Rangers Snag Beltre To Six-Year Deal

Adrian Beltre (in uniform) gives the Rangers' offense some added pop, while providing the defense with a Gold Glove caliber fielder at third base. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

After losing Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies and missing out in acquiring starter Zach Grienke from Kansas City, the Texas Rangers needed to secure an impact signing to make sure this offseason would not be a failure.

That's exactly what they accomplished, signing third baseman Adrian Beltre to a six-year, $96 million contract. Playing for the Boston Red Sox last season, Beltre hit .321 with 28 homers and 102 RBI in winning his first career American League Silver Slugger award.

"We all know that the Rangers have a really good team. I want to win," Beltre said. "This team is willing to do whatever it takes to get to that next step. That's one of the factors to make my decision to come here easier."

We'll delve into how Beltre's signing helps this Rangers' ballclub in a myriad of ways, but first lets get into how his contract will work.


From The Associated Press:

Beltre gets $14 million this year, $15 million in 2012, $16 million in 2013, $17 million in 2014, $18 million in 2015 and $16 million in 2016. The Rangers can void the final season if Beltre fails to have either 1,200 plate appearances in 2014-15 combined or 600 in 2015.

The way this contract is structured, Texas will have some flexibility towards the end of the deal - Beltre will be 32 when the 2011 season starts - but for a team with World Series aspirations, this deal had to be made. Not only will Beltre's defensive presence down that third base line make life easier for every pitcher on the Rangers' roster, but ESPN's Buster Olney believes the acquisition gives Texas the best defensive left side in baseball with Elvis Andrus manning shortstop.

At the plate, Ron Washington has some options on where to hit Beltre in the order but, as of now, he's penciled in as the cleanup guy behind American League MVP Josh Hamilton and in front of Nelson Cruz. This is where things get tricky for the Rangers, however; as Beltre's consistency at the plate isn't nearly as solid as in the field.

In only two out of 13 MLB seasons has Beltre hit over .300 from the plate and drove in more than 100 RBI.

Can you guess the significance of these two seasons?

In 2004, Beltre had a monster year for the Los Angeles Dodgers with career-highs in batting average (.334), home runs (48) and RBI (121). This just before becoming a free agent and subsequently signing an equally monster contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Beltre followed his massive year with five largely forgettable seasons with the Mariners that included an injury plagued 2009 campaign. Beltre still hit an average of over 20 homers per year, but managed just 79 RBI annually, while his batting average topped out at .276 in 2007. While these are solid numbers, especially for a player with Gold Glove level defense, they aren't exactly "cleanup hitter for the Rangers" material.

Last season, Boston signed Beltre to a low-risk, one-year deal and the third baseman responded with another great season in a contract year. Beltre made the All-Star team for the first time in his career during the only other season (aside from the aforementioned 2004) he would hit over .300 and knock in over 100 RBI.

In all fairness, Safeco Field is a cavernous ballpark that makes it tough on power hitters, and Beltre had little to no protection in the Mariners' lineup. In Seattle, he was relied upon to be the guy, whilst in Texas he can just be a guy with good hitters surrounding him no matter where he hits in the order.

Texas is putting it's hopes in the fact that a more hitter-friendly ballpark and a loaded lineup with have Beltre hitting like he did for the Red Sox - and that those medicore seasons in Seattle are simply a thing of the past. Regardless, this is a win-win for both sides and gives the Rangers' new ownership group that big signing they needed to kick off the journey to get back to the World Series.

"The organization had a taste for something last year, finished a few games shy of our ultimate goal," Rangers' general manager Jon Daniels said. "Everything that we've been talking about and looking to do this offseason has been in the name of improving the club to a point where we can win the division and get back to the World Series and ultimately win it. This signing is very much in line with that goal."

Young To Switch Positions... Again

Michael Young, who has seemingly been a pillar for the Rangers at nearly every infield position, will make the move to designated hitter/utility man with Beltre taking over a third. The longest-tenured Rangers at 11 seasons showed yet again his willingness to put his ego aside to make this team better.

That sentiment wasn't lost on the team's newest player.

"I have a huge respect for Michael," Beltre said. "Him willing to do that for me, it means a lot."

Not only does this make Texas a better team both in the field (where Young was an average-to-below average at third) and at the plate for the upcoming season, but it will elongate Young's career as well. Being able to DH and play the field only occasionally will reduce the wear-and-tear on the 34-year old Young - allowing him to be fresh come playoff time, and continue to play at a high level for the Rangers for years to come.

"It's clear that I want to play for the Rangers," Young said. "I'm willing to make some pretty big sacrifices in order to do that. Obviously, this is pretty significant in terms of my career path."

It's also significant in the Rangers' path, as this team is set up to be a contender in the American League for years to come.

News and Notes:

• Texas also completed the signings of former Cy Young Winner Brandon Webb and reliever Arthur Rhodes earlier this week. Webb is coming off reconstructive shoulder shoulder that has kept him out for most of the last two seasons (Webb's career stats). Rhodes is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.29 ERA in 69 appearances with the Cincinnati Reds, making the All Star team for the first time in his career. The former Mariners' excellent set-up man adds another veteran lefty, along with Darren Oliver, to solidify the Texas bullpen. (Rhodes career stats)

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)