MLB roundup: Lance Berkman retires, Ryan Madson schedules public workout

Former Houston Astros outfielder/first baseman Lance Berkman announced his retirement on Wednesday.

Berkman is a former first round pick for Houston and spent 12 of his 15 major league seasons with the club. He was also an important part of the St. Louis Cardinals team that won the 2011 World Series. Berkman ends his career with a .293/.406/.537 slash line, 366 home runs and more than 1,200 RBI. He only struck out 99 more times than he walked in his career, finishing with 1,300 strikeouts on the nose.

Ryan Madson is set to hold a public workout on Feb. 7, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

After a two-year absence from major league baseball, Madson will perform for interested parties in Phoenix, and reportedly held a private workout on Tuesday for a mystery team. Once one of the most effective relievers in baseball, Madson hasn't appeared in a game since 2011 when he saved 32 games for the Phillies, striking out 62 batters in 60 2/3 innings. He's missed the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2012.

The Dodgers and Aaron Bates have agreed to terms on a minor league contract, per MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo.

Bates last played in the major leagues in 2009, garnering 11 at-bats for the Boston Red Sox, hitting .364/.417/.545 with four strikeouts and one walk. The 29 year old Bates spent last season with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Independent League, hitting .306 with seven home runs in 126 games.

The Minnesota Twins announced that they signed right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Guerrier spent his entire career with the Twins before signing a three-year contract with the Dodgers in 2011. He was traded to the Cubs during the 2013 season and finished the year with a 4.01 ERA between the two teams. He has a career 3.51 ERA in 595 innings, and is coming off a flexor tendon injury that ended his season prematurely.