Lance Berkman rumors: Rays, Orioles, Red Sox

The market for free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Lance Berkman appears to have picked up over the holidays. Two unknown clubs have made offers for the switch-hitter while the Rays and Orioles are showing interest in the veteran for the first time, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

[Berkman] received two offers before Christmas and hopes to revisit them with the teams he declined to name. The Texas Rangers have reached out and appear a natural fit, but so too have several American League East teams like Tampa Bay, Baltimore and, earlier in the winter, Boston...

Berkman said he’s not "overwrought" about setting a deadline to sign.

The 36-year-old Berkman has had far more luck on the free-agent market than his former teammate Kyle Lohse, who has yet to receive a single offer, according to Goold.

Berkman claims to still be "a little bit in limbo" about whether he plans to play next season. He told Goold his daughters want him to return to St. Louis, but that does not appear to be in the stars. He also stated that he is currently in a position to make his decision without any pressure, which could be construed to mean he is leaning towards playing.

Wherever he ends up, Berkman will likely spent much of his time DH-ing. The Big Puma and his agent expect to "dive in" to negotiations with clubs next week.