Lance Berkman tore up his knee in a flag football game and will need at least five months to recuperate. Unlike Aaron Boone last year, Berkman's injury did not violate his contract.

"In all of our guaranteed contracts, there is a prohibition against (non-baseball athletic activities),'' Purpura said. "Now, the salary that he was paid for this year and the terms on his guaranteed contract essentially expired at the end of the season, so there's really no prohibition, per se, at this point against it. But, obviously, it has the potential to impact his ability to play next year."