Sporting News staff reports
Lance Berkman is preparing himself mentally to leave the Astros after this season.
The slugging first baseman
tells the Houston Chronicle he "may have to" find another team after 2010, "whether I like it or not." The Astros have a $15 million club option for 2011, with a $2 million buyout.
"If they don’t pick up my option, then to me that says they may like me to come back at a discount but they don’t really want me," Berkman tells the newspaper. "If that’s the case, then I’ll just see what else is out there."
He hinted that he might even consider retiring ("If they don’t pick it up, I’ll probably take my ball and go home."), although the Chronicle speculated that it’s more likely Berkman would continue playing. Berkman was drafted by the Astros out of Rice University and he wants to finish his career in Houston. He has full no-trade protection.
Berkman is coming off a down year statistically: a career-low .274 average, 25 home runs and 80 RBIs.
"This will be my 12th year, so, heck, if I had 11 great years, that would be unusual," he tells the Chronicle. "You’re going to have a couple of years when things don’t go well and last year was one of them. I don’t expect it’s going to have a lasting impact."
Sporting News staff reports
Lance Berkman is preparing himself mentally to leave the Astros after this season.
The slugging first baseman
tells the Houston Chronicle he "may have to" find another team after 2010, "whether I like it or not." The Astros have a $15 million club option for 2011, with a $2 million buyout.
"If they don’t pick up my option, then to me that says they may like me to come back at a discount but they don’t really want me," Berkman tells the newspaper. "If that’s the case, then I’ll just see what else is out there."
He hinted that he might even consider retiring ("If they don’t pick it up, I’ll probably take my ball and go home."), although the Chronicle speculated that it’s more likely Berkman would continue playing. Berkman was drafted by the Astros out of Rice University and he wants to finish his career in Houston. He has full no-trade protection.
Berkman is coming off a down year statistically: a career-low .274 average, 25 home runs and 80 RBIs.
"This will be my 12th year, so, heck, if I had 11 great years, that would be unusual," he tells the Chronicle. "You’re going to have a couple of years when things don’t go well and last year was one of them. I don’t expect it’s going to have a lasting impact."