The Texas Rangers signed Lance Berkman to a $10 million deal because of his offensive abilities. Berkman is expected to DH for the team, and if he plays any defense for them, it will just be a bonus.
Berkman is so focused on his designated hitter role that he didn’t even bother to bring a glove to spring training.
“For 12 years I never had to worry about it because the equipment guy in Houston just packed up my locker and it showed up in spring training,” Berkman said Friday, via FOXSports Southwest’s Anthony Andro. “I forget, this is an oversight on my part because I’m fairly new at this switching team’s thing, but I forgot to have them have a glove here. It wasn’t on purpose. I have plenty at the house.”
OK, so forgetting to bring a glove was just an oversight as Berkman said (did he not need a glove the last two years in St. Louis?). Still, we all know what he is there for.
Berkman only played 32 games last season because of a knee injury, but he posted a stellar .959 OPS in 145 games with the St. Louis Cardinals the year before. Though he’s 37, Berkman should be good for at least an .800 OPS this season, especially playing in Arlington and being surrounded in the lineup by other sluggers. The question is whether Berkman’s knee will allow him to be at full strength.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Berkman said Sunday he is 80 percent healthy. He has less than six weeks to get to 100 percent. I doubt he reaches the 550 plate appearances that would make his 2014 option vest at $13 million.
