Lance Berkman tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that eight teams have expressed some interest in him this offseason. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reported earlier in the month that the A's were interested and Rosenthal adds the Cubs and Rockies to the list.
Berkman says Oakland has been the "most aggressive" in terms of contacting him. The 34-year-old isn't ruling the A's out, but he'd prefer not to be a DH and Oakland has first baseman Daric Barton and lots of outfielders.
“I’m not a DH-slash-first baseman," Berkman told Rosenthal. "I’m a first baseman-slash-outfielder.”
Berkman has not played the outfield since 2007, but he says he feels better now that he has recovered from the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent in March. Berkman has said he'll look for an everyday role and he told Rosenthal that he would like to return to the National League. There will be no reunion with the Astros, however.
I’d prefer the Cubs stear clear of Berkman. If the Cubs don’t push after Adrian Gonzalez, which I think they will, I think they should attempt to trade for Chris Davis.
Cubs are not getting A-Gon. You know the Red Sox want him bad, and could definitely put together a better package than Chicago.
Doubt the package would be that much better unless it included Buccholz as the centerpiece.
But OMG!!!1!1!!! Michael Bowden has some good value!!!111!1!!!11
Completley agree and to be honest I think the only way the Cubs get Agon is if they sent a deal like, Vitters, Wells, Coleman, and another prospect perhaps one like Jay Jackson
That’s not close to enough. Vitters is yet to figure out pitching above A-ball (granted he’s only 20 but from what I’ve heard, people in the organization already feel he won’t pan out), Wells is 27 and of no use to the pitching stacked Padres, and Coleman is just a guy. You’d need a lot more for A-Gon, probably Colvin, Vitters, and one of the Jacksons at least.
From what I`ve heard the Padres want mor pitching with the departure of Garland and probably Corriea, plus Coleman to me will be better then some. Vitters is more of the throw in that probably needs a change of sceanery.
I just don’t think two pitchers with good but unspectacular upside would get A-Gon. I agree the Cubs will pursue Gonzo, but I think it will take two of Lee, Jackson and Jackson plus a Coleman or similar player.
Lets try J.Jackson,Coleman,Guyer,and Barney
Lee, Archer, Coleman and Guyer would seem more realistic.
I`m sorry because of the fact that he is only under contract for 1 more year, I`m not willing to give up a 20 year old shortstop who is aspose to be that good, and a 20 year old pitcher in the upper minors.
I agree with you, but that’s what it would take. I’d like there to at least be some dialogue between the two teams. I really think Chris Davis is a good option.
I agree with you, but that’s what it would take. I’d like there to at least be some dialogue between the two teams. I really think Chris Davis is a good option.
I`m sorry because of the fact that he is only under contract for 1 more year, I`m not willing to give up a 20 year old shortstop who is aspose to be that good, and a 20 year old pitcher in the upper minors.
Lee, Archer, Coleman and Guyer would seem more realistic.
Padres have inquired on Wells before. Coleman has more upside than you’re going him credit for.
I just don’t think two pitchers with good but unspectacular upside would get A-Gon. I agree the Cubs will pursue Gonzo, but I think it will take two of Lee, Jackson and Jackson plus a Coleman or similar player.
From what I`ve heard the Padres want mor pitching with the departure of Garland and probably Corriea, plus Coleman to me will be better then some. Vitters is more of the throw in that probably needs a change of sceanery.
If the Padres get anywhere near what you are speculating for a one year rental, I will literally spitz!!
If, however, you could guarantee at least a five-year extension, then sell the farm Mr. Hendry. Sell it now. He is a once in a generation type of player and is worth anything other than our top three untouchables (Castro, Brett Jackson, Cashner). Go for it!
A-gon is great dont get me wrong but he is not a once in a generation type of player…because Texiera, howard, Pena(in terms of D and power) votto, caberera and of course PUJOLS would have something to say about that also Konerko had a better season the he did this past season
That’s not close to enough. Vitters is yet to figure out pitching above A-ball (granted he’s only 20 but from what I’ve heard, people in the organization already feel he won’t pan out), Wells is 27 and of no use to the pitching stacked Padres, and Coleman is just a guy. You’d need a lot more for A-Gon, probably Colvin, Vitters, and one of the Jacksons at least.
Doubt the package would be that much better unless it included Buccholz as the centerpiece.
Cubs can’t add salary unless they move payroll. Even a guy like Berkman is too pricey for them. They will have to get someone on the cheap.
What kind of salary could he possibly command? He won’t make more than Adrian Gonzalez next year and the Cubs are willing to take on his salary. The Cubs have money to spend even if their payroll is going to be cut by five or six million.
NO THEY DONT…..Ricketts has said time and time again that payroll will flat line untill hendrys mistakes are off the books then he might try to lower payroll…there is no way the cubs make a big splash any time soon..the owner is trying to save the franchise and fix whats wrong with the stadium first then after a while he might invest into “rich” players
Ricketts also said they’d never ask for tax payer dollars to renovate Wrigley Field. That’s already out the window….
You’re making things up. He said it would decrease this year. That doesn’t mean the team can’t sign free agents. Get a clue.
What kind of salary could he possibly command? He won’t make more than Adrian Gonzalez next year and the Cubs are willing to take on his salary. The Cubs have money to spend even if their payroll is going to be cut by five or six million.
hahah the rangers would more than likely just hand the cubs Chris Davis for a bag of peanuts. He has never ever lived up to his potential. He is the first base version of alex gordon. He can mash in thing minors and cant figure out major league pitching at all also he is horrible at first. Trust me you are better off playing colvin at 1st or getting laroach as a stop gap then chris davis
I would rather the Jays get Berkman over Manny.
A few million cheaper for slightly less production who can be the primary DH that can also help Lind figure things out at first base.
The fact that both Lind and Berkman can’t handle lefties is what worries me.
Based on one off year.
The fact that both Lind and Berkman can’t handle lefties is what worries me.
Berkman shouldn’t try to be advertized as a 1B-OF. He is aging and would hurt his value if he wants to field. Same goes for Dunn.
you’re gonna be a bench player-unemployed
Berkman’s 1b defense is underrated (antithesis of Teixera). Berkman will bounce back next year offensively too. As long as he is healthy that sweet swing will produce. Whoever signs him will be getting a bargain.
Berkman’s 1b defense is underrated (antithesis of Teixera). Berkman will bounce back next year offensively too. As long as he is healthy that sweet swing will produce. Whoever signs him will be getting a bargain.
Braves should get him to split time with and tutor Freddie Freeman for a year.
Would be a good fit for the Buccos. Shouldn’t be a huge hit on payroll either.
I really want the Pirates to get Berkman, just as long as it’s for one year and not too much money.
Id go 2 yrs on Berkman in a heartbeat. If he has a bounceback year offensively then he is a HUGE steal.
2 yrs, 9-10 mill.
I have been advocating the Pirates signing him from the day the Yanks turned down his option.
I think if the Pirates want him, they’ll need to offer him at least two years. He’s already got eight teams “interested.” Every one of those teams wants Berk on a one-year, short-term deal.
In order for the Pirates to get him (nothing against Pittsburgh, but the Pirates need to put some extra icing on the cake to make a free agent sign with the organization), they’ll need to add the extra incentive.
I’m guessing Berk gets something like a two-year, $15 million deal. If the Pirates want him, they might need to add a third-year option (like the Giants did with HufF), or even a third-year (not an option).
Would be a good fit for the Buccos. Shouldn’t be a huge hit on payroll either.
Braves should get him to split time with and tutor Freddie Freeman for a year.
If St. Louis was smart, they’d be saying hello to their everyday RF right now. Could spell Pujols at 1B some days too.
haha lance in the out field dude can hardly move on the base paths….there is no way he is an OF anymore…maybe every once and awhile…but he is a DH and part time 1st basemen…these players(lance, jeter, dunn, soriano) need reality checks they need to relaize their fielding days are close to if not gone and they will make more money and have more job security if they would just accept a job as a DH
While it wouldn’t be ideal, Holliday has offered to move to right field if the Cardinals find a bat who needs to play left. I would be more than comfortable with Matt in right and putting Berkman in left as long as Colby stays in center (not traded) and the Cardinals use Jay as a defensive sub (either comes in to play left for Berkman or comes in to play right and Holliday moves to left later on in games).
Good call. You predicted that one correctly other than listing the wrong corner.
He’ll be a Texas Ranger
Theo’s answer to everything, Lance Berkman.
Berkman makes sense for the Cubs. With their current roster bogged down with so many big contracts, I think it’s a given they’ll spend this year experimenting with youngsters and retreads. They’re not going to contend in 2011 anyway, so they may as well wait until they have a better idea of what their needs will be in 2012 and until some more money comes off the books before they start opening up the checkbook.
If they go after a guy like A-Gon, it will cost a bunch of depth and nearly every bit of payroll flexibility they have and still probably doesn’t make them a contender in ’11. Berkman can be a veteran placeholder until they figure out what’s next and might even be a candidate for a Huff-like bounceback.
Berkman makes sense for the Cubs. With their current roster bogged down with so many big contracts, I think it’s a given they’ll spend this year experimenting with youngsters and retreads. They’re not going to contend in 2011 anyway, so they may as well wait until they have a better idea of what their needs will be in 2012 and until some more money comes off the books before they start opening up the checkbook.
If they go after a guy like A-Gon, it will cost a bunch of depth and nearly every bit of payroll flexibility they have and still probably doesn’t make them a contender in ’11. Berkman can be a veteran placeholder until they figure out what’s next and might even be a candidate for a Huff-like bounceback.
Im gonna go ahead and say the Cardinals could actually be one of these eight teams if hes willing to play outfield.. Trade for Bartlett and take a shot Uribe.BartlettFreese PujolsHolidayBerkmanRasmusMolina UribePitcherWOW>nasty.
Remove Uribe and insert Ryan, thus moving Bartlett to second, and I would love that lineup. However I could see Tony switching Freese and Berkman in the lineup.
I think because Berkmans got more experience and more pop at the moment, Tony would keep Berk at the 5 spot but replace Uribe with Ryan, are you kidding?? I love Ryans glove but I would much rather have Uribes bat, probably cuz he can actually bat in the majors but that would be a killer line up and its actually practical. My only concern would be the defense at left and right.. who knows what Berks got in the outfield.
Just not sure Berkman can handle LF tbh………..
Also, Freese is way too injury-prone to be counted on at this point.
That lineup is not nearly as strong, deep, or solid as it appears at first glance. I have a hard time seeing Berkman matching 35 or so HR’s again.
I could see Berkman being sort of a repeat of the Troy Glaus acquisition a few years ago.
I think M. Ramirez would be my preference, or why not go whole-hog and get Adam Dunn if we’re going to accept something along this line in LF?
Instead of marginal offensive upgrades in the middle-infield, just continue with replacement-level defensive standouts on the infield and make up that offense by signing Adam Dunn to play LF? Trade for Bartlett from RHPRP depth and retain Ryan at SS.
I think you put Berk back in the NL central he could have a possible 35 plus HR season
Im gonna go ahead and say the Cardinals could actually be one of these eight teams if hes willing to play outfield.. Trade for Bartlett and take a shot Uribe.BartlettFreese PujolsHolidayBerkmanRasmusMolina UribePitcherWOW>nasty.
lance Berkman: ” im too proud to admit i should just be a DH cause that will mean only a team like KC will offer me money to hit and get fat”
dodgers could get in on him
Orioles, Athletics(DH), Cubs, Nationals, Rockies, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Seattle.
I’ll give Berkman, based on his career & mild-injury excused year, a full time go in Baltimore any year. Any player that has almost 10 seasons of .900+ OPS baseball have earned themselves a job.
Orioles, Athletics(DH), Cubs, Nationals, Rockies, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Seattle.
I’ll give Berkman, based on his career & mild-injury excused year, a full time go in Baltimore any year. Any player that has almost 10 seasons of .900+ OPS baseball have earned themselves a job.
Berkman only had 2 errors last year between the Yankees and Houston. Still had close to a 370 on base percentage on a bad year where he was hurt.
Why the bad rap on this guy? He might be aging a little, but age doesn’t always diminish performance as people would have you believe. Look at Jim Thome last year.
What a huge pickup for the Twins.
Personally, I would love to see Berkman in a Cubs uniform. He has always torn it up at Wrigley and would be a great high power/obp left handed combination we desperately need, and possibly even at a good price and low contract years so we can see if he still has it.
People just freak out when a player starts to age a little too much
Berkman only had 2 errors last year between the Yankees and Houston. Still had close to a 370 on base percentage on a bad year where he was hurt.
Why the bad rap on this guy? He might be aging a little, but age doesn’t always diminish performance as people would have you believe. Look at Jim Thome last year.
What a huge pickup for the Twins.
Personally, I would love to see Berkman in a Cubs uniform. He has always torn it up at Wrigley and would be a great high power/obp left handed combination we desperately need, and possibly even at a good price and low contract years so we can see if he still has it.
too bad the dude is too much of a baby to join the sox after they beat him in the WS…he would be a nice fit at 1st for the sox if konerko goes else where and they miss out on dunn
The “tax” money to renovate wrigley would be coming from the taxes and surcharges that are already tacked on to the cubs ticket prices that are currently being used elsewhere around wrigleyville.
Look at the cubs payroll obligations over the next few years. There is a lot of flexibility opening up after this year. Especially if Zambrano gets moves, some of his contract will be gone. Cubs need to sit back this year, sign a veteran 1st baseman to a one year deal, and try to move Kosuke and some salary, then make a huge push in 2012, if the world doesn’t end.
As a long time Houston fan I was saddened to see Berkman go, but it was necessary. His production fell off a cliff, and while he could still draw walks he had no power left and cannot hit lefties anymore. In his time here he never dedicated himself 100% in the offseason to getting into great shape- hence his alternative nickname “Fat Elvis”. While he could skate by with his conditioning in his younger years it really caught up with him the past 2 years. There is a reason Houston chose to play Carlos Lee in left field and not Berkman, that should tell you all you need to know about his current ability to play outfield.