Phillies in “Tire-Kicking” Mode With Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman said Monday that he's contacted by the Phillies along with some other teams in free agency according to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.

The Phillies presumably would use Berkman as an outfielder and maybe as a back-up to Ryan Howard at first base. The switch-hitting Berkman hit .259 with just two home runs in 97 plate appearances for the Cardinals in 2012 but was hobbled by a pair of knee surgeries that limited him to just 32 games.

The 36-year-old recently accepted a volunteer baseball coaching position on the staff at Rice University. "I’m waiting to be blown away by an offer," he told the Houston Chronicle. "If I’m not, I’ll be out (at Rice)."

In 2011, Berkman hit .301 with 31 home runs and drove in 94 runs or the World Champion Cardinals.