Yankees keep on dealin': acquire OF Austin Kearns from Indians for PTBNL or cash

After already acquiring Lance Berkman from the Houston Astros today, the New York Yankees swung another deal today to bolster their bench, trading a player to be named later or cash to the Cleveland Indians for outfielder Austin Kearns.

Kearns, 30, was the 7th overall pick in the 1998 draft by the Cincinnati Reds. However, his star has considerably fallen since being picked in the first round as injuries have taken a considerably large toll and derailed his career.

2002, Kearns' first season, was one of his best as he posted a .315 average with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs in 107 games. Many expected Kearns to continue into the 2003 season and live up to the hype that surrounded him as the seventh overall pick, but he struggled, hitting .264 with 68 strikeouts in 82 games while missing time with injury but also hitting 15 home runs and driving in 58 RBIs. In 2004 he would again miss time with injuries, playing in only 64 games. He bounced back in 2005, playing in 112 games and hitting 18 home runs, driving in 67 and hitting .240.

In 2006, Kearns started the season off strongly for the Reds, hitting 16 home runs, driving in 50 RBI and hitting .274 in 87 games before he was traded with shortstop Felipe Lopez and pitcher Ryan Wagner by the Reds to the Washington Nationals for pitchers Gary Mejewski, Bill Bray, Darryl Thompson and infielders Royce Clayton and Brendan Harris. Kearns continued to hit, as he hit 8 home runs in 68 games for the Nationals while driving in 36 RBIs. 2006 proved to be his best season as he hit .264 with 24 home runs and 86 RBIs in 150 games. In 2007, Kearns would play in 161 games, a career-high, but his home run total dropped to 16. He was injured again for parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, and struggled to hit just .195 in 2009. He signed as a free agent with the Indians on a minor league contract prior to 2010 and made the team.

This season, Kearns has played in 83 games, hitting 8 home runs while batting .268 with 42 RBIs. He's a great defensive outfielder, making only 4 errors in the outfield for a .977 fielding percentage this season. Kearns has a career .986 fielding %, but his best position is right field. From this point forward to the end of the season, he makes $270K before hitting free agency. For the Yankees, the right-handed hitting Kearns will be the 4th oufielder and will spell Curtis Granderson days off against lefties thanks to his .799 OPS vs. left-handed pitching. He's hitting .278 vs. righties and .250 vs. lefites. It's not the first time we've heard the Yankees interested in acquiring Kearns. Now finally they got their wish.

"He's another corner outfielder that can give us depth and a right-handed bat that has power," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We can use him in a lot of different ways because he's used to playing every day. It just gives us more depth and more experience."

"Our young guys have done a pretty good job, but you do have experience in a guy that's used to playing every day," Girardi said. "He gives you depth and has seen all the pitchers, probably, in the American League because it's already July. He has probably a better idea how they're going to attack him."

"It'll give me a chance to rest our left-handed guys," Girardi said. "We're in the midst of 37 games in 38 days, and you don't have to run the same guys out there every day. Physically you can keep them healthy and strong, because we're going to need them."

"I'll be in the mix, maybe in the outfield," Kearns said. "I don't know; I haven't talked to them. I think when you get the opportunity [to go to a contender], you don't really worry about that kind of thing. You're going to a good team. [There are] bigger and better things than worrying about playing time."

"That's great because we're a team that's all about winning and anyone who can come in here and help us score more runs," Mark Teixeira said. "[They are] two quality guys. I know both real well. They're great guys, and it's going to be great for this clubhouse."

Another great move by Cashman, upping the bench and getting good pinch hitters. Sources say another deal is in the works, this time for either a starting pitcher, utility infielder or reliever.

Cash the Ninja never sleeps.