Adrian Beltre to Rangers?

[EricB]

Good move in this, it strengthens the defense to the point where its arguable that they have one of the best defensive fielding infields in baseball.

Second Beltre while not at the Dodger level is more along the lines of what he showed last year maybe more cause IMO RBIA is more of a hitters park than Fenway.

Moves young to the DH super utility role, the offense goes up and is more consistent as well.

Good move, even better keeping Anaheim from getting him.

Now it allows you to package some prospects for a Matt Garza.

Right now a solid offseason getting a stud bullpen guy in Rhodes and good third baseman in Beltre.

[EricB]

, you truly are one of the dumbest posters on ST..I will state what I have stated all along: great signing for defensive help, great signing if young is indeed going to the DH spot, great signing to weaken the Angels for the coming season, and probably overpaid a little but you do what you need to do to win now. I cannot state my case on this any simpler for you (even for you this should be understandable).

Agreed 100%

You got the big ass TV contract and said you'd raise payroll, time to back it up and good move doing it.

[jjktkk]

I'd love for Beltre to play great and prove me wrong. the problem is that IT WON'T ING HAPPEN. I have years and years and years and years of evidence to back up my claims. You have two contract years and a bunch of rose colored glasses fanboy hopes to back up yours.

Your problem is you look thru monosylab1k glasses. I live in the Seattle area and have seen Beltre play in person. The pros outweigh the cons IMO, with the Beltre signing. Your so called "years and years and years and years of evidence", is something for fantasy stat geeks to whack off on. Don't assume you know more about baseball than the nexy guy. It makes you look foolish.

[Jose Canseco]

So Seattle fans were cool with Beltre all those years hitting .260 on a ty team because he played really good defense and he would bomb 20-25 HRs? Heck if Jack Wilson could hit some homeruns they'd probably love him too then.

With Beltre, it's not really about talent. He's obviously extremely talented, especially defensively. It's about maximum effort. His prime years should have resembled Scott Rolen's prime years. Instead, his prime years resembled more like a disgruntled Rolen in his later St. Louis days.

I think the best part of the signing is keeping him from the Angels. However, I have to wonder at his price tag if that reason alone would make it worth it. I'm sure the Angels thought they were weakening the Rangers when they gave Gary Matthews, Jr. that $10 million a year contract. I know Matthews never had the power numbers Beltre has put up, but if the best thing about a signing is keeping that player from a divisional rival, you might want to reconsider. I guess he does help defensively, but with all the great hitters already in the Rangers line-up, perhaps $15+ million a year would have been better spent upgrading the rotation.

[yavozerb]

So Seattle fans were cool with Beltre all those years hitting .260 on a ty team because he played really good defense and he would bomb 20-25 HRs? Heck if Jack Wilson could hit some homeruns they'd probably love him too then.

With Beltre, it's not really about talent. He's obviously extremely talented, especially defensively. It's about maximum effort. His prime years should have resembled Scott Rolen's prime years. Instead, his prime years resembled more like a disgruntled Rolen in his later St. Louis days.

I think the best part of the signing is keeping him from the Angels. However, I have to wonder at his price tag if that reason alone would make it worth it. I'm sure the Angels thought they were weakening the Rangers when they gave Gary Matthews, Jr. that $10 million a year contract. I know Matthews never had the power numbers Beltre has put up, but if the best thing about a signing is keeping that player from a divisional rival, you might want to reconsider. I guess he does help defensively, but with all the great hitters already in the Rangers line-up, perhaps $15+ million a year would have been better spent upgrading the rotation.

Just wondering who you had in mind other than cliff lee (which they tried and were unable to sign) this summer?

[Phillip]

my Stone, bringing the goods (par the course, the usual, tree of woe, etc.)

It's highly unlikely that the A's can win the World Series, but winning the AL West isn't too much of a stretch. They finished 2nd and passed the Angels at the very end which few people realized or cared about. Not to mention they gave the Rangers more then they could handle head to head. This division will definitely be a lot closer than people think now that we lost Cliff Lee. The A's will challenge for 1st place and then Angels still have the best coach in the division so they will compete as well.

Cliff Lee didn't do much to help the Rangers in the regular season.

I think all the injuries to guys like Cruz, Kinsler, and Hamilton hurt the Rangers quite a bit in their final record, as they could have likely won several more games had those guys all not been out for so long. If the Rangers can generally stay healthy for the year, I don't see how the A's would have a shot.

[monosylab1k]

probably overpaid a little

A LITTLE ??!?!?!?!?!?!?!
you're ing re ed if you think he's overpaid "a little"

again, this thread will be bumped in June when Beltre is hitting below .250 and not doing jack at the plate.

[monosylab1k]

Your problem is you look thru monosylab1k glasses. I live in the Seattle area and have seen Beltre play in person. The pros outweigh the cons IMO, with the Beltre signing. Your so called "years and years and years and years of evidence", is something for fantasy stat geeks to whack off on. Don't assume you know more about baseball than the nexy guy. It makes you look foolish.

me too. in fact, not only did I live in Seattle, but I was working in the Mariners front office at the time. Everybody in the front office hated Adrian Beltre. Don't assume you know more about baseball than the next guy. It makes you look foolish.

[monosylab1k]

So Seattle fans were cool with Beltre all those years hitting .260 on a ty team because he played really good defense and he would bomb 20-25 HRs?

Jam with the goods.

This is like Mavs fans who defended the Dampier signing by saying "But he sets great picks!"

[Jose Canseco]

Just wondering who you had in mind other than cliff lee (which they tried and were unable to sign) this summer?

I don't know how much Pavano is looking for, but I'd guess it would be less than $15 million a year, perhaps significantly less and most likely wouldn't demand 6 years. Would leave extra money to work with. Jeff Francis, Chris young are still out there and can had for cheap to help create some compe ion in spring.

I don't think Beltre is a bad player. He's good. I just think that the Rangers should have focused spending that amount of money elsewhere. Beltre does help defensively and he should drive in some runs especially with the guys that will hit ahead of him. But when you look at things in totality, the amount and length of the contract, Beltre's track record to coast until contract years, the need to fortify the rotation, if you weigh all of that, is it a good signing? I guess the answer is different to each person.

[TheMACHINE]

6/96? ouch.

[jjktkk]

me too. in fact, not only did I live in Seattle, but I was working in the Mariners front office at the time. Everybody in the front office hated Adrian Beltre. Don't assume you know more about baseball than the next guy. It makes you look foolish.

So, if you worked in the Mariners front office, you would know the Mariners , other than Ichiro, never sourround Beltre with any bats. Beltrea cannot be a teams lone offensive threat. Add in the fact that Safeco Field is a pitcher's park, and you can see why Beltre put up pedestrain numbers. Beltre should thrive playing with the Rangers. He will be surrounded by Hamilton, Cruz, Kinsler, etc... and should put up solid numbers in that ballpark. Yes its a big gamble, but I applaud the Rangers for going all in on Beltre.

[jjktkk]

I don't know how much Pavano is looking for, but I'd guess it would be less than $15 million a year, perhaps significantly less and most likely wouldn't demand 6 years. Would leave extra money to work with. Jeff Francis, Chris young are still out there and can had for cheap to help create some compe ion in spring.

I don't think Beltre is a bad player. He's good. I just think that the Rangers should have focused spending that amount of money elsewhere. Beltre does help defensively and he should drive in some runs especially with the guys that will hit ahead of him. But when you look at things in totality, the amount and length of the contract, Beltre's track record to coast until contract years, the need to fortify the rotation, if you weigh all of that, is it a good signing? I guess the answer is different to each person.

Good points, but Is Pavano, Francis, and Young better than anyone currently on the Rangers staff? Is Pavano better than C.J. Wilson? I personally wouldn't s out big money to Pavano, no more than 5 mil. I trust Nolan Ryan, Mark Maddox, and the Rangers scouting department, when it comes to evaluating pitchers. The Beltre signing is a big gamble, but IMO, the pros outwiegh the cons.

[BUMP]

So, if you worked in the Mariners front office, you would know the Mariners , other than Ichiro, never sourround Beltre with any bats. Beltrea cannot be a teams lone offensive threat. Add in the fact that Safeco Field is a pitcher's park, and you can see why Beltre put up pedestrain numbers. Beltre should thrive playing with the Rangers. He will be surrounded by Hamilton, Cruz, Kinsler, etc... and should put up solid numbers in that ballpark. Yes its a big gamble, but I applaud the Rangers for going all in on Beltre.

tbh, the 2007/2008 Mariners had an underrated lineup that consisted of almost all .275 or greater hitters. With the exception of Richie Sexson. That seems like a lineup that a power hitter would thrive in

[Jose Canseco]

Beltre had decent protection in Seattle, especially when he first got there when Sexson was still hitting 35 HRs and driving 100+ runs in, Raul Ibanez being a pretty consistent bat good for 20+ HR and 90 RBI, and Jose Guillen for I believe one season. Not exactly great batting average bats, but they did supply protection with some power. And didn't Beltre hit second in Seattle? That's actually more protection than he had with the Dodgers the year he hit 48 HRs, 121 RBIs, and .334 where he was surrounded by an average Shawn Green at that point and Juan Encarnacion. So if Beltre was capable of having that type of season protected by those guys, Ichiro, Raul Ibanez, and Richie Sexson should be adequate enough.

But let's say you're right that he didn't have enough around him. If a player needs great bats around him to produce, is he really worth $16 million a year? He and Michael Young will be the highest paid players on the Rangers. Do either deserve to be?

[jjktkk]

But let's say you're right that he didn't have enough around him. If a player needs great bats around him to produce, is he really worth $16 million a year? He and Michael Young will be the highest paid players on the Rangers. Do either deserve to be?

No, Beltre is not worth 16 mil. a year. Young is overpaid as well. But, unforunately in today's Baseball landscape, thats the way baseball is conducted.

[jjktkk]

tbh, the 2007/2008 Mariners had an underrated lineup that consisted of almost all .275 or greater hitters. With the exception of Richie Sexson. That seems like a lineup that a power hitter would thrive in

tbh, you can't really compare that Mariner's lineup with the current Ranger's lineup with a straight face can you? With also factoring in the Mariner's and Ranger's ballparks?

[Texas Chili Dog]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texas...lay-first-base

Michael Young could play first base

ARLINGTON, Texas – Rangers manager Ron Washington said Wednesday that the club plans on working out Michael Young at first base during spring training so that he can play all of the infield positions as part of his super utility/DH role.

"We are certainly going to give him an opportunity in spring training to work out there and you probably will see him get some opportunities there," Washington said.

Washington said Young would not play the outfield.

"He’s going to be my DH and he’ll get opportunities to move around the infield," Washington said. "He'll get his at-bats and get a chance to be very versatile."

[Jose Canseco]

My thing with Beltre is that the 2004 Dodger season and last season with Boston are really, really damning evidence to Beltre's motivation, work ethic, and professionalism. Some might argue that the 2004 season was just a fluke season where everything just came together for him. To me, I don't look at just the 48 homeruns, but the .334 batting average. It's one thing if Beltre all of a sudden decided to try to swing for the fences every at-bat, maybe even at the tail end of the steroid era, he got a boost. But, what's telling from that season is that he hit .334, only struck out 87 times in over 650 plate appearances, had 200 hits. That's not a guy like Jose Bautista who just goes up to the plate trying to rake every pitch. That's a guy completely locked in and maximizing his potential.

Should he hit .334 with 48 HRs every year? No of course not. But how about consistently hitting 30-35 HRs and hit .300? Instead, he's been a .260-.270 with 20-25 hitter most of his career. He's proven he has more talent than that. So it has to be his drive, his motivation, his focus.

But even then, last year proved it even more. You can chalk it up to playing in Fenway, but he had 15 HRs on the road, 13 at home so it wasn't just about Fenway. And what's more is the .321 BA. If he can hit .321 and .334 in contract years, why is he a .264 hitter the rest of his career?

I definitely think it's appropriate to question his drive now that he's paid and it's likely his last big contract.

[jjktkk]

My thing with Beltre is that the 2004 Dodger season and last season with Boston are really, really damning evidence to Beltre's motivation, work ethic, and professionalism. Some might argue that the 2004 season was just a fluke season where everything just came together for him. To me, I don't look at just the 48 homeruns, but the .334 batting average. It's one thing if Beltre all of a sudden decided to try to swing for the fences every at-bat, maybe even at the tail end of the steroid era, he got a boost. But, what's telling from that season is that he hit .334, only struck out 87 times in over 650 plate appearances, had 200 hits. That's not a guy like Jose Bautista who just goes up to the plate trying to rake every pitch. That's a guy completely locked in and maximizing his potential.

Should he hit .334 with 48 HRs every year? No of course not. But how about consistently hitting 30-35 HRs and hit .300? Instead, he's been a .260-.270 with 20-25 hitter most of his career. He's proven he has more talent than that. So it has to be his drive, his motivation, his focus.

But even then, last year proved it even more. You can chalk it up to playing in Fenway, but he had 15 HRs on the road, 13 at home so it wasn't just about Fenway. And what's more is the .321 BA. If he can hit .321 and .334 in contract years, why is he a .264 hitter the rest of his career?

I definitely think it's appropriate to question his drive now that he's paid and it's likely his last big contract.

The numbers back up what your saying. My hope is some of that is maturity issues, and I also hope that Beltre is energized with playing in a great hitters ballpark and with a contender.

[monosylab1k]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texas...lay-first-base

Michael Young could play first base

ARLINGTON, Texas – Rangers manager Ron Washington said Wednesday that the club plans on working out Michael Young at first base during spring training so that he can play all of the infield positions as part of his super utility/DH role.

"We are certainly going to give him an opportunity in spring training to work out there and you probably will see him get some opportunities there," Washington said.

Washington said Young would not play the outfield.

"He’s going to be my DH and he’ll get opportunities to move around the infield," Washington said. "He'll get his at-bats and get a chance to be very versatile."

tbh I'd be more apt to like the Beltre deal if Evan Grant's hypothetical could come to fruition.

He was talking about Young at 1B full time, which would mean the Rangers could make an offer of Moreland/Holland/etc for Matt Garza.

If that happens, then the Beltre deal is worth it. Until then, no.

[monosylab1k]

My hope is some of that is maturity issues

Well the dude still freaks out whenever people touch his ing head and he refuses to wear a cup playing 3rd base, I doubt he's going to suddenly mature into a rational human being any time soon.

[BUMP]

If that story about Young is true splitting time at 1st base with Moreland, then we'll have the most versatile/dangerous lineup in all of baseball, especially if we hold on to Vlad. Say what you want about Vlad's drop in production last year but bringing a guy with that kind of calibre off the bench along with Michael Young, Mitch Moreland, Murphy, and Borbon and that's just scary.





































We staaaaaaaaaaaaacked

[Texas Chili Dog]

Well the dude still freaks out whenever people touch his ing head and he refuses to wear a cup playing 3rd base, I doubt he's going to suddenly mature into a rational human being any time soon.

I'm anxious to see what unfolds when/if Beltre hits a walkoff home run this season.

[jjktkk]

If that story about Young is true splitting time at 1st base with Moreland, then we'll have the most versatile/dangerous lineup in all of baseball, especially if we hold on to Vlad. Say what you want about Vlad's drop in production last year but bringing a guy with that kind of calibre off the bench along with Michael Young, Mitch Moreland, Murphy, and Borbon and that's just scary.

+1.





































We staaaaaaaaaaaaacked