The New York Yankees acquired first baseman Lance Berkman from the Houston Astros, according to the New York Post, which will be officially announced Saturday.
The Astros, who will send the Yankees $4 million in the deal, will receive pitching prospect Mark Melancon and infield prospect Jimmy Paredes, the Post reports.
But before Berkman was traded, he said this:
“I’m a little nervous, a little apprehensive about this whole thing,” Berkman told Houston reporters. “I’m from Texas. Heck, I played at Rice. This city is like the womb. I feel comfortable here and to think about the possibility of going anywhere else is kind of scary.”
Sounds like New York is a perfect fit.
Anywayyyyssss….Berkman was acquired due to his proficiency against RHP. His switch-hitting ability deters managers from LOOGYing or ROOGYing, but the ideal usage of him would be as the left-handed side of a Marcus Thames platoon. Fat Elvis has killed RHP during his career (.307/.423/.592, .424 wOBA), and over the last three years, those numbers are nearly identical (.300/.424/.564).
This season however, he’s been less productive against RHP, but the line is still very good: .261/.395/.479, .382 wOBA. It’s not surprising he’s dipped a bit considering his knee issues, he’s 34, and has the body of a high school science teacher.
The old man skills are clearly there as he’s walked in 16.8% of his PAs, which is the best rate in baseball.
From the right-hand side, Thames is simply better. Better career and better this season. And considering Berkman is switching leagues, Thames as the optimal option against LHP is even clearer.
But, the left-handed side of a platoon gets about 70% of the PAs, so this is a nice upgrade over an alternative like Miranda. A very solid trade indeed.
We’re generally in favor of trading relievers for impact bats, but losing Melancon stings a little. First, we believe he’s a good relief prospect, despite the struggles in his brief MLB stints. He’ll likely be a cheap source of bullpen help over the next few years. He’s a good asset for the Astros. Second, Mark was nice enough to do an interview with us earlier in the year. We wish him the best of luck.
*Props to Marshall Seymour and Vizzini for also contributing to this post.
31 Comments
JohnnyDaMan July 31, 2010 00:30
More like Big Pumasher
Frank July 31, 2010 03:13
Cashman is a freakin genius. Not only is this an absolute steal, but he even got the Stros to eat some of the money owed to Berkman…..
Masterful job Brian.
bartonbickle July 31, 2010 04:33
When Ed Wade makes deals like these (and pretty much any move he’s ever made qualifies), you really understand why Shawn Chacone took him by the throat and threw him to the ground.
It must be a pleasure for Ca$hman to be able to deal with a complete moron. Wade is like that guy who inevitably joins your fantasy league when there’s one team to fill the night before the draft. You know he’ll make stupid, knee-jerk transactions and will probably just give away good players in trades. It’s amazing that he’s still in baseball after years of utter incompetence. Not that I’m complaining or anything.
Steve Phillips July 31, 2010 06:32
I would then package Berkman and Joba to the A’s for Andrew Bailey.
Sensitive RAB guy July 31, 2010 06:39
oh good, another hitting-only, fat slob whose best days are behind him.
Him & NJ will have fun eating Fritos…
/lohud’d
Sensitive RAB guy July 31, 2010 07:11
My wife likes to humiliate me by making me read aloud all 13-million+ of tjsc’s posts, while she gets off.
Is this unusual?
Lance Berkman July 31, 2010 08:41
Uhhhhhh….oh crap!
Lionel Richie July 31, 2010 11:20
Good thing we signed Nick Johnson…passed on Johnny Damon and Hitdeki so we have to trade for a bat, giving up prospects, and pay MORE in salary!
Genius move Brian Cashman!
Your friend,
-Lionel.
PS: Nomaas fucking sucks.
No Maas Sucks July 31, 2010 11:59
We here at No Maas bring you nothing of value…again.
History Professor July 31, 2010 12:51
Oh because “Hitdeki” is doing so well in beautiful Southern California to the tune of .251/.332/.477. Look at those wonderful stats!1!!1! An OPS+ of 101! For a DH!
And what about Caveman Damon you say? Well, he’s doing his thang, and Big Poppa Cash tried that avenue, but Caveman and Boras decided to wait for that 3 year $25 mil offer that never came. Yeah, hindsight is 20/20 now. Go cry over Melancon and the 3 Mil the Steinbrenners have to fork over this year for Berkman.
Oh yeah, and Berkman is a career 145 OPS+ hitter who, in his worst full season ever, is still worth more with the bat than JD.
Tom July 31, 2010 12:52
Pointless trade…berkman is doing poorly as a regular why is he going to do better while getting less at bats. Austin Kearns has never been a productive player from the bench. And lets not complain about Cashman allowign Damon and Matsui go, Damon chose to leave and isnt exactly doing anything in Detroit, that move was a no brainer. Matsui hasn’t done all that much in Anaheim either, and we only signed johnson for 1 year anyways as a stopgap, he wasn’t a long-term solution. I donth think Berkman is going to do anymore than Miranda/curtis were doing.
Kei Igawa July 31, 2010 12:59
Damon and Matsui stink this year.
NJ was indeed a terrible signing, but it was fairly low risk.
Granderson finally got some hits this past week, so hopefully he’ll continue.
Javy is good, Melky stinks.
Joe July 31, 2010 13:10
Sensitive RAB guy its TSJC so if you are going to try to mock him at least abbreviate it right.
55 July 31, 2010 14:10
$6M and a starting role is not low-risk, dipshit.
History Professor July 31, 2010 14:37
Berkman is essentially a Nick Swisher (career, not this year) clone at this point. How is that not an improvement over Miranda, Curtis, Thames, rotating DH, or anything else?
Being these are the Yankees, I would have preferred to see them not trade Melancon and instead pick up more of Berkman’s money, but you gotta give up something to get something. Melancon is good, but not exactly a top prospect… more of a darling of Yankees blogs who wished he had been given more of a chance.
Our “A” line-up looks like:
Jeter
Swisher
Tex
Rod
Cano
Posada
Granderson
Gardner
with a .380-.400 OBP thrown in there anywhere from the 6-8 spot (or conceivably the 2-hole.) That’s pretty damn good.
Sensitive RAB guy July 31, 2010 15:22
ah…being advised on what to post: i’ve truly found my home-away-from-home-on-the-web!
Brandon July 31, 2010 16:04
No Kerry Wood, even if Cleveland if paying for it.
History Professor July 31, 2010 16:14
Oh yeah, that’s right. I’d much rather have Chan Ho Park than Kerry Wood.
are you f-ing serious July 31, 2010 17:37
Berkman/Thames DH platoon is disgustingly sexy, plus the big fat puma can play the OF granted he hasnt for a few years but he still has 800+starts in the OF, Kerry wood the are getting for nothing, he’s only pitcher 20 innings but and is just getting off the dl, he cost a PTBNL or cash cry moar it was better than getting raped for downs or choketel (dotel..you see what I did there) get over it we made the best moved we could have made without giving up our best prospects I’d say thats a sucsessful deadline
are you f-ing serious July 31, 2010 17:38
oh and please feel to talk crap about my grammar Go Yankees
are you f-ing serious July 31, 2010 17:39
free, feel free to talk crap…ok you guys are right I’m a tard…..but I’m right about the trades
History Student July 31, 2010 17:46
History Professor just took y’all to school.
Theo Epstein is a GOD! July 31, 2010 18:33
WE’RE DOOMED! The Red Sox just pulled off a trade for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.Un-freakin-believable. How’d they do it?!
Rube Baker July 31, 2010 19:19
Salty should read playboy, thats how i learned to throw back to the pitcher.
RichMahogany July 31, 2010 19:49
We are STILL seeing comments pining for Damon and Matsui? Seriously?
Johnny Damon July 31, 2010 20:34
Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you’ll never go wrong.
Lance Berkman July 31, 2010 23:39
You guys see how bad I sucked tonight?
sobbing Astro's fan August 1, 2010 00:42
Berkman is a serious hitter who has knee problems. not playing the field ( the way you pussy american leaguers seem to think is the way to do things) is going to be good for Lance. I know you get little news from Houston and pay little attention to what you do get, but if he has anything left, you’re going to like him.
Carpet Cleaning Redondo Beach January 3, 2011 00:42
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