As has been reported by multiple sources, the Yankees are on the verge of landing OF/1B Lance Berkman from Houston. The two players involved haven't been named so far, but when they do, you'll know where to look.

The lineup today:

Christian - LF
Krum - CF
Romine - C
Laird - 3B
Brewer - RF
Vechionacci - 1B
Cusick - DH
Nunez - SS
Snyder 2B
Noesi - P

Stay tuned for any changes.

6:34: Jimmy Paredes has been scratched from the lineup in Charleston. That's weird, considering they just landed a speedy shortstop from the Phillies for Oswalt. Also, Kevin Russo is not in Scranton's lineup.

Russo and Paredes is an interesting package for sure. Pretty darn cheap, but that's apparently how the Astros work these days.

6:46: Here's video of Jimmy Paredes, one of the players who seems to be headed Houston's way. He's only there for one pitch against Lakewood's Brody Colvin, but it's what I have.



9:11 The New York Post is now reporting that Mark Melancon, not Kevin Russo, is in the deal for Berkman. Nice kid, that Melancon, but certainly expendable.

Potential Yankees trade targets Cliff Lee and Dan Haren are already off the board, but top arms like Roy Oswalt, Ted Lilly, and possibly Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria (!) are still out there. That's to say nothing of premier bats like Adam Dunn, Derrek Lee and Ross.

With that in mind, the organization has a stable of prospects from which to deal. So, fair readers, who do you think the Yankees should keep at all costs, championship No. 28 be damned. Here, in no particular order, are some of the candidates:

1. Jesus Montero - C - 20 years old

This season: .274/.350/.812 23 2B, 10 HRs, 43 RBIs

Why the Yankees should keep him: The bat is the best in the system in a very long time, possibly since Derek Jeter, and maybe even better than that. He raked at every level before getting off to a slow start in Triple-A this season. Over his last ten games, however, the Venezuelan is hitting .469/.541/1.416 with three longballs and six RBIs.

2. Austin Romine - C - 21 years old

This season: .273/.347/.755, 6 HRs, 49 RBIs
Why the Yankees should keep him: The consensus is that Romine is a far better defensive catcher and a more all-around talent than Montero. Jorge Posada is getting no younger, and the next wave of catching talent (J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez) is a ways away. Additionally, the only true star catcher New York could have hoped to snap up in free agency, Joe Mauer, is off the market.

3. Manny Banuelos - LHP - 19 years old

This season: 0-1, 1.27 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 39 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings

Why the Yankees should keep him: The brass raves about Banuelos, talking about his poise as much as his pure stuff. He's one of the few left-handed pitching prospects in the system, and has displayed three plus pitches in High-A. Were it not for a preseason appendectomy, Banuelos would more than likely be in Trenton already.

4. Dellin Betances - RHP - 22 years old

This season: 5-1, 1.60 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 52 strikeouts in 45 innings

Why the Yankees should keep him: He's coming off arm surgery, and is just beginning to scratch the surface of the potential New York saw when it took him in the eighth round four drafts ago. When healthy, he flashes a high-90s heater and a devastating breaking pitch. The velo, combined with his age, might make the Yankees want to dig in their claws for the long haul.