Now that Ortiz is gone and the highly likely event we don't get rid of Young, is anyone ok with a DH platoon between Berkman and Young. Berkman's splits vs. RHP are extremely good, just like Young can still get it done vs. LHP (his only value moving forward). We could obviously do worse, given the recent season. Berkman is said to be leaning towards retirement, but a few million to be a part-time player to do what you do best and another chance at a ring could be hard to turn down. I would definitely not be against such an option. Especially since we're all probably facing the cold hard reality Young will still be here.

Seriously??

I dont think he wants to play here, never heard why..... probably wash.

Egotistical jackass. I'd make him an offer and pull it last second just to piss him off.

What? Fuck the Puma, and his award-winning Fat Elvis Halloween costume.

No, no, no, no, no, no, never, never, never, never, no, never!

Remember when Lance called us one year wonders after 2010? Screw Berkman I hate that guy

Lance Berkman apologized for what he said about us.

Adam LaRoche and then we don't have to play MY or Moreland.

Assuming he'd be fine with a 1 year deal and spending some time platooning against tougher lefties I'd definitely be in favor of signing Berkman. He would also come with the added benefit of being the kind of veteran bat Wash might actually use in a partial platoon with MY. It seems like anyone with a lesser resume would stand little chance of cutting into Young's at bats. LaRoche is going to be overpaid and overextended but if for some reason his market stays reasonable (2/28 mil maybe?) he'd be a great option as well. I'm not sure where 1B/DH is on the Rangers list of spots needing upgrade but it seems like it might be the easiest place to upgrade if for no other reason than we were so abysmal there last season.

Appreciate the apology. Not . F u fatass!

I second Adam Laroche

I'm not saying there aren't better options out there...bc obviously there are. But I wouldn't mind a platoon approach next season. Worst case: the platoon between Young/Face and Olt/Moreland would be pretty formidable. Best case: They both have bounce back years. Winning cures all and if you told me signing Berkman instead of a high dollar 1B/DH meant getting Greinke, I would say sign me up.

...this is conjecture anyways. I like bringing up names not really talked about.

Hey Eric, you are a C()CK guzzling piece of Sheet F}_}CK Face that has nothing better to do than to penetrate a Donkys Dick

Hey Eric, I'm sorry.

Ummm, how 'bout platooning Olt & Moreland? Young needs to take a back seat, especially at 1B.
Need I also mention, Young is taking playing time away from Profar also? JD, "It's Time" for another
Michael Young Reality Pill, for OUR 2013 Rangers. MY wants that 3000 hit pateau, which won't
happen in Tejas.

I thought I distinguished Olt and Moreland splitting time at 1B. Young/Berkman would strictly be for DH purposes.

Hmmm, Rosenthal is 2 months late. I'm not sure how I feel about this deal anymore if it takes bat's away from Olt. If Berkman is signed, Olt needs to be in AAA all year or traded.

Puma as a Ranger? Nice one year fill-in, nothing more. Our bench sux. Berkman is a winner.

Obi, 'our bench sux'. lets see: Soto {a once NL ALL STAR and Rookie of the Year, and not yet 30 ], Gentry [ a .300 hitting 4th of with lights-out defense in center ], AND Profar and Olt [ two future top tier major leaguers if not 'super stars']. If this 'sux' I'll take 'sux'. With Berkman the question is, who would you have in the 3rd hole, knowing Wash is the manager and he will only put a known bat in that spot. Moreland could emerge, if he could stay healthy. La Roche will eventually resign with the Nats. He did have a career year in 2012. But what does stand out, besides loss of draft choice and slot money, is that Moreland's numbers last year when he was healthy matched LaRoche's career year on the best 2012 season win record team. Berkman only recently began to feel healthier enough to begin the free agent negotiating process, and not decide to retire. Rosenthal reflects the current status of a soon to be 37 year old Astro past Superstar who was focusing toward retiring two months ago, who appears to have changed his mind and wants to play for a contender.

If his knees are OK then adding Puma would be a plus. He would be a productive SH in the 3, 4 or 5 holes. Proabaly better defensively than Moreland at 1B and can play COF in a pinch. He'd be a huge upgrade over MY at DH, but that is daming with faint praise.

Even if we sign Berkman, Olt could still be in the lineup 110-120 games - 30 at 3B, and 40 each at 1B and DH. However I think he would benefit from at least 1/2 year at AAA.

Better defensively than Moreland at 1B? That's a joke right?

Berkman is a solid defensive first baseman. What he is not is a mobile outfielder, and now is restricted to 1b/dh. Moreland and Berkman would both be placed in the second or third tier of defensive first base man, with first tier being LaRoche / Teixeira / Pena level. On defense, both Lance and Mitch are both strengths at first, but who is the better is highly problematical and pointlessly debatable.

Setting aside people's emotional biases, the fact is that if Berkman is healthy, he could very well be the 2nd best hitter on the team after Beltre. The guy has a career wRC+ of 146 and he's had great seasons recently. He can flat out hit. The real question is whether he's healthy. I've seen reports that his knee is still bad.

The Rangers appear to be trying to collect enough cheap WAR to make the wildcard game. Guys like AJ, Frasor, and Berkman seem to be exactly what they are looking for. Cheap, short-term commitments that might get them over the hump in 2013. If they were to add Berkman and Frasor and then pull the trigger on Andrus-Upton, then you're talking about a team that has potential upside in 2013, particularly if Lewis is healthy.

Another thing to consider is that Berkman hit 31 HRs for the Cards in 2011. According to Fangraphs, RBIA adds about 20% to HR totals relative to the Cards stadium. So if he's healthy and anywhere close to the caliber of player he was 2 years ago, then you're talking about a guy who could easily his 30 HRs for the Rangers.