By Alyson Footer / MLB.com http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...127&content_id=935853&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros signed Lance Berkman to a one-year contract worth $10 million on Thursday, avoiding arbitration. This does not mean the two sides are uninterested in working out a long-term deal before the season starts. The Astros and Berkman will continue the negotiating process with hopes to reach an agreement on a multi-year contract. Berkman, who will be honored Thursday night as the club's 2004 Most Valuable Player at the annual baseball writers dinner, is coming off a season in which he hit .316 with 30 home runs and 106 RBIs. He led the team in hitting, games, total bases, home runs, walks, intentional walks, slugging, and on-base percentage. Berkman also earned team MVP honors in 2001 and '02. A three-time All-Star (2001, '02, '04), Berkman has hit .303 with 156 home runs and 535 RBI in 775 career games for the Astros from 1999-2004. He is the first outfielder to record as many as three 30-homer seasons with the Astros, and is tied with Moises Alou for the most 100-RBI seasons with three. Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3012417 The Astros signed outfielder Lance Berkman to a one-year, $10.5-million contract today. The Astros signed outfielder Lance Berkman to a one-year, $10.5-million contract today. The one-year contract allows the club and Berkman to avoid arbitration. The two sides will continue the negotiating process in an attempt to reach agreement on a long-term contract. Berkman, who turns 29 on Feb. 10, hit .316 with 30 home runs and 106 RBI in 2004, when he was named the club’s Most Valuable Player by the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). He led the team in hitting, games, total bases, home runs, walks, intentional walks, slugging, and on-base percentage. Berkman also earned team MVP honors in 2001 and 2002. A three-time All-Star (2001, ’02, ’04), Berkman has hit .303 (814x2683) with 156 home runs and 535 RBI in 775 career games for the Astros from 1999-2004
rikesh, learn to use a dash between "re" and "signs". It makes a huge difference in meaning, to say the least.
both sides are far apart on a potential long-term agreement to keep the slugger in Houston beyond this year. boy thats comforting...I guess Drayton figures he will get the hometown homeboy discount next year How could they be FAR APART??????????? Astros owner Drayton McLane has said on numerous occasions he would like to make Berkman and pitchers Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge the cornerstones of the franchise for years to come Yeah ...we know......then get it done already. "If we don't get through this, then we've got some decisions to make throughout the course of the season and situations we'd have to deal with after the season," Purpura said. " ya think?
One thing that has gotten on my nervers with Drayton is this "Hometown Discount" thing. It really makes me wonder how many other owners have thoughts like that and try to go through with them the way he does. Drayton - "We traded for you last year, can't you take a 25% paycut since we brought you here and you played for half a season?" Drayton - "Hey Lance, you've been here your whole life, I know you love it, so your going to take this even though it's 75% less than what the Yankees are offering, right?" Pugs
where are you getting that he's asking Berkman to take a hometown discount here? he's paying the guy very close to the figure he requested in arbitration...off by about $500K.
Because Dreighton is evil. If Uncle Dreighton were to personally catch Osama Bin Laden, you'd have a bunch of people complaining that the only reason he did it was for the reward. And that he wouldn't use that reward on the Astros. I like to call those people ingrates.
I'm glad for him, but I can't see him getting Beltran $$ if he's asking for it...that will never happen...Is he good, yes, but does he have the speed,etc to compliment his game, no...Plus, now he has a bum knee... Me thinks 1% chance of a long term deal happening b/f start of the season, which I might add, he won't be playing by then...
The "both sides are far apart" thing is what tipped me off....also the part about how Tim said the chances were "about 50/50" My guess is that Berkman wants a deal similar in length (not money) to what Beltran was offered (7 yrs)....and that we are probably balking. I can't say that I completely disagree (i mean, here you have a guy who may never be the same....or who may comeback and play like nothing ever happened) with not wanting to give out such a long deal...but Drayton and Tim should have known that once they offered a rent-a-player that type of lengthy deal, that the guy who they said would be a cornerstone of the franchise would probably figure to be offered it as well. Again...just an assumption as to what might be going on but who knows.
I guess i'll answer this one. The one and only Richard Hidalgo, who just had a knack in his swing that could easily be recorrected. On a side note i'd like to personally thank the Mets for taking him off our shoulders. I'm sure he'll hit 40 dingers next year just like Brady Anderson after his terrific season.
I don't think we even need to hope on Berkman. A power hitter with great plate discipline is destined to succeed wherever he plays. Plate disipline is something Hidalgo never really had. You can add alot of other sluggers to that category that couldn't grasp the strike zone like McGwire and Sosa.
