Lance Berkman went 3-for-4 with three runs scored in Tuesday's crucial 13-6 win. On a night when a Cardinals win would pull them into a tie for the Wild Card spot, their first three batters in the lineup left eight men on base and hit a combined 3-for-14. Meanwhile, Berkman's clutch hitting included a two-out single in the seventh and trailing 6-5. He would score the tying run in that inning, as St. Louis took the lead for good. His batting average is back above .300.

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lance Berkman will earn $12 million in 2012. In other words, Berkman receives a $4 million raise from his $8 million salary in 2011. It's well-deserved, though he may have received a few multi-year offers had he tested the free agent market. The Cardinals are more focused on winning the Wild Card right now, but Berkman at least gives them some insurance for first base if Albert Pujols signs elsewhere as a free agent.

Cardinals signed OF Lance Berkman to a one-year contract extension. Well, that's a surprise, especially after Berkman said Monday that talks between the two sides had stalled. Exact terms of the deal aren't yet known, but he figures to make more than the $8 million salary he earned in 2011. Berkman, 35, has found the fountain of youth in St. Louis this season, batting .300/.412/.555 with 31 home runs, 91 RBI and a .967 OPS.

Lance Berkman acknowledged Monday that negotiations have stalled between he and the Cardinals. Berkman has posted a stellar .970 OPS, 31 home runs and 89 RBI in 136 games this season after signing a one-year, $8 million free agent contract with St. Louis last winter. And now he wants to be rewarded, whether by the Cardinals or a different club. "It's always about money," Berkman said. "No matter what people say, it's always about the money." The honesty is somewhat refereshing.

Lance Berkman tagged Roy Halladay for a solo home run and RBI single on Monday, leading the Cardinals to a 4-3 win in Philadelphia. Berkman took Halladay deep in the first inning. The home run was Big Puma's first of the month. Coming into this evening, he last went deep on August 26, a span of 20 games. Now .299/.412/.558 to go along with 54 extra-base hits and 89 RBI, no offseason signing has given their team as big a bang for their buck as Berkman, who's making "just" $8 million. St. Louis now trails the Braves by only 2.5 games in the race for the National League wild card.

Lance Berkman "may be less a slam dunk" to return to the Cardinals than had been thought, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Strauss writes that Berkman has leverage, and he's right. Berkman, 35, has slugged 30 home runs and registered a sparkling .956 OPS this year for St. Louis. He won't be in line for a multi-year deal, but Berkman should have several suitors this winter. The veteran outfielder currently projects as a Type A free agent, so the Cardinals would receive two draft picks if he declines arbitration and signs elsewhere this offseason.

Lance Berkman is 0-for-14 with six strikeouts in his past five games. Even with the Reds in St. Louis for a critical three-game set this weekend (and starting three righties), it's a good bet Berkman will get a day off, likely this evening. Be ready to bench him at least one day in your daily league.

Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle told KFNS 590 in St. Louis that the Cardinals approached Lance Berkman one month ago about a contract extension. The Cardinals drew phone calls from contending teams this month after Berkman passed through waivers, but they ultimately decided to keep him and could aim to work out a multi-year deal before the offseason arrives. Berkman, 35, has slugged 30 home runs and registered a sparkling .966 OPS this year for second-place St. Louis.

According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lance Berkman told Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak that he would rule out re-signing with the team if he was traded to a contender. And judging by Mozeliak's comments Tuesday, it appears Berkman will get his wish. "We did have some teams inquire in the past week," said Mozeliak. "I met with Lance and we talked about the situation. Ultimately, our goal is to have him back with us next year. Unless something comes along that absolutely blows us out of the water, I don't see him going anywhere." Albert Pujols will also be a free agent following the season and the Cardinals have to have to make decisions on the options for Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina, so keeping Berkman isn't necessarily a given. The 35-year-old currently projects as a Type A free agent, so the Cardinals would receive two draft picks if he declines arbitration and signs elsewhere this winter.

Lance Berkman said Tuesday that he does not expect to be traded before the August 31 waiver deadline.