Lance Berkman Might Be Contemplating Retirement After Latest Trip to DL

Neither the St. Louis Cardinals or Lance Berkman have offered any hints as to the extent of Berkman's latest knee injury, but Zach Links of MLBtraderumors.com suggests that Berkman may be considering retirement.

It all depends on the severity of the injury, though. 

Berkman told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"

You think about it when you have a potentially major surgery at this stage of your career. But, again, right now we don't know what it is. But it gives you pause. I don't think it's one of those deals where you sit out a week and see where you are. I think it's much more serious than that.

"

If Berkman's MRI results come back saying that he has re-torn his ACL, there's still no guarantee that he'll retire, he added.

It would certainly make it very difficult for him at 36 years old, especially after already making two trips to the DL this season with knee injuries.

Berkman broke out from a two-season slump in 2011, hitting 31 home runs and driving in 94 runs en route to a seventh-place finish in the NL MVP voting.

That season led to a one-year, $12 million contact with the Cardinals, but he's been able to play in just 13 games this season because of his injuries.

Berkman is one of the best switch-hitters of all time. If he were to retire, he'd finish with a career line of .296/.409/.546 with 359 home runs over 14 seasons in the major leagues.