5/6 20:40: According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Berkman clarified some of his comments to GM Ed Wade, as he did not want his comments to be misinterpreted.  “I thought that could be portrayed in the wrong light, and I wanted to make sure he knew that I’m not pulling the plug on this team yet, and I’m not demanding to be traded,” Berkman said. “I’m perfectly content to be a Houston Astro. We were just talking hypothetical.”  Any Berkman trade would probably occur near or around the trade dead line.

5/6 12:01:Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle reports that Astros slugger Lance Berkman would be willing to waive his no-trade clause this season, particularly if he was offered a trade to a contender.

Berkman, 34, is in the final year of the six-year extension he signed back in 2005. He’s owed $14.5 million this season, and the club will almost certainly not pick up his 2011 option for $15 million.  Berkman a few months ago also mentioned about retiring if the Astros did not pick up his 2011 option.  Berkman said this when asked about a possible trade.

“As a player, if they came to me and said, ‘Hey we’ve got a deal to go to a contender, I’d take it.  Heck, it’s only a three or four month deal.  It’s not like I’m signing on for 10 years with another team.”

Berkman’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause opens up many doors for the Astros who would need a miracle to make the postseason.  Berkman can still swing the bat and could provide a jolt to an AL club that needs some offensive help.