Austin Kearns; Photo by Scott Ableman via Flickr

For the second consecutive season a Kentuckian has been traded just before the MLB trade deadline. Multiple sources are reporting that Lexington native and Cleveland Indians outfielder Austin Kearns has been traded to the New York Yankees. The deal was first reported as close by John Heyman of Sports Illustrated via Twitter. Kearns is batting .268 with eight home runs and 42 RBI for Cleveland on the year.

The Lafayette High School alum has enjoyed somewhat of a career renaissance in 2010 after signing with the Indians on a minor league deal during the offseason. Kearns played in less than 90 games in each of the last two seasons for the Washington Nationals due to injury. Heyman later tweeted that the Yankees plan to use Kearns to balance out their left-handed heavy lineup off the bench. The Indians will receive a player to be named or cash in the deal.