Berkman, Ramirez not yet ready to help in Majors

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are still looking for offensive help before the Trade Deadline. It will not come from Lance Berkman or Manny Ramirez.

Berkman remains on the disabled list with inflammation in his left hip and back. He is also dealing with a chronic sore right knee, and the possibility grows that he will not play again this season. He did not make the road trip to Cleveland and did not take batting practice on the field with the Rangers on Monday.

"His body's not responding to the way we'd hoped, unfortunately," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's not close at this point."

Even when he has been in the lineup, Berkman has not produced like the Rangers hoped when they signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason to be their regular designated hitter. He was hitting .254 with six home runs, 34 RBIs and a .377 slugging percentage in 68 games before going on the disabled list July 7.

The Rangers could use a designated hitter, but it won't be Ramirez, who has been playing at Triple-A Round Rock since the Rangers signed him to a Minor League contract on July 3. Ramirez went into Monday hitting .269 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 18 games. The Rangers do not see him as an option at the big league level and may end up making a decision on his status later this week.

"Manny's been a good teammate," Daniels said. "But we don't have plans to call him up. The reports don't justify that."