ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have completed a $10 million, one-year deal for six-time All-Star Lance Berkman to be their designated hitter.
The deal that includes a vesting option for 2014 was finalized Monday after Berkman passed a physical.
Berkman, who turns 37 next month, was limited to 32 games in St. Louis last year, when he had surgery twice on his right knee.
The switch-hitter provides the potential big bat for the middle of the lineup the Rangers were seeking after losing Josh Hamilton and catcher Mike Napoli in free agency and trading Michael Young to Philadelphia.
Berkman is a .296 career hitter with 360 home runs and 1,200 RBIs in 1,806 regular-season games, all but 214 with Houston from 1999-2010.
