EVAN, 8:47 PM Someone pinch me… feels like I’m dreaming. Peter Gammons reports the Red Sox have inked Beltre to a one-year deal worth $9 million, with a player option for an additional $5 million. (Roche concurs.)
Not only do the Sox get a vacuum at third, they get someone who can contribute above-average offensively, the poor 2009 season notwithstanding. The move to Fenway should greatly help matters. Beltre is quite similar to Mike Cameron offensively — generally good for around 20 home runs, 10 stolen bases, a .250-.270 batting average and iffy plate discipline. For the price the club signed him at, it is a flat out steal.
Why would Beltre accept one year? Simple. Because of his time in a pitcher’s park that is Seattle, he had seen his value drop precipitously to the point where no one was willing to give him the contract Scott Boras wanted — a three- or four-year deal worth at least $10 million annually. Beltre’s .265/.304/.379 line scared a lot of people off, although he was hobbled by injuries most of the year. In June, he had surgery for a bone spur then — guys, brace yourselves — fractured his testicle in August.
Beltre gets to re-establish his value on a contender making around the annual salary he had hoped to get in multiple years. He can go back on the market next year at age 32 after having done so and get a better long-term deal than he was fielding currently. If he fails with the bat yet again, he protects himself with a player option for $5 million… but at $5 million, the Sox will certainly take that risk.
Make no mistake about it: having someone of Beltre’s defensive wizardry and potential not to embarrass himself at the plate at a scant one-year deal is tremendous.
I’ll leave you with his home/road splits over the last three years:
2009: .250/.283/.364 home, .279/.324/.393 road
2008: .230/.303/.400 home, .292/.349/.512 road
2007: .264/.319/.426 home, .288/.320/.538 road
LEE, 8:25 PM Peter Abraham reports that The Red Sox have agreed on a deal with third baseman Adrian Beltre
Peter Gammons is reporting that Beltre would be paid $9 million in 2010. The option would be worth $5 million. In essence, it’s a two-year deal with an opt-out after one year.
All in all, Beltre at this price for even one year is a great addition to the Sox defensively. We’ll take a look at Beltre’s offensive production shortly, but defensively the upgrade at third base is spectacular.
More to come as things roll in.
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Talk is also going that the Red Sox have talked to the Mets about a Lowell for Castillo deal. Makes sense financially since both have 12 million due to them. Castillo is due 12 over the next two seasons though.
Don't buy it… no need for Castillo
True, but we don't need Lowell either.
Maybe Theo knows of a team that likes Castillo, but not at the current price and is willing to eat a portion of Castillo's salary for a particular prospect? Obviously this is pure speculation, but otherwise I just can't see how this trade makes any sense, because as little as we need Lowell now, we need Castillo even less.
gets us below lux tax, right?
I hadn't even thought of that but yeah that's a really good point.
What a deal!!!! Short money to watch the player. If he has a breakout year we sign him long-term. If he has an off year we can cut bait and go after the other Adrian again. I think the biggest thing is we signed a Boras client and did not handcuff ourselves. Well done Theo
This is one of the more confusing offseasons in recent memory, I'll say that.
Beltre on a one-year deal. This is the best possible situation, gives the Sox a bridge until A-Gone hits free agency or Lars Anderson pans out. Excellent move all around.
But building bridges is bad!
/excited
WOOHOO! What a steal. I am psyched to see what he can do in Fenway, and I would've been psyched up to 4/36. 1 year at 9m is awesome, just awesome.
Welcome to Boston, Adrian, and meet our big LF wall.
Yo Adrian. Welcome to Boston. Great range at third and his bare handed charge on a bunt is one of the best I even seen, cup or no cup. Just in time for Little Christmas.
Why do I continue to be so surprised by these signings? Scutaro, Lackey, Cameron, and now Beltre! seems like Theo and the boys decided to upgrade via free-agency a year too late if you ask me. I thought this Free Agent class was weak…
I think the difference is that this year they got players on short money (w/ the exception of Lackey). The Beltre deal gives them breathing room to see how Anderson bounces back from injuries and hold out until Gonzales hits free agency. The Cameron deal gives them time to see how Westmoreland develops and the Scutaro deal give them time on Iglesias. I think we'll see one more signing: Chapman.
Great deal. I thought we were going to pay him that much per year on a 3 or 4 year deal. This is very exciting. At this price they may even consider keeping Lowell. Man, this defense has me salivating already.
Beltre simply makes this defense watertight. With the 'new' Sox, a team doesn't want to face this Rotation. They also know that if they knock out the starter, they don't want to face this Pen; and if they hit the ball on the ground, they are probably out; and if they hit the ball in the air, they are probably out. Teams will have fits strategizing against the pitching and defense of this Red Sox team.
On the other hand, the Sox offense has 7 starters who will hit 20-30HR, and 12 players who will be doubles & triples machines for a team which will again lead the league in doubles BUT with more on-base speed than ever before.
One year of Beltre doesn't block AGon, Lars, Bates, Rizzo, and will provide GG defense, speed & 25HR. Very sorry for the loss of Mike & Casey Kotchman, who would probably surprise everyone this year with their offense. But IMO this team is now a WS contender.