The Colorado Rockies may be close to signing free agent first baseman Lance Berkman, according to the Denver Post's Troy Renck:
Hearing that Rockies are getting close on lance berkman. Berkman told me that he would like to play for rockies during alcs
Troy Renck, Rockies
TroyRenck
This is an interesting development, though not entirely unexpected. The real question if this signing does happen is, where does Berkman play? He isn't going to start as the full-time first baseman with Todd Helton still around, so a platoon would likely be expected at the position. Would the Rockies consider trying Berkman in the outfield, which he hasn't played since 2007? He would be 35 during the 2011 season, and returning him to the outfield after a three-year layoff may not be the best idea.
The St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays were reported to be Berkman's suitors earlier in the offseason, with Oakland being the most aggressive. Renck indicated in a later tweet that this is far from a done deal, but Berkman likes the Rockies and would prefer to stay in the National League. However, it looks like the Colorado Rockies are hitting on all points during the hot stove season.
Berkman played his entire career with the Houston Astros until the middle of this season when he was traded to the New York Yankees before the July deadline. He hit a combined .248/.368/.413 with 14 homers in 122 games as an Astro and a Yankee.
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