Account
Carlos Beltran Reportedly Agrees to Contract with Astros
Carlos Beltran may be entering his age-40 season in 2017, but the veteran outfielder/designated hitter reportedly has cashed in after a productive 2016 season.
Continue for updates.
Beltran Reportedly Agrees to Deal with Astros
Saturday, Dec. 3
Beltran has agreed to a contract with the Houston Astros, per Buster Olney of ESPN. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported it is a one-year, $16 million deal with a full no-trade clause.
Houston's interest in Beltran was first reported on Nov. 9 by Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
Yankees Reportedly Eyeing Beltran
Thursday, Dec. 1
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the New York Yankees are among the "hottest" teams pursuing Beltran.
Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported on Nov. 8 that the Yankees were "seriously looking" at Beltran in addition to Edwin Encarnacion.
"Beltran is a guy they are familiar with and like very much, and it wouldn't be a shock if the Yankees bring him back," Heyman reported. "Beltran, a former longtime New York Met, is known to love New York, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he came back to the Bronx."
Rangers Have Interest in Beltran Reunion
Thursday, Dec. 1
Nightengale reported the Texas Rangers are still targeting Beltran after Feinsand's Nov. 9 report that the Rangers were pursuing the outfielder after his stint with the club.
Red Sox Could Make Play for Beltran
Thursday, Dec. 1
Nightengale reported the Boston Red Sox are a top suitor for Beltran on the open market.
The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham speculated on Nov. 8 that the Red Sox could be a contender to sign Beltran if they're priced out of the market for other sluggers.
Beltran Holds Value at DH for Contending Teams
Splitting time between the Rangers and Yankees, Beltran reached his ninth All-Star Game last season. Transitioning into more of a DH role, he had a .295/.337/.513 slash line along with 29 home runs and 93 runs batted in.
Perhaps most importantly, he appeared in 151 games after missing 82 combined games between 2014 and 2015.
Expecting Beltran to repeat his 2016 power numbers may be unrealistic, but he has averaged a little over 23 homers and 79 RBI a season going back to 2011. That kind of consistency is generally lacking in much of this year's free-agent class.
While Beltran is no longer a Gold Glove-caliber defender, his work at the plate will be enough to make him a valuable pickup for the Astros.