loyalty. Berkman is a hell of a player and through all his years of success he never flashed his ego at all. I have hated the Yankees above all other teams until now, I will be rooting for you guys. Go Get Your Ring Lance, You Deserve it.
I do not see Berkman resigning with the Stros. Because of what he meant to that franchise, they would have to give him a contract with pretty decent money for around 3 more years so he could retire with Houston. How long do they plan on keeping Brett Wallace down in the minors? Unless they plan on making him their 3B, I dont see Berk resigning.
Are you kidding me? The Yankees are paying 3 mil (plus more for the luxury tax) for a mediocre player for basically the playoffs?? This is insanely over-the-top. The Yanks are nearly guaranteed a playoff spot with their current roster and position…how much does Berkman increase their chance to win in the playoffs? 1%?
Only the Yanks can pay 3-4 mil for an insignificant, post season upgrade.
another washed up player selling out in hope to get one last World Series trophy…
You sound like a bitter Blue Jay fan who is still upset that you got bested by Ed Wade! HahaHAhHAHAHaahHA
Yeah, totally unlike those plucky homegrown Jays who won it all in ’92 and ’93. People like Paul Molitor, David Cone, Fred McGriff, Roberto Alomar, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Jack Morris, and Dave Stewart.
Oh wait literally none of those people were drafted by the Blue Jays look at that
Please don’t get the impression this fool speaks for all Jays fans…. He obviously doesn’t understand baseball all that much.
Brick Tops
When was it reported that he vetoed a trade to the White Sox. Who was offered, and accepted, from the Sox by Houston?
awful trade for astros…no picks and bad prospects. Great p/u by yanks….no hating here…only bothers me that cashman gets credit for being out general managed again but working out for him…yanks=great team cashman=all evidence says bad gm
(1) The prospects were not bad. (2) Berkman has limited value.
And what do you mean by picks? Compensation picks? That would be ridiculous. The two prospects that they acquired would be cheaper and more of a sure thing than a draft pick.
Exactly how is Cashman bad? He’s on the same level as your the Boy Wonder Theo Epstein.
Best of luck to Melancon, I liked him, and think he’s got awesome potential as a future closer. As for Berkman, it was probably a better option than Dunn, and I knew they were never in on Prince Fielder, as awesome as it would be to watch him flat out ABUSE the stadium with homeruns.
Great move by the yanks! They gave up little and got a lot. I love Berkman and he should rake in NY!
4 switch hitters in a lineup is incredible!
They had it last year too. Tex, Posada, Swish, and Damon.
Anybody that studies the economics of the game knows that the deck is stacked. The luxury tax the Yankees paid was just under 26 million last season: http://goo.gl/EKJO
That’s not even going to buy you a middle infielder off the bench if the money is evenly distributed. Nope, read Bob Costas’ “Fair Ball” for the right economic plan for MLB. Put that in place and the Yankees AND Red Sox would have to actually do some real baseball work to build a solid team. Fans in great cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Kansas City would actually have hope again.
Yanks getting Berkman is a trade that looks better on paper than in reality. The Yanks sent Juan Miranda back to triple A to make room for the ‘Fat Puma ‘ because he has a resume and was an All-Star years ago. Miranda has proven himself at triple A the last two years, but has the misfortune of backing up Teixiera. Miranda could start for a number of Major League teams if given a chance. At this point , he is younger,faster and a better fielder but the Yanks, alas, always go with the proven player until they see otherwise
Yanks getting Berkman is a trade that is better on paper than in reality. Yanks sent Juan Miranda back to Triple A to make room for the ‘Fat Puma’, because Berkman has a resume, Switch hits and was an All-Star years ago. Miranda has proven himself in the minors for the last two years and could start for a number of Major League teams right now. Unfortunately for him, he’s backing up Teixiera and given the Yank’s history of going with the proven player over the rookie won’t see too much playing time. At this point in time, Miranda is younger, faster and a much better fielder than Berkman, and if allowed to play regularly could hit .270 and hit 20 homers as a Dh/1B.
man i forgot how much hate the yankees got back then. and the fact they let a very young melancon go for a washed up power pinch hitter berkman was a prime cashman move back then