The Astros will not make an attempt to bring Lance Berkman back to Houston this offseason, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26. Here's what GM Ed Wade had to say…
"I heard from (Berkman's agent) Mike Moye and he inquired about whether we had interest in bringing Lance back and I was candid with him and told him it didn't fit for us," said Wade. "As much as we love and respect Lance and what he's done for our organization, We had these internal conversations in July when we made the decision to go ahead and move him."
Berkman, 35 in February, spent parts of 12 seasons in Houston, hitting .296/.410/.549 with five All Star appearances and four top five finishes in the MVP voting. The Astros traded him to the Yankees for a pair of minor leagues at the trade deadline, and they declined his 2011 option a week or so ago.
I don’t believe you meant to say 25 for his age.
Wow….Berkman is only 25 and the Astros dont want to talk to him? Considering he was apparently only 12 years old when he started with them, I would think there would be some loyalty.
They must be a better team than anyone realizes….lol
Oh wait…I see they traded him for a couple of minor leagues…so they probably have lots of young players to choose from
I wouldn’t want to bring back a 25 year old in that bad of shape…
unless he was Miguel Cabrera or Prince Fielder…
I’m not really surprised that Houston doesn’t plan to bring him back. Let’s face it, the only position that Berkman can really handle nowadays is first base and the Astros actually have a bit of a logjam there. They started playing Lee there at the end of the season to limit how much he hurts them defensively in left. I think it was also to try to drum up some trade interest but with his declining production and contract that isn’t going to happen soon. Beyond Lee they do still have Wallace to play first and it’s bad enough that the latter might be blocked by the former. Berkman going back to Houston, while a good story, just doesn’t make any sense.
Wow Berkman is a regular Benjamin Button
Cubs
Pirates, Orioles, or Rockies.
I really hope he comes to the Pirates. He’s one of my favorite non-Pirate players ever.
I think there’s a. Chance it might happen. I’d it happens it would be a fantastic sign. Tons of young fellas on that team.
There goes the Yanks chance of offering arbitration.
Could Lance be of use to the Rangers or the Tigars in a DH/1B platoon role? He has some value when he’s batting from the 1st base side of the dish. Maybe Washington talks to him if they can’t keep Dunn happy.
I think there is a real chance he goes to the Rangers on a low guaranteed contract and lots of incentives
Or the Rays… Gerry Hunsicker originally drafted Berkman, and they have a need at first base.
I don’t see that happening. 1B will be Moreland’s to lose and I think the Rangers would be more interested in a cheap right handed bat such as Xavier Nady to fill in at first and DH. My guess is they use DH as revolving spot to rest Hamilton, Young and throw Murphy in there every once in a while. Ty Wiggington wouldn’t be a bad guy for them to go after but he might be out of their price range.
All this guy needs to do is get in shape. He’ll be valuable to anyone who picks him up if he just drops off some lbs. I heard there’s a special offer goin at 24 hour fitness, he might want to look into that
he isnt in that abd of shape and hes still got some speed
Exactly, he’s in pretty good shape. He’s a big guy, but he’s not fat. There are plenty of much fatter players in baseball (cough, Carlos Lee).
cough, Bengie Molina
P90X!
cough, Bengie Molina
He did look a bit heavier in a Yankee uniform. I think he’s still got it, but he is getting older and staying in shape would help him a ton. He’s got a legitimate shot at being a comeback player of the year in 2011
I remember when Berkman first came up and looked like an up and coming star.My last immpression of Berkman is of him going after a foul pop up by 1st base and falling on his A$$. He was a huge disappointment in a Yankees uniform, obviously out of shape and a slow bat from both sides of the plate.To his credit he was an honest and a straight up person during interviews and made no excuses about his lack luster performance. I wish him all the best.
I think Arizona goes after him if they can’t sign Konerko.
I think he’s better suited in the AL in a DH/1B platoon role. He look horrendously out-of-shape on the Yanks this year. If he doesn’t work hard at gettin back in better shape this winter, his value as a player in the NL will quickly decline.
Mariners could use him in that role. He can help Smoak get going at first.
No thanks. The M’s have Uncle Miltey taking up a roster spot. We don’t need a pair of old guys on the roster again next year. The M’s should just focus on rebuilding and rotate their players thru the DH spot to keep everyone (Ichiro and Gutierrez) fresh after they DFA Milton.
No thanks. The M’s have Uncle Miltey taking up a roster spot. We don’t need a pair of old guys on the roster again next year. The M’s should just focus on rebuilding and rotate their players thru the DH spot to keep everyone (Ichiro and Gutierrez) fresh after they DFA Milton.
Well you can’t blame the Astros, they have guaranteed hall of famer Brett Wallace at first.
Seriously, folks
I’ll be here all week, try the veal
Don’t forget to tip your waiter or waitress.
Well you can’t blame the Astros, they have guaranteed hall of famer Brett Wallace at first.
Seriously, folks
I’ll be here all week, try the veal
Any chance he could play a corner OF spot any more? That would open a lot of possibilities.
Maybe, but he wouldn’t be good. I think he’s still at least an average defensive first baseman, he’d be well below average in left field.
But would he be worse than Pat Burrell?
is that possible?
Any chance he could play a corner OF spot any more? That would open a lot of possibilities.
I think he’d be an interesting addition at first base for the Blue Jays if they’re looking for a potential low priced flyer to replace Lyle Overbay. Does anyone know what his defensive rating at 1st was?
Bummer. He’s a good player. I see him going to the Rockies since they let Giambi go.