ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Three weeks ago, the Yankees thought they had acquired a difference-maker in Cliff Lee.
Yesterday, they completed two deals they hope improve their lineup and bullpen.
Hours before their 5-4 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field, the Yankees officially added switch-hitter Lance Berkman in a trade from the Astros and got right-handed reliever Kerry Wood in a deal from the Indians. Late Friday night, the Yankees acquired outfielder Austin Kearns from the Indians.
“The last 72 hours, things got hot,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “We wound up with three deals we were comfortable with.”
Time will tell if they were the right moves.
“The upside is very good for us,” manager Joe Girardi said of his club making three moves at the trading deadline despite possessing the best record in baseball (66-37 after last night’s win) and having a one-game lead over the Rays before it grew to two games last night. “I don’t think there is a risk. We have to play at a high level to win but I like the moves.”
Considering the 34-year-old Berkman is an experienced switch-hitter who can play first base and possibly the outfield, he gives Girardi versatility. He will, however, get most of his at-bats as the Yankees’ designated hitter. Andy Pettitte’s close friend was in the lineup last night at DH and hitting second against right-hander Matt Garza. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Juan Miranda was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Berkman, an improvement in that spot, especially because the trade only cost the Yankees minor leaguers Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes and the Astros paid $4 million of the money due Berkman.
Berkman, who missed time early in the season due to left knee surgery (he has had two surgeries on each knee), believes the key to surviving in the pressurized atmosphere that surrounds the Yankees is simple.
“A lot of time guys come here and they let the expectations get to them, thinking they have to hit four homers a game,” said Berkman, who hit .245 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs in 85 games with Houston this season, but just .188 against lefties. “You just have to try and compete and not do too much. Don’t put on the ritz for the Big Apple.”
Kearns, 30, will provide better defense than Marcus Thames in the outfield, but his acquisition forced Colin Curtis back to Triple-A when the Yankees decided to keep Thames on the 25-man roster.
The 33-year-old Wood, who was activated from the disabled list yesterday after battling a blister problem on his right index finger, will replace the struggling Chan Ho Park in the bullpen. Park was designated for assignment.
Immediately using Berkman in the No. 2 spot, where Nick Swisher has thrived, will bear watching.
“We will look at it as time goes by,” Girardi said of batting Berkman between Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. “That’s where he is now.”
Girardi said Kearns will play “a lot against lefties and probably some righties.”
As for Woods, a teammate of Girardi’s with the Cubs, his performance will dictate where he fits into the bullpen.
“We will see, he has pitched in the back end,” said Girardi, who didn’t say whether or not the veteran right-hander was a candidate to handle the fluid eighth-inning role.
Cashman said Joba Chamberlain’s struggles didn’t play a role in acquiring Wood for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
“Joba had nothing to do with this,” Cashman said.
Wood wasn’t at Tropicana Field, so the Yankees played with 24 players last night.