Adrian Beltre becomes free agent

[crc21209]

Adrian Beltre becomes free agent

Associated Press

BOSTON -- Adrian Beltre has declined a $10 million player option that would have kept him with the Boston Red Sox next year.

The third baseman will get a $1 million buyout and becomes a free agent after just one season with the Red Sox.

The 31-year-old Beltre led the team with a .321 batting average and a career-high 49 doubles in 154 games. He hit 28 homers and tied David Ortiz for the team lead with 102 RBIs. The option increased from $5 million to $10 million in his last game because he passed the 640 plate appearances.

Boston signed him as a free agent after he hit .265 with eight homers and 44 RBIs with Seattle in 2009.

The Red Sox must decide by Thursday whether to exercise Ortiz's $12.5 million club option.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5760892

[Jose Canseco]

I'm guessing they won't try to re-sign him after declining the option. Who knows for sure though?

Probably going to go hard after Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder in a trade and slide Youk to 3rd base imo. Probably a good bet because Beltre is very inconsistent offensively and has twice had career seasons in contract years. I wonder what their back-up plan is if they can't trade for Gonzo or Prince though. Adam Dunn? Bring back Carlos Pena? They are rumored to be players in Carl Crawford as well so we'll see if they can afford to do all that.

[crc21209]

I'm guessing they won't try to re-sign him after declining the option. Who knows for sure though?

Probably going to go hard after Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder in a trade and slide Youk to 3rd base imo. Probably a good bet because Beltre is very inconsistent offensively and has twice had career seasons in contract years. I wonder what their back-up plan is if they can't trade for Gonzo or Prince though. Adam Dunn? Bring back Carlos Pena? They are rumored to be players in Carl Crawford as well so we'll see if they can afford to do all that.

Yeah the rumor is that Youk is "preparing" himself to play 3rd base next year...

[Brodels]

I'm guessing they won't try to re-sign him after declining the option. Who knows for sure though?

Probably going to go hard after Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder in a trade and slide Youk to 3rd base imo. Probably a good bet because Beltre is very inconsistent offensively and has twice had career seasons in contract years. I wonder what their back-up plan is if they can't trade for Gonzo or Prince though. Adam Dunn? Bring back Carlos Pena? They are rumored to be players in Carl Crawford as well so we'll see if they can afford to do all that.

This was a player's option. They will definitely offer Beltre a contract and try to keep him. He's a much better bet defensively than Youk and he'll be o.k. offensively. Can't see Adam Dunn at first, Youk at third, and an average shortstop. That wouldn't be a very good infield.