Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Rangers and Lance Berkman are finalizing a one-year deal perhaps with vesting option.

Bad news for the Astros as Berkman will continue to punish them in their move to the AL West. Time will tell if Houston fares better by signing Carlos Pena instead, but from a PR perspective, bringing back Berkman would have sold more tickets.

Jon Heyman adds that the deal is for $10 million with a vesting option for 2014 or a $1 million buyout. So, Berkman can make $11 million.

Wonder if the Rangers had kicked in another $11 million if they could have just kept Josh Hamilton.

Domeboys wrote: Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Rangers and Lance Berkman are finalizing a one-year deal perhaps with vesting option.

Bad news for the Astros as Berkman will continue to punish them in their move to the AL West. Time will tell if Houston fares better by signing Carlos Pena instead, but from a PR perspective, bringing back Berkman would have sold more tickets.

Eventually, Houston has to win games to sell tickets.  I would not have invested big money in an aged Berkman.

skszyszowski wrote: Eventually, Houston has to win games to sell tickets.  I would not have invested big money in an aged Berkman.

Agree. Once the price became known, I can see why Houston passed.

From all reports, Texas made a big play for acquiring Berkman back in 2011 when it appeared that the Cardinals were out of playoff contention. If that deal had been consummated, I think there is little doubt that today the Rangers would have a WS title banner hanging from their stadium rafters and our Birds would still be stuck on 10 WS titles. Thank God Mo was not a quitter and threw in the towel.....I bet Theo would have dealt Lance to Texas in a New York minute if he would have been in Mo's shoes.

Rangers apparently have money to burn.   I can't think of hardly any player as broken down as Berkman who could get that kind of guarantee.

Good for Lance!

CariocaCardinal wrote: Rangers apparently have money to burn.   I can't think of hardly any player as broken down as Berkman who could get kind of guarantee.

agree, this is just kind of whatever...but glad for lance, not our $$$$

nathanleopoldjr wrote: Good for Lance!

My first thought as well.  He found someone to pay him that much to not even take the field.  Whew!

Agreed. I remember at least two substantial injuries during his time with us that occurred while he was on defense. Diving for a ball in 2011 resulted in a sprained wrist and whatever that was that happened last year in LA while, what, stretching for a throw? The last one may have been an injury waiting to happen no matter what he was doing.

I, too, am happy for Lance.

UConnCard wrote:

nathanleopoldjr wrote: Good for Lance!

My first thought as well.  He found someone to pay him that much to not even take the field.  Whew!

Perhaps the Rangers are paying Lance $10M+ just for his clubhouse presence.
If, not his agent should get MLB's Agent-Of-The-Year Award!

Wow there is crazy money going to FA's this year. I love Berkman but that is substancially more than i figured he would get. I bet they sell a lot of Berkman jerseys though. Good for him!

Domeboys wrote: Jon Heyman adds that the deal is for $10 million with a vesting option for 2014 or a $1 million buyout. So, Berkman can make $11 million.

Wonder if the Rangers had kicked in another $11 million if they could have just kept Josh Hamilton.

I had heard somewhere that the Rangers just decided that Hamilton was not worth all that comes with him, ie the babysitting and constant difficulties with keeping him strait. I would not want him on my team until he can grow up and become self sufficient.I guess you can tell that I'm not much of a Hamilton fan, even though he went to high school in the town where I work.

Hurdleheel wrote:

Domeboys wrote: Jon Heyman adds that the deal is for $10 million with a vesting option for 2014 or a $1 million buyout. So, Berkman can make $11 million.

Wonder if the Rangers had kicked in another $11 million if they could have just kept Josh Hamilton.

I had heard somewhere that the Rangers just decided that Hamilton was not worth all that comes with him, ie the babysitting and constant difficulties with keeping him strait. I would not want him on my team until he can grow up and become self sufficient.I guess you can tell that I'm not much of a Hamilton fan, even though he went to high school in the town where I work.

Considering his former life i would say that he has grown up quite a bit. I do get your point though HH. I too would be very skeptical. I know that we should let the past be the past but it is always going to be there. Sad really, i have watched people in my life battle this wicked disease and it is difficult to watch or to ever trust them again. All we can do is pray for the man that he wins his battle. He better!

---------------------------------------------
--- skszyszowski wrote:

Perhaps the Rangers are paying Lance $10M+ just for his clubhouse presence.
If not, his agent should get MLB's Agent-Of-The-Year Award!

---------------------------------------------

I think there's a lot to what Ski just said here. I think Berkman's presence is valued pretty high. Now 11 million clams worth might be debatable. I know for that kind of coin I could have that clubhouse thinking I was the second coming of Mother Theresa....wait...I better pick a guy.....hmmm...you know in the history of mankind, I don't think we guys have anyone to challenge Mother Theresa on the Sainthood scale.
You know this Berkman signing could be something else too. With this being Houston's inaugural junior circuit campaign, I think it's pretty safe to assume that it's "game on" in the Lone Star State as far as the spawning of a new rivalry. I bet this Berkman signing is the first of what will be countless jabs between these two clubs. Score Round 1 to Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers. I wonder who delivered the maiden blow in the Cardinal-cub rivalry some 100+ years ago? If JModene is lurking about we just might find out.

pugsleyaddams wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- skszyszowski wrote:

Perhaps the Rangers are paying Lance $10M+ just for his clubhouse presence.
If not, his agent should get MLB's Agent-Of-The-Year Award!

---------------------------------------------

I think there's a lot to what Ski just said here. I think Berkman's presence is valued pretty high. Now 11 million clams worth might be debatable. I know for that kind of coin I could have that clubhouse thinking I was the second coming of Mother Theresa....wait...I better pick a guy.....hmmm...you know in the history of mankind, I don't think we guys have anyone to challenge Mother Theresa on the Sainthood scale.
You know this Berkman signing could be something else too. With this being Houston's inaugural junior circuit campaign, I think it's pretty safe to assume that it's "game on" in the Lone Star State as far as the spawning of a new rivalry. I bet this Berkman signing is the first of what will be countless jabs between these two clubs. Score Round 1 to Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers. I wonder who delivered the maiden blow in the Cardinal-cub rivalry some 100+ years ago? If JModene is lurking about we just might find out.

1885 World Series, when St. Louis of the AA (the Browns, precursors to the Cards) defeated the White Stockings (Cap Anson's team, later to become the Cubs) in a hotly-contested series.  Considerable city rivalry, according to Golenbock's "Spirit of St. Louis".

Cubs seemed to get the better of it in the early-to-mid 20th century - the Cards trading them a kid named Mordecai Brown, for instance, and the Cubs beating out the Cards for the NL pennants in 1935 and 1945.  The Cards didn't really start getting the better end of the rivalry until Brock-for-Broglio turned things around.

Jmodene1 wrote:

pugsleyaddams wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- skszyszowski wrote:

Perhaps the Rangers are paying Lance $10M+ just for his clubhouse presence.
If not, his agent should get MLB's Agent-Of-The-Year Award!

---------------------------------------------

I think there's a lot to what Ski just said here. I think Berkman's presence is valued pretty high. Now 11 million clams worth might be debatable. I know for that kind of coin I could have that clubhouse thinking I was the second coming of Mother Theresa....wait...I better pick a guy.....hmmm...you know in the history of mankind, I don't think we guys have anyone to challenge Mother Theresa on the Sainthood scale.
You know this Berkman signing could be something else too. With this being Houston's inaugural junior circuit campaign, I think it's pretty safe to assume that it's "game on" in the Lone Star State as far as the spawning of a new rivalry. I bet this Berkman signing is the first of what will be countless jabs between these two clubs. Score Round 1 to Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers. I wonder who delivered the maiden blow in the Cardinal-cub rivalry some 100+ years ago? If JModene is lurking about we just might find out.

1885 World Series, when St. Louis of the AA (the Browns, precursors to the Cards) defeated the White Stockings (Cap Anson's team, later to become the Cubs) in a hotly-contested series.  Considerable city rivalry, according to Golenbock's "Spirit of St. Louis".

Cubs seemed to get the better of it in the early-to-mid 20th century - the Cards trading them a kid named Mordecai Brown, for instance, and the Cubs beating out the Cards for the NL pennants in 1935 and 1945.  The Cards didn't really start getting the better end of the rivalry until Brock-for-Broglio turned things around.

wow

I'll always like Berkman for his contributions to our 2011 team, but no way you can give him essentially what he made for us last year. However, an AL team has a little less risk with a player like Berkman due to the DH.

Texas seems like the best place for him at this point. Wishing him all the best.