It’s official; Beltre to Rangers

There’s a new third baseman in town. Texas has agreed to sign the All Star third baseman Adrian Beltre to what is reported to be a 6 year 90-100 million dollar contract. Beltre will be in Texas tomorrow for a physical to finalize the deal. Since Beltre was a type A free agent, Texas will be forced to surrender their number one pick to Boston. Now, I’ve heard a lot of people say Beltre is being ridiculously overpaid, I for one completely disagree. Just think Michael Young is getting paid 16 million dollars next season. Jayson Werth is getting paid 18 million. Beltre in my opinion, is better than both considering what he can do in the field and with the bat. If the reports are correct and Beltre did agree to a 6 year 96 million dollar deal, that averages out to 16 million per season. And if I had the choice to give that to Young or Beltre, I would give it to Beltre in a heartbeat, and I’m hopefully most of you would do the same. In this offseason market I would say 16 million per season is a bargain.

As I posted just yesterday, I am a huge fan of this deal. This gives the Rangers a huge threat in the middle of the lineup along with gold glove defense. One person who will be happy about this deal is Josh Hamilton, who will no doubt love the protection Beltre provides. In 2010, Beltre provided the Boston Red Sox with an all star season, putting together a line of .321/.365/.553 in 641 plate appearances. Along with Beltre’s all star bat, the guy can do work with the glove as well, posting a 12.7 UZR/150. Beltre is a dynamic player who can do above average things on both sides on the ball. But, how will this effect the everyday lineup? I put together my version of the lineup, keep in my I am not the manager of the Rangers, in case you didn’t know.

I’m going to do two lineups, one as if the seasons were to start today and one in what I think it will look like come opening day.

Today’s lineup:

SS Elvis Andrus – R
2B Ian Kinsler – R
CF Josh Daniels – L
3B Adrian Beltre – R
RF Nelson Cruz – R
DH Michael Young – R
LF Daniel Murphy – L
C Yorvit Torrealba
1B Mitch Moreland – L

My projected opening day lineup:

SS Elvis Andrus – R
2B Ian Kinsler – R
CF Josh Daniels – L
DH Vladimir Guerrero – R
3B Adrian Beltre – R
RF Nelson Cruz – R
LF Daniel Murphy – L
C Yorvit Torrealba
1B Mitch Moreland – L

You’ll notice that I do not have Michael Young listed in my version of the lineup. I think Young has more value as a trade piece, if the Rangers pitch in some money, than a guy off the bench. Also, I would not be comfortable having a guy making 16 million dollars with little pop as my team’s DH. I’d rather throw in some money for a trade and dish out 8 million to bring back Vlad. One things for sure, the 2011 Rangers left side of the infield will be a defense any pitcher will comfortable with.