KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- He's a native Texan, a product of Rice University and was the Astros' first pick in the 1997 draft. Those elements made it very difficult to imagine Lance Berkman wearing anything but a Houston uniform, and on Saturday, the Astros made sure he wouldn't, at least for the next several years.

The Astros held a press conference prior to their home game with the Toronto Blue Jays to announce they signed Berkman to a six-year contract worth $85 million. The contract begins in 2005 and runs through 2010, with either a $2 million buyout or $15 million option for 2011.

The contract could be worth up to $98 million, if the option year is exercised. That would make Berkman the highest-paid player in club history, surpassing Jeff Bagwell, whose five-year, $85 million deal could be worth $96 million if the Astros pick up his 2007 option worth $18 million.

Berkman also received a full no-trade clause and a standard incentive package wherein he receives an extra $500,000 if he is named the National League's Most Valuable Player. Berkman will receive $350,000 if he comes in second place and $250,000 for third.

Berkman, who was set to become a free agent after the 2005 season, signed a one-year deal for $10.5 million in February, allowing the two sides to avoid arbitration. The new long-term contract includes the arbitration salary.

"I firmly believe there are two ingredients that are important to sustain success at the Major League level," general manager Tim Purpura said. "First is a strong player development and scouting system that produces a winning Major League player. The second is the ability of the organization to retain those players once they are on the brink of free agency."

In signing Berkman, the Astros accomplished both of those goals. Berkman, a college first baseman, moved to left field when he began his professional career following his junior year at Rice University in 1997. He quickly ascended through the system, receiving callups in 1999 and 2000 before logging his first full big league season -- and his first All-Star selection -- in 2001.

The Astros and Berkman set a mutually agreed upon deadline of the end of Spring Training to work out a long-term contract, or talks would've been tabled until the conclusion of the 2005 campaign. Berkman said on several occasions that he wanted to spend his career with the Astros, but he wasn't averse to testing the free agent waters if given that opportunity this fall.

The Astros made sure it didn't get that far.

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"I felt like the process was good and fair and the pace of the negotiations were what they were," said Berkman, wearing a tie bearing a picture of a Texas flag. "Each negotiation is unique. At no time was there ever a feeling of, 'Oh, we're just not going to talk.' I think both sides said, 'There's a deal to be done.'

"It may take a little bit to do some of the specifics, but I think they made it clear from the beginning that they wanted me to be an Astro for life, and I made it equally clear that would be my first choice, to stay with the team."

Berkman, 29, led the Astros in batting average (.316), home runs (30), slugging percentage (.566) and runs scored (104) in 2004 and was named the club's most valuable player by the Houston chapter of the BBWAA for the third time. Berkman, a three-time All-Star, leads all active switch-hitters since 2001 in home runs, RBIs, doubles and walks.

Owner Drayton McLane recalled that day in 1997 when Tal Smith, the Astros' president of baseball operations, told him the club had drafted Berkman, who was unexpectedly passed on by the first 15 clubs that made their first-round selections.

"Tal was so excited and enthusiastic, and I said, 'Wow, this guy must be awfully good,'" McLane said. "Well, I can tell you a few years later, he's better than they were even talking about. Lance has brought youthful zeal, excitement and a tremendous amount of ability. He's one of the best players in all of baseball and there's a big future ahead of him."

Berkman remembered draft day, too. His Rice team just lost to Auburn in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., and he was waiting to hear if he was selected. His uncle was the one to give Berkman the good news.

"My first thought was, Jeff Bagwell," Berkman said. "At the time I was playing first base and he's entrenched over there and an icon of the city and just a tremendous player. A few minutes later I got a call from the organization and they said, 'We're going to move you to left field.'

"I just remember being very excited to stay close to home so my family could enjoy watching me play. I'm just thrilled to make a commitment to the team. I want to play every game of my career in an Astros uniform.

"I was part of the first team that went to Omaha with Rice, and I want to be part of the first team that goes to the World Series here with the Astros. That's our ultimate goal."