MLB Trade Rumors: Adrian Beltre Signs With the Red Sox

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 5, 2010 9:00 AM EST in Baseball Comment 2 comments

Last night Adrian Beltre signed with the Red Sox on a one year deal for $9 million with a player option for 2011 at $5 million with a $1 million buyout. Is it me, or did Scott Boras make the wrong decision for declining arbitration with the Mariners? Beltre could have made about $12-13 million in arbitration, and now he settles for $9 million with a better team though.

I wrote about a possible Beltre to the Red Sox rumor back on Dec. 11th here where I suggested the move to Boston would be good for Beltre. Fantasy owners should not hesitate to draft Beltre as he will be surrounded with quality hitters in the Red Sox lineup.

Bill James predicts Beltre to go 17-68-10-.269-.321-.439-.760 in 2010. I have to think those are low for Beltre hitting in the Sox lineup in 2010. This signing moves Kevin Youkilis to first base on a full time basis and makes Casey Kotchman trade bait or a backup.

In my previous article, I opined that Beltre could go 25-95 in the Red Sox lineup. What do you think?

Poll

Can Adrian Beltre go 25-95 in the Red Sox lineup in 2010?

Yes, the park and lineup increases his value as well.

157 votes

No, he has never performed to expectations.

57 votes

214 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Contract

Beltre is playing for his last long-term contract, as currently defined in the ’10s. The question is how well his 3rd time does. Will it match his 2nd or his 1st? Can he do it like his 1st with all the attention on PEDS of all types?

by faketeams on Jan 5, 2010 11:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Beltre

I always challenge the notion that Beltre’s ‘04 season was the direct result of PED’s. Of course looking at his career stats it’s easy to ascertain that ‘04 was the outlier. But realistically what are the chances that he only took PED’s for one season? Highly unlikely. I think he’s always been on them (along with the rest of the league) and ’04 was simply the result of career highs in skills across the board as well as a luck-induced HR/F. He tied a career high in BB%, had a career season in CT%, and lucked into a .330 BABIP (career number is around .290). His established HR/F is about 12.5% and in ’04 he put up a 23%!

So… was he on PED’s? Yes almost definitely, IMO. But 2004 was more the result of a decent hitter in a contract year putting up career skills and lucking into a huge HR/F%.

by ILLZ on Jan 5, 2010 2:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs