St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran is having an amazing season. He has been a driving force in for the Cards this year, helping them attain the MLB’s best record midway through the season.
Beltran, 36, has had an outstanding career and, if he retired today, could very well be headed to the Hall of Fame. However, hanging up his bat and glove, isn’t in the switch-hitter’s plans for the near future, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“I would say three more years, just to say a number,” said Beltran. His contract with the Cardinals is up at the end of the 2013 season.
“This is my 15th (season). If I could do (three more), that would be a good career for me. Now that I have heard a lot about (the Hall of Fame) I do think about it, and let’s hope I can stay healthy for the remaining three, maybe three, four years,” he said. Beltran’s career numbers include a .283 BA with 353 homers and 1,296 RBIs. He also has 308 stolen bases.
"If I can stay healthy and play in the game to the level I’m playing right now, who knows, man? … I could be close.”
The former New York Mets outfielder has a .309 BA in 2013 to go along with 19 homeruns and 53 RBIs. Last season, his first with the Cardinals, he batted .269 with 32 homeruns and 97 RBI.s
While Beltran’s foot speed is not where it was in its prime, hit bat speed seems to be just fine. If he continues on this pace for the next three years he could have more than 400 homeruns and 1,500 RBIs as a switch hitter—almost assuring him a spot in the MLB Hall of Fame.
*Stats according to ESPN.com
