Berkman passes physical

the game. Berkman is a .296 career hitter with 360 home runs and 1,200 RBI in 1,806 regular-season games, all but 214 of those with the Houston Astros.

Reliever Mike Gonzalez and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized a $2.25 million, one-year contract. The deal with the 34-year-old lefthander, which had been agreed to on Dec. 28, allows him to earn an additional $400,000 in performances. Gonzalez had a 3.03 ERA and no record in 47 games last year with Washington, holding left-handed hitters to a .179 batting average. He has a 17-21 record with a 2.94 ERA and 56 saves with Pittsburgh (200306), Atlanta (2007-09), Baltimore (2010-11), Texas (2011) and Washington (2012). The Texas Rangers completed a $10 million, one-year deal Monday after 36-year-old Lance Berkman, who played only 32 games last season for St. Louis, passed a physical. The deal includes a $12 million club option for 2014 that becomes a guaranteed $13 million deal if he has 550 plate appearances this season. There is also a $1 million buyout for the second year. Berkman is coming off an injuryplagued season in St. Louis, where the six-time All-Star spent nearly a month on the disabled list early because of a strained left calf. Only a week after returning, he went back on the DL for nearly two months after tearing a meniscus in his right knee that required surgery. His season ended with a second surgery in September, when the meniscus was removed. It was the fourth operation on his right knee. Berkman, who turns 37 next month, was considering retirement but the Rangers’ offer kept him in