December 16, 2004
Inside the Beltre
The Seattle Mariners spent even more money today, signing NL home run champ Adrian Beltre to a huge five-year contract. Beltre was just behind Scott Rolen in win shares last year, and had the most defensive win shares of any NL third baseman.
This may be the best free agent signing of the year. A leading indicator of baseball greatness is reaching the majors at an early age. Beltre came up when he was 19, and has been a starter ever since. His jump in statistics at age 25 is more likely to be real than someone who puts their first great year at 29 or 30. Beltre is the rare free agent (like Roberto Alomar and Alex Rodriguez) who hits the market on the way up. A great job by the Mariners to acquire this youngster.
My guess is that 2004 was Beltre's career year, and he'll never see those numbers again. But I've been wrong before. ;)
Good to see there's loyalty in baseball...whoops...being a huge Dodger fan I was very disappointed in the loss of Beltre. Blows my mind that he has one big year and decides to jump ship on the team that did not give up on him when his numbers were down. Tim Wallach (hitting coach) was given credit by Beltre for helping his hitting production for this past season. Money talks and Beltre walks!!!
2800+ at bats of mediocre performance than one great year... Somehow I think the M's are getting someone whose OPS will be a lot closer to his 2003 number than his 2004 number and by the offseason after the 2006 season the M's will be looking for someone to take that contract off their hands.
Beltre, Renteria, Pavano - it's the year of the 1-year wonder. You can't blame them for "jumping ship" and cashing in, though. That's a LOT of money.
Does anybody remember a guy name Brett Boone? He had a monster year for the M's and got a long term deal. It's now albatross contract.
Do you know who the M's had playing 3rd base last year? Spiezo!! He hit like .215 and was not very good defensively, If Beltre just hits .270 and play good defense then he's a vast improvement for the M's.
I think it's awesome that the team that lost the best young free agent ever (A-Rod) got to sign the best young free agent third basement ever. Let's hope it works out for them.
'If Beltre just hits .270 and play good defense then he's a vast improvement for the M's.'
That's not much of a contribution for $13 m a year. Did the Dodgers just not want to pay Beltre?
