Carlos Beltran already has plenty of suitors, but it sounds like we can add another to his list. The outfielder told Noel Piñeiro of Primera Hora (Spanish link) that the Reds have reached out to Beltran’s agent, Dan Lozano. Piñeiro told C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer in an e-mail that Beltran told him he expects to make a decision by mid-December.
While the American League would seem to be a better fit for the 36-year-old, he tells Piñeiro that he would prefer to play in the National League. Beltran has played mostly right field in each of the last two seasons with the Cardinals, but would likely move to left for the Reds.
Teams that have previously been linked to Beltran include the Tigers, Yankees, Rangers, Orioles, Mariners, and Red Sox. Some regard the Yanks as the favorites to land the veteran outfielder and see him as the club's No. 1 priority at this stage of the offseason. The switch-hitter posted a .296/.339/.491 slash line for the Cardinals last season and is a career .283/.359/.496 hitter.
