Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniel recently said the club doesn't usually negotiate contracts during the season, but an exception could be made for All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre. However, the four-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner doesn't exactly feel the same way.
Beltre said the only way a resolution would come during the season is if the Rangers presented an offer that would allow him to flat-out say "yes" or "no."
His agent, Scott Boras, proposed an extension to the Rangers two weeks ago, but Beltre never heard back even though Daniels said this weekend he had planned to speak with Boras.
"I'm not negotiating. I told them that. It's not fair for my teammates. I don't ever want to be a distraction," Beltre told Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Belter turns 37 on Thursday and previous rumors suggested he's looking for a three-year contract that will pay him $19 million per season. It's unknown if the Rangers would be willing to pay an aging player that much money when they have third base prospect Joey Gallo in the minors getting ready to become an everyday player at the MLB level.
Additionally, Texas has a number of hefty commitments over the next few seasons ($24 million per season for Prince Fielder from 2016-2020, $23.5 million for Cole Hamels from 2016-2018, $20 million for Shin-Soo Choo from 2016-2020 and $15 million for Elvis Andrus from 2016-2020). The team will also likely explore signing Yu Davish to another big deal since he'll be a free agent after 2017.
Then again, maybe the Rangers are putting together an offer Boras and Beltre would sign without hesitation, considering there's a mutual desire for him to retire as a member of the team after his monumental contributions over the past five seasons.
While he is aging, he's showing no signs of declining. He's batting .309/.358/.514 with 427 runs scored, 135 home runs and 460 RBI in 733 games with Texas and put up good numbers last season as he dealt with a number off injuries. It'll be hard for Daniels to watch Beltre walk in free agency because he's the heart and soul of the club.
