I see no reason why they would be aiming for the wild card game. Especially if, as we've heard, they're not done shopping. The Angels look pretty, but they did last year too. So did the Rangers and Marlins and maybe a couple other teams. They didn't win their respective divisions. If the A's could win it in 2012, the Rangers could win it in 2013, even as they are right now. They probably won't, but they could.

Wouldn't Berkman have to eat a lot of crow to sign with the rangers after what he said during the WS. Apologies or not if he thought the FO/org was a joke then what's changed?

Unless you're dealing with a ton of dramatic women or ridiculous fans, I doubt Berkman's comments matter anymore to the players. He apologized, it's done and over. Bottom line, if his knee checks out... he's an improvement. The platoon options with him are pretty good.

Berkman, if signed and able to play regularly as he did in 2011, would be the #3 hole hitter to replace Josh. His numbers do not match, but they are not far apart. Lifetime, Lance is .296/.409//544/.953 where as Josh numbers are .304/.363/.549/.913. 2011 for Lance reflected his life time numbers, so if [big if] healthy should have similar numbers. He will show immensely more discipline at the plate, with a K rate nearly half of Josh's second half 2012 rate, with also nearly double in walks. But he is not signed yet, but for the Rangers may turn out to be the best available pick up at a lot less cost, then for example Bourn or LaRoche. AT 29, Lance had signed with Houston that turned out to be 6yrs/ $83, then with St Louis [ with an intro to the AL with NYY at the end of 2010] for 2years/ $20m. So a 1yr/$10 may eventually be a deal he signs. Frasor signed for $1.5., so will the Rangers now sign a 5th starter as Levine has talked about. IF SO, who should the Rangers go after? Possibilities: Bedard, J urrjens, Matsuzaka, Sanchez, and longer shots Vazquez or Zambrano????

Would you guys still think signing Berkman is a good move if the deal was 1 yr @ 10+ mil?

I know the Rangers don't want to pay that, but Berkman said something to the affect of...he'll have a hard time turning down a lucrative deal...it made me think he's only interested in the money and therefore would demand a hefty salary in order to convince him to play. Maybe I'm wrong here, but if that's the case, I'd pass.

What do you guys think?

"If the A's could win it in 2012, the Rangers could win it in 2013."

Anything's possible. But I don't think many people will expect the Rangers to win the division with the current roster.

@JV
I doubt it would be that high, but I would be ok with it. We get to keep our draft picks and hope for the best. That's basically where we are now anyways.

@RFan
I believe that was Andy's point. Nobody will be picking the Rangers in 2013 just like nobody was picking the A's in 2012, so it's stupid for a franchise that has won so many games the last three years to set their sights so low (the wildcard game).

I believe in realism. Yes, every now and then a team comes from nowhere and makes the playoffs. But if you look at the playoff teams over the years, the vast majority of those teams would've been identified as contenders at the beginning of the season. People like to point to one instance in which something unexpected happened and then conclude that everything's random and unpredictable. It's not. The Yankees make the playoffs every year because they field a good team every year. The Astros don't b/c they don't. This is all very predictable.

I believe that an objective observer would place the Rangers as currently constructed as being a good bit behind the Angels. Realistically, I don't think this team has much of a chance at winning the division without a major trade or significant luck. It seems to me that they are signing/pursuing some cheap, short-term options that might help them get into the wild card game or that they can trade at the deadline for prospects if necessary.

The Rangers are sticking to PLAN A, with the exception of Beltre and Darvish [ and they really in Ranger thinking not a high risk or over payment ], sign to free agent beyond 2 years [, unless an option in their favor, ie Nathan], allow high priced / high risk [ Ryan saw Grienke as closest starter to a sure bet ] free agents to walk, some one elses or their own, and Grow from within. So 5 years ago or more, the decision was copy the Rays method not the Yankees, except until a new collective bargaining goes in effect, invest heavily outside the USA. As a thought to that, the Rangers in just one week paid out near $9m to two 16 year olds in 2011, and then another in the same range in the Winter. High risk / high reward, yes, but only in the international players market and the Rule 4 draft. In between, fill out the roster with 1 or 2 year deals until the youth is undeniably ready for mlb success. And yes, at the pro level it is the money, even if the large majority of players would play the game in sandlots if that was their option in order to do the sport they love and are amazingly skilled.

Berkman '13 = Oswalt '12

Berkman does not pitch - he would be a DH
He has not declined as much a s Oswalt on a year to year basis

So no, he isn't the same as Oswalt

If it can be based in part on incentives, I have no problem letting Berkman earn $15M or even to sign a 2 year deal based on incentives. After all, if he is not injured, he is real good. Also, it is clear that the Rangers will need him for at least next year too, if he is not injured, if he is not injured, if it is based on incentives, incentives!

Gee, I hope he does not get injured and that his pay is based on incentives!

He's an aging veteran coming off of an injury. He may face a diminished role if he fails to produce. He probably wouldn't respond to well to that. Sounds like an Oswalt situation waiting to happen. So, yes they could be very similar. Position on the field has nothing to do w/ it.

I'd offer one-year at around $8 million. He'd be an excellent DH option, a guy who could probably still hit .265-.275 who draws a ton of walks. We need as many bases as we can get in 2013.

Vazquez, Matsuzaka or Bedard

Something that no one is mentioning is that he would be strictly a DH who can hit LHP and RHP. He has played the field every game of his career but 48 from what I can tell at baseballreference. Thus, if he isn't playing the field every game, he is a glorified Vladdy who doesn't need to rely on his busted old knees except for the occasional jog around the bases. He gives defense (albeit not strong) for NL games (something Vlad could barely do).

At 1/$8mil, we couldnt find a better valued DH who has never truly been utilized that way in his career. He'd kill it constantly being well rested and healthy.

It would be great for 1 year $8m, but he wants 2 years, and because he has already stated it would take deneros, Berkman will ask for the same amount the Cardinals paid him the last two years. So would you sign him for 2/$20m? If not, what about Aubrey Huff, he is from Fort Worth and wants to sign with the Rangers. There are actually some good but old talents that want to play , and it seems only for the Rangers. Either way, Nolan has made Berkman and offer, can he refuse? We will find out very soon!

All we need from Berkman is some occasional power (15-20 home runs), and for him to draw walks like he's always done. That's it. In 2012 we had the worst player in Major League Baseball as our primary DH, and he couldn't draw walks the same as he couldn't hit for any power. Lance Berkman, even at 1.5-2.0 fWAR, would provide us a 3-4 win swing in comparison to Michael Young.

I posited one year and $8 million. If Berkman's demands are met and he receives as 2nd year, the dollar figure would likely reduce to somewhere in the $12-$13 million range. I'd be more than happy with that.

People want to complain about the ineffectiveness of the Rangers FO this offseason. I don't see it. This is shrewd, cost-effective business at its ultimate finest.

i agree berkman could be an upgrade to cruz. fewer strikeouts, which will be good if we're trying to be speedy, more productive outs, etc.

BUT

If you're casting him in the mold of Vlad ala 2010 the comparison works pretty well, except for the fact that Berkman is going to be 37 this year instead of 35 like Vlad in 2010 and Berkman missed almost all of last year which Vlad did not do in 2009.

Cruz hasn't been out of the 1.5-2.0 fWAR range except for a slight dip last year. He should get 15-20 home runs easily. Maybe every time he strikes out we can be glad he's not michael young. Keep him and DH him after we trade for an outfielder.

I definitely think Aubrey Huff would be a bad idea. As old as Berkman with way less production the last two years. And why do all of these free agents have to be guys that beat us in the World Series?

Eric, I hope your right. Because at 2yr/ $12 he would be an excellent sign, and it does correlate to what Nolan felt what Oswalt's prorated salary of last year was, compared to Lance's 2012 salary and Oswalt's 2011 Phillies salary. Lance has bounced back from bad wheels before. However, he was not completely successful the first time he played in the AL. Either way we will find out sooner then later. May even go with a deal like Oliver's, play this year with thought of retiring the next even while signing a two year deal.

The last thing we need is another old prima-donna in the clubhouse, aka Roy Oswalt! Waste of money to garner a few home runs!

OK Craig, who do you suggest for the Ranger's #3 hole to replace Josh, who has numbers, reputation, and prestige to approximate ?

@Andrew, Age doesn't really matter if the numbers are still there. If you'll go check, Vladdy is out of baseball two years now, and likely done for his career. Berkman, however, is still going strong.

If the knee is truly better (a Ranger physical will tell us otherwise and a contract won't be issued) then there is a solid reason to believe he would be an excellent DH. Don't need bionic knees to play DH. This would be the first full season for him strictly in the batter's box. I can't imagine it would be that difficult on his body.

Vladdy 2010 (Age 35): .300/.345/.496/.841

Berkman 2011 (Age 35): .301/.412/ .547/.959

Leery about Berkman in the #3 spot. Given how massively slow a runner he is which the knee issue exacerbated, even as fast as Andrus is hitting ahead of him that's a double-play waiting to happen. At least Hammy had wheels.

Was the demand for Berkman really so high that he was going to be off the market before spring training? Wouldn't you want to see what his bat speed was like during ST before you signed him? Sure he can draw walks, but so does Carlos Pena. if Berkman can't catch up to anything anymore, he's basically another Pena or Mark Reynolds.