Yankees Add Berkman, Look to Run Away with AL East

Another day, another All-Star added to the middle of the Yankees' lineup.  The Yankees added Lance Berkman yesterday in a trade with the Astros for minor leaguers Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes.   The 34-year-old comes with a hefty price tag, but the Astros are contributing $4MM or of the $7.1MM owed to Berkman and he can become a free agent after the season.

This move will make a lineup with no holes even more unstoppable.  Where do you put Berkman - in the 5 or 6 hole?  Berkman is a career .296 hitter with a .959 OPS and having a slower than usual season this year, but this may still be the beginning of the end for the rest of the AL East.  Here's your new lineup:

Jeter
Swisher
Teixeira
Rodriguez
Berkman
Cano
Posada
Granderson
Gardner/Curtis

And if the Yanks can ever squeeze in a quality starter before the trade deadline, the countdown will really start.


[NY Daily News]