Yankees Chasing Berkman?

According to the NY Post's Joel Sherman the Yankees are taking a serious look at Astros 1st baseman Lance Berkman.

Berkman has struggled in this, his 12th season, posting an .808 OPS is that is well below his career average. He has about 1/3 of his $14.5 million salary remaning for this year and can be a free agent after the season. The Astros hold a $15 million option with a $2 million buyout.

Berkman is a better all around hitter than the Nats' Adam Dunn so a rental deal would make sense as long as the Yankees don't have to give up too much in return.

On the downside, Berkman is hitting just .161 and has an OPS of .559 against left-hander this year. Both marks are well below his career marks of .262 and .781.

Foxsports' Jim Bowden tweeted earlier that the Yankees are going hard at Ted Lilly and Scott Downs. Then again the source is Jim Bowden, whose GM results were about as good as Steve Phillips.

It does make sense for the Yankees to get Downs. I've mentioned before that he would be a great addition. But I'm not sold on Lilly at this point. Can he get AL hitters out with an 86 mph fastball? I'm not convinced he can.

UPDATE 6:25 pm

Both Ken Rosenthal and Joel Sherman have said that a deal has been agreed upon for Berkman, but K-Ros also added that things have to be ironed out that will take more time. That would have to do with Berkman's no-trade clause and a guarantee that his option won't be picked up in 2011.

UPDATE 9:45 PM

The Berkman should be announced at roughly 1:30 pm on Saturday. The Yankees will pay $4 million of the $7 million owed to Berkman. The prospects going to Houston are believed to be right-hander Mark Melancon and infielder Johnny Paredes.

No great loss IMO on Melancon. He's shown so far that he's nothing more than a 4-A reliever. All in all good job by Brian Cashman on this one.