The rumor mill is starting to heat up that the Yankees will be getting Lance Berkman from the Astros. This would be interesting. Berkman had a down year in 2009: 245 average, 25 homeruns, 73 RBI, OBP .399 (still not bad) and a WAR of 3.3. He’s not tearing the ball up this year either he is on pace for similar numbers. The thing is Berkman has had six near MVP caliber years with WARs ranging from 6.2 to 7.3. You can’t blame him for being down about playing for the Astros. He’s the type of player who could really benefit from a change of scenery.
The switch-hitting Berkman like the National’s Dunn is also a patient hitter who would really benefit from being surrounded by the patient hitters (and Cano) in the Yankees lineup. Berkman averages 106 walks a year and has a lifetime OBP of .410. He doesn’t have the sheer power of Dunn but he does average 33 homeruns a year. I would expect him to have a bit of rebirth in New York where he would probably alternate at first base, outfield and DH.
