Yankees Offer Top Prospect Alan Horne in Trade

The Yankees are readying to showcase top prospect Alan Horne -- currently pitching for Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre -- in an attempt to acquire starters Eric Bedard of the Mariners or Ben Sheets of the Brewers, a mid-ranking, confidential clubhouse source told www.MLBnewsonline.com.

Barring setbacks in his performance, Horne likely will be promoted to New York before the end of the month, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Horne, 25, having fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, has been throwing a lively fastball that occasionally tops out at 97-mph, complementing it with a bonafide, major league curveball and a newly improved changeup.

If unsuccessful in a deal for Bedard or Sheets, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman will fall back on a lateral negotiation to acquire lefty Randy Wolf from the Padres, according to the source. Cashman is trying to accomplish either deal without fanfare, the source said.

In addition to Horne, an unnamed pitcher and middle infielder at Short A Staten Island are also among the components of the transaction, said the source.