UPDATE: Yankees Acquire Lance Berkman… It’s Official!

According to a report on MLB.com, the Yankees are very close to getting Lance Berkman. There is no talk about who the Yankees would deal, but when Astros General Manager Ed Wade approached Berkman, who like former teammate Roy Oswalt, has a full no-trade clause, about eight teams interested in him, he approved four teams. One of those teams was the Yankees. Berkman was quoted in the article saying:

“He approached me with a list of teams two days ago, I guess, and there was probably eight teams that expressed some interest, and there was four yays and four nays and we’ll kind of go from there,” said Berkman, who admitted he didn’t consider any team on the West Coast.

With Nick Johnson sidelined until who knows when, this would be a good move by the Yankees. As we have seen all season, players have been using the DH spot to take rest the everyday players, but Joe Girardi was quoted recently saying that if the front office were to get someone to be an everyday DH, then the team would have an everyday DH. Lance Berkman is making $14.5 million this season and has a $15 million club option for the 2011 season, with a $2 million buyout, but he said he wouldn’t want to have it picked up so he’s not stuck somewhere he doesn’t want to be.

This story is just unfolding, but might be closer than we think. We will continue to update you as things happen. Stay tuned! To read more on this article from MLB.com, click on the following link: Yankees on verge of acquiring Berkman

Friday, July 30 at 8pm – I was just informed that Joel Sherman of the NY Post recently tweeted the following: “Deal is completed, Berkman consented to waive no-trade rights, just have to wait 24 hrs for the technicality #Yankees, #Astros”

Saturday, July 31 at 1:45pm – From MLB Twitter account: @MLB Official: Lance Berkman & cash to #Yankees for RHP Mark Melanon & IF Jimmy Paredes. #Astros purchase 1B Brett Wallace from Round Rock

I just received the following e-mail from Yankees.com:

YANKEES ACQUIRE FIRST BASEMAN LANCE BERKMAN  in addition to cash from the Houston Astros for pitcher Mark Melancon and minor league infielder Jimmy Paredes on Saturday afternoon.

Berkman has spent all 12 seasons of his career with the Astros and has compiled a .296 career average with 326 home runs and 1090 RBIs. This season, the switch-hitting slugger is batting .245 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs. Berkman has hit over 40 home runs twice in his career (2002 and 2006) and driven in over 100 runs six times.

What are your thoughts on this move?

Images courtesy of Zimbio.com

Related posts:

1. Lance Berkman is on the DL
2. Berkman is in tonight’s lineup – Yankees vs Rays (07/31/10)
3. Yankees vs Twins – ALDS Game 2 Recap (The Pettitte and Berkman Show)
4. Tonight’s lineup – Yankees vs Tigers
5. Today’s lineup – Yankees vs Royals (08/15/10)