30-year old lefty swinging 1B/3B Chad Tracy has opted out of his minor league deal with the Yankees thus becoming a free agent. Tracy played in 18 games in AAA-ball for the Yanks and he was 22 of 68 (.324 avg, 1.018 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 6 homers and 18 RBIs. I don’t blame Tracy for leaving to find another job as he wasn’t going to get called up any time soon.

The Yankees have designated 37-year old righty reliever Chan Ho Park for assignment to make room on the roster for Kerry Wood. Park pitched in 29 games (0 starts) for the Yankees this year and he was 2-1 with a 5.60 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. His biggest problem in pin stripes was the gopher ball as he gave up 7 homers in only 35 1/3 for the Yanks. They won’t miss him at all.

UPDATE: (8/4/2010) - The Pirates have claimed Park off of waivers.

The Yankees have acquired 33-year old righty reliever Kerry Wood and cash from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later. Wood pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Indians this year and he was 1-4 with 8 saves, a 6.30 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. He has now pitched in 357 games (178 starts) in his 12 years in the majors and he is 81-68 with 62 saves, a 3.71 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. The Yankees probably will try Wood out as the set-up man to Mariano Rivera. You just know that Joe Girardi had his hands in this deal as he caught for Wood while they were together in Chicago with the Cubs.

The Yankees have acquired 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Austin Kearns from the Indians for a player to be named later or cash. Kearns played in 84 games for the Indians this year and he was 82 of 301 (.272 avg) with 42 runs scored, 8 homers, 42 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 925 games in his major league career and he is 817 of 3,177 (.257 avg, .778 OPS) with 467 runs scored, 113 homers, 464 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. This was another solid trade for the Yankees as Kearns gives them another solid outfielder to strengthen the bench.

The Yankees have acquired 34-year old switch hitting 1B Lance Berkman and $4 million bucks from the Astros for 25-year old righty reliever Mark Melancon and 21-year old switch hitting infielder Jimmy Paredes. Berkman will be the Yankees’ full time DH likely starting tomorrow or Sunday in Tampa. Berkman played in 85 games for the Astros this season and he was 73 of 298 (.245 avg, .808 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 13 homers and 49 RBIs. He has now played in 1,592 games in his 12 years in the majors and he is 1,648 of 5,560 (.296 avg, .959 OPS) with 1,008 runs scored, 326 homers, 1,090 RBIs and 82 stolen bases. Mark Melancon was the Yankees’ #15 prospect heading into this season. He pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Yankees earlier this year and he was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. He also pitched in 40 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he was 6-1 with 6 saves, a 3.67 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Melancon pitched in 15 games (0 starts) in his career with the Yankees and he was 0-1 with a 4.87 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Paredes was not one of the Yankees’ top prospects. He has played in 99 games in A-ball this year and he was 114 of 404 (.282 avg, .721 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 5 homers, 48 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman probably had a ski mask on when he made this deal as it is a steal for the Yankees.

29-year old switch hitting RF Nick Swisher is having his best season of his major league career in 2010. He has played in 89 games for the Yankees this year and he is 104 of 343 (.303 avg, .914 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 17 homers and 56 RBIs. Swisher is getting on base so much this year that he is batting 2nd in the batting order between Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira which ensures that he will continue to get good pitches to hit. Swisher is likely to set new career highs in runs scored (106), RBIs (95), batting average (.262) and OPS (.869) in 2010 for the Yankees. His career high in homers is 35 and he might be able to beat that number too in 2010.

The Yankees have recalled 27-year old righty reliever Jonathan Albaladejo to replace Andy Pettitte on the pitching staff as he was placed on the D.L. Albaladejo has been outstanding in the minors this year for the Yankees. He has pitched in 41 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 2-1 with 31 saves, a 0.96 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. He only gave up 25 hits while whiffing 61 batters in 46 2/3 innings in the minors. He has pitched in 39 games (0 starts) in two years with the Yankees and he is 5-2 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. With no set up man stepping up for the Yankees, they might give Albaladejo a chance to pitch late in games if he gets off to a good start.

With the Rays and Red Sox hanging around in the division I would go for the kill shot if I were the GM of the Yankees. I would throw caution to the wind and make two trades in typical Yankees’ fashion ransacking the minors to help the major league team. First off I would call the Milwaukee Brewers up and offer them a nice package of catcher Jesus Montero, 2B/3B David Adams, 1B Juan Miranda and righty starting pitcher Zach McAllister and Ivan Nova for 1B/DH Prince Fielder, IF Craig Counsell and righty starting pitcher Dave Bush. Fielder would be the starting DH putting up monster numbers aiming at the RF porch in Yankees’ Stadium. Counsell would fill a utility role in the infield for the Yanks and Dave Bush would replace Andy Pettitte until he comes back. Then I would get on the phone and call the Marlins up. I would offer them something along the lines of righty reliever Mark Melancon, outfielder Colin Curtis and infielder Ramiro Pena for righty relievers Leo Nunez and Brian Sanches. If the Yankees made those two moves they would put immense pressure on the other teams in the A.L. East.

29-year old lefty reliever Royce Ring is looking good in AAA for the Yankees this year. He has pitched in 33 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 2-0 with 1 save, a 1.52 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Ring has whiffed 26 batters while only allowing 23 hits in 29 2/3 innings this season which is pretty darn good. Ring has walked 9 guys this year as his control appears to be improving and that’s a good sign as his control has been a big negative issue in his past. Ring will be the next lefty reliever called up if the Yankees need one.

The Yankees will be without veteran lefty starter Andy Pettitte for the next 4-5 weeks due a severe groin injury he suffered in his start earlier today against the Rays. Pettitte has pitched in 18 games (all starts) for the Yankees this year and he is 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The Yankees have 29-year old righty Sergio Mitre penciled in to come off the D.L. to replace Pettitte in the starting rotation. Mitre has pitched in 12 games (2 starts) for the Yankees this year and he is 0-1 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. I fully expect the Yankees to make a trade for a starting pitcher as I don’t think they can trust Mitre.