Berkman signs with Rangers for 1yr/$10MM

[mattfeet]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/0...-berkman-.html

1yr/$10MM with a $1MM buyout. I mean, dude's not bad at all, but wow that's a lot of money for a part-time player who has trouble staying healthy for those few games.

[jhu1321]

Ridiculous overpay if you ask me. This years free agent class is absolutely raking teams.

[Degenerate39]

I hate seeing deals like this. That is way too much for Berkman but hey it's not my money

[Scrap Irony]

Two years ago, Berkman went off for a 164 OPS+. Last year, in only 32 games, he still had a higher OPS+ than anyone on the Red team aside from Votto. As a DH, especially in that park, Berkman will rake.

If he can stay healthy.

He also tightens the Ranger batting order:
Ian Kinsley 2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Adrian Beltre 3B
Lance Berkman DH/ 1B
Nelson Cruz RF
AJ Pierzynski C
David Murphy LF
Mike Olt/ Mitch Moreland 1B
Leonys Martin CF

Or, if they end up signing Michael Bourne (which seems inevitable)
Bourne CF
Andrus SS
Beltre 3B
Berkman DH
Cruz RF
Kinsler 2B
Pierzynski C
Murphy LF
Moreland/ Olt 1B

[Scrap Irony]

Two years ago, Berkman went off for a 164 OPS+. Last year, in only 32 games, he still had a higher OPS+ than anyone on the Red team aside from Votto. As a DH, especially in that park, Berkman will rake.

If he can stay healthy.

He also tightens the Ranger batting order:
Ian Kinsley 2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Adrian Beltre 3B
Lance Berkman DH/ 1B
Nelson Cruz RF
AJ Pierzynski C
David Murphy LF
Mike Olt/ Mitch Moreland 1B
Leonys Martin CF

Or, if they end up signing Michael Bourne (which seems inevitable)
Bourne CF
Andrus SS
Beltre 3B
Berkman DH
Cruz RF
Kinsler 2B
Pierzynski C
Murphy LF
Moreland/ Olt 1B

[Unassisted]

Berkman's from Central Texas, so it shouldn't have taken much cajoling to get him signed in Arlington. IMO, the Texas teams should have held out for a hometown discount.

[cincyinco]

Lance gets to go play back at home in what may be his final year. Good for him. Great player and great guy.

[WVRedsFan]

I'm just glad he's in the American League and away from us ever seeing him except in the playoffs. He used to kill the Reds.

[cincinnati chili]

Dammit. Was convinced he would retire, so I cut him from my keeper fantasy league as I had a roster crunch going into my league finals.

If he's healthy, that's probably a bargain. And I assume the Rangers' med staff checked him out.

Let's remember that Kevin Youkilis and his .235/.336/.409 got a 1-year for 12 million+. Now, I realize Youkilis is going to play 3rd base, but Berkman hasn't crapped out a slash line that bad since 1999.

[MikeThierry]

He's going to rake in that ball park. I really don't understand the "outrage" (if you can call it outrage) because it's just a one year deal. The deals that screw over teams are multi-year deals. For me, I would rather my club overpay for short term 1-2 year deals than overpay for 5-7 year deals. It's how the Cardinals have operated for a couple of years now and it seemed to work out well.

[cumberlandreds]

Originally Posted by WVRedsFan

I'm just glad he's in the American League and away from us ever seeing him except in the playoffs. He used to kill the Reds.

That was my thought too when I saw this signing. Berkman should be able to stay more healthy being a full time DH.

[WildcatFan]

Originally Posted by Degenerate39

I hate seeing deals like this. That is way too much for Berkman but hey it's not my money

I just wonder if we're going to look back at this offseason as a turning point for the kind of money free agents bring in. Each time I see a deal like this, I think Cincinnati is gonna have a harder and harder time getting quality guys from free agency. But maybe it's been headed this way for a while and I've been blind to it because of how well Walt and Co. have been trading/developing.

[MikeThierry]

Originally Posted by WildcatFan

I just wonder if we're going to look back at this offseason as a turning point for the kind of money free agents bring in. Each time I see a deal like this, I think Cincinnati is gonna have a harder and harder time getting quality guys from free agency. But maybe it's been headed this way for a while and I've been blind to it because of how well Walt and Co. have been trading/developing.

You really think that Cincy will have a hard time overpaying for one year of service? Again, it's not like the Rangers signed Berkman to a 5 year deal.

[WildcatFan]

Originally Posted by MikeThierry

You really think that Cincy will have a hard time overpaying for one year of service? Again, it's not like the Rangers signed Berkman to a 5 year deal.

It's not just Berkman's that makes me think that.

It's $147 million for Greinke, $75 million for the lesser Upton, $39 million for Victorino, $13 million for maybe a year of Haren, $40 million for Pagan, and so on. Pretty crazy when you think about it.

[MikeThierry]

Originally Posted by WildcatFan

It's not just Berkman's that makes me think that.

It's $147 million for Greinke, $75 million for the lesser Upton, $39 million for Victorino, $13 million for maybe a year of Haren, $40 million for Pagan, and so on. Pretty crazy when you think about it.

I really don't mind the Dodgers paying for a mentally weak twerp in Grienke. I've always thought he was overrated. If the Doyers want to overpay and waste money on an average pitcher, that's ok. I would rather be a mid-market team and be smart with their money. Do what the Rays do. It's worked for the Cardinals all these years.

EDIT: As you can tell, I can't stand Grienke. His face is too punchable for my liking.