Yankees Acquire Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns

The Yankees have acquired Lance Berkman from the Astros in return for Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes. Berkman has approved the deal and will become a Yankee at 1:30 PM tomorrow. The switch-hitter earlier vetoed a deal that would have sent him to the White Sox.

Berkman will not have his 2011 option picked up and will likely DH for the Yankees. Berkman is hitting .245/.372/.436 on the season with 13 home runs and 49 RBI's. The Astros will pay about $4 million of the $7.1 million in his contract.

Melancon, who was once dubbed the successor to Mariano Rivera by Yankees fans, has become a call up send down every month or so kind of player with the Yankees. The team had given up on his potential and shipped him away.

Paredas is a utility infield playing for Charleston. Paredas does not get on base often, but is a switch hitter that can play most infield positions.

The Yankees also acquired Austin Kearns from the Indians for a player to be named later or cash. Kearns is hitting .268/.351/.413 on the season, with 8 home runs and 42 RBI's.