Adrian Beltre has now batted 640 times this season, so the value of his 2011 player option doubled from $5MM to $10MM. But the third baseman will probably have the chance to earn considerably more than $10MM as a free agent this offseason, so the value of his player option doesn't matter a whole lot.
“It doesn’t mean anything to me,” Beltre told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. “It’s a testament that I was able to stay healthy, and be in the lineup almost every day. But that’s it.”
Beltre, 31, already has 28 homers and a American League-best 49 doubles. He has combined his strong defensive play with a .321/.365/.553 batting line and seems primed for another big free agent payday. The Mariners signed Beltre to a five-year $64MM deal after the 2004 season.
He’s gonna get paidddddd.
hmm… Beltre was a league average hitter from 98-03. Contract Year? He goes nuts and hits 48 homers (previous high was 23). Signs a big money contract with the Mariners, and goes back to being a league average hitter. Now, I know that Safeco is a pitchers ballpark, but the drop off in numbers is outstanding.
He hits the open market and doesn’t find much for him. He signs with the Red Sox and goes nuts throwing up another career year trying to land another big money contract.
Seems fishy to me.
The fact is that his career averages, along with his defense, still puts him in the top 5 at his position. I would lock up .270 / .330 / .450 25HR’s & stellar defense at 3B just as fast as I would lock up his MVP-caliber season this year.
Out of curiosity, what would you give him? (also what team do you root for)
I’m a BoSox fan, but I’m also a baseball fan.
I would pay him as a top 5 3B. Here’s a run down of the top 5 3B, with their salaries, for the past 3 years. I’ll only include their highest paid year because a couple (David Wright, Longoria included) signed extremely back-loaded contracts.
1. Evan Longoria (2015 – $11M : 6 years/$17.5M )
2. Ryan Zimmerman (2014 – $14M : 5 years/$45M)
3. David Wright (2015 – $15M : 6 years/$55M)
4. Alex Rodriguez (2010 – $32M : 10 years/$275M)
5. Adrian Beltre (2010 – $9M : ?)
Accounting for the Yankees overpaying for ARod, and Longoria giving the Rays an enormous hometown discount..I would say he’s worth between $11M-$16M per year. I would probably feel most comfortable with a front loaded contract, maybe even a couple $20M years at the beginning, but overall I would give him a 4 year/$65M deal in a heartbeat. I think, with the Sox, it will come down to length of contract. If he demands a 5th guaranteed year, the Sox chances of resigning him lessen severely. I would have no problem giving him a mutual option for the 5th year though.
Really – there are no comparisons to Belte today. Longoria, Wright and Zimmerman were all signed before becoming FA’s. Rodriguez, as you pointed out, signed an absurd contract that can’t be used.The problem with Beltre will always be how much value you put on his defense (which is outstanding). His offense is erratic – sometimes outstanding, often just mediocre.Using OPS+ (which does account for league/stadium/positional) he posted a score of 101. Basically league average offense for a 3rd baseman. He’s had two exceptional years since 1998, this year and his last year with the Dodgers.I like Beltre but the most I would do is 4/48 – 4/52. That probably won’t be enough but that’s all the risk I would be willing to take on.
Where does he go if not the Red Sox?? The Angels have a need and money. Detroit??
Each year of Beltre’s contract should be the same as the one he’s finishing with Boston, with contingency on performance. This would prevent him from sliding through a four or five year deal with mediocre results.