Red Sox Sign Adrian Beltre

[IcyPatriot]

Red Sox reach deal with Adrian Beltre | NECN

(NECN) - CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam reports that the Red Sox have reached a deal to sign free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Beltre will be paid $9 million in 2010, with a $5 million player option for 2011.

Beltre was offered salary arbitration by the Seattle Mariners by declined. He hit .265 with eight home runs and 44 RBI last season.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Adrian Beltre A Great Signing For Red Sox | Around the Majors

And, as the sum of his parts, Beltre is a fine player. Indeed, FanGraphs’ fan projections project him to be worth 4.1 wins in ‘10. If so, that would make him an incredible bargain. Even accounting for a likely defensive regression with UZR, he is a safe bet to fall in the 2.5-win range, meaning he will live up to his paycheck with relative ease.

He improves the team defense and is a definite upgrade over an aging Mike Lowell, who will now have to be moved as a result; according to Jerry Crasnick, the New York Mets and Red Sox are discussing a potential Luis Castillo-for-Lowell swap.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Its gonna be a lonnnnng season.

 

[Titus Pullo]

ummm, where would Lowell play in Queens? They have the best third baseman in baseball already.

 

[DarrylS]

The Red Sox are starting to look like an NL team....

 

[bigcountry75]

ummm, where would Lowell play in Queens? They have the best third baseman in baseball already.

The Mets want him as a First baseman.....They would have 2 old First baseman in Delgado and Lowell

 

[patsfanofNC12]

I like this move and feel we are ready for the season now. Four potential gold glovers in the infield in Beltre, Scutaro, Pedroia, and Youk. Then Cameron, Ellsbury, and Drew in the outfield who are all good defensive outfielders. As well as the fact that this group should all be able to swing the bat well. I think Beltre could have a similar season to his MVP one in L.A. This field will fit him perfectly because he hits long fly balls to left. Safeco Field was bad for him because it is a large park, but with the monster Fenway will be perfect for him. I am now pumped up about this season!!!

We did a good job of singing good free agents to fit the pieces we need and not giving away all our talent in the minors.

We also have V-Mart at Catcher who is solid defense and great offense.

 

[bigcountry75]

I like this move and feel we are ready for the season now. Four potential gold glovers in the infield in Beltre, Scutaro, Pedroia, and Youk. Then Cameron, Ellsbury, and Drew in the outfield who are all good defensive outfielders. As well as the fact that this group should all be able to swing the bat well. I think Beltre could have a similar season to his MVP one in L.A. This field will fit him perfectly because he hits long fly balls to left. Safeco Field was bad for him because it is a large park, but with the monster Fenway will be perfect for him. I am now pumped up about this season!!!

We did a good job of singing good free agents to fit the pieces we need and not giving away all our talent in the minors.

I would just like to see 1 more veteran arm in the bullpen.....I don't know who but someone solid with a good track record

 

[patsfanofNC12]

I would just like to see 1 more veteran arm in the bullpen.....I don't know who but someone solid with a good track record

I agree with you there, one more vet arm in the bullpen wouldn't hurt.

 

[Run DMC]

No power in this lineup. Stinkees are going to repeat. Don't be surprised to see Tampa take the WC, either.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I would just like to see 1 more veteran arm in the bullpen.....I don't know who but someone solid with a good track record

Yes ... we seem a bit week in the secondary relievers ... the middle inning eaters.

However - I have been saying for a few years that I would like to see Theo use that position on the AAA or AA guys ready to breakthrough ... perhaps that will be the direction as the season rolls along.

 

[resdubwhite]

although it is a quality signing I do agree the Red Sox are going to miss a really strong bat. Unless Big Papi can turn it around.

They won't give up many runs but their ability to score is weakened. Although it is a productive off sason

 

[Real World]

The Sox will have a long line up, but not necessarily a meaty one. They better hope Ortiz has a bounce back, contract type year. It's certainly possible. If he does then they'll be ok with a 2, 3, 4, 5 of Pedroia, Ortiz, Vmart, Youk in some order. If not, then they'll struggle scoring against good pitching, just like they did this year. Defensively the team is top notch. We'll see how the phylosophy plays out over 162 games. Defense is important, but I think the metrics are an unproven science. Depending on defensive metrics too much, could prove to be flawed in the end. We'll see I guess. The Yankees should maul mediocre pitching with their line-up, and over 162 game regular season, that could prove to be the difference.

 

[patsfanofNC12]

No power in this lineup. Stinkees are going to repeat. Don't be surprised to see Tampa take the WC, either.

The Red Sox may not have that one 35-40 hr hitter, but they a lot of guys that can hit anywhere in between 10-35 home runs. Just because we don't have one huge bat doesn't mean that we are screwed.

 

[captain insano]

if the team stays the way it is now they are going nowhere fast imo. there offense is going to suck big time. i think the fo already has its eyes on next years free agent market. there will be a tone of money coming off the books after this year. this year is a write off.

 

[TapDancing39]

if the team stays the way it is now they are going nowhere fast imo. there offense is going to suck big time. i think the fo already has its eyes on next years free agent market. there will be a tone of money coming off the books after this year. this year is a write off.

No, if you look at it at a different perspective.. they've improved their offense. Scutaro is an offensive upgrade from Gonzalez, and he's a guy who's getting better every year. Even in his mid-30's.

We now have V-Mart for a full season, which means an extra 80-100 games. Varitek is our back up catcher, no more Kottaras.. another upgrade. Mike Cameron has some pop in his bat and can hit around 25 homers. As for Beltre, I believe he can really improve his power numbers at Fenway.. 30+ homerun potential. Another thing is that if Ortiz can prove himself at the beginning of the season instead of getting into a major slump, there's another 30+ homerun hitter.

No way does their lineup suck, the Red Sox are better all around!

 

[ausbacker]

No, if you look at it at a different perspective.. they've improved their offense. Scutaro is an offensive upgrade from Gonzalez, and he's a guy who's getting better every year. Even in his mid-30's.

We now have V-Mart for a full season, which means an extra 80-100 games. Varitek is our back up catcher, no more Kottaras.. another upgrade. Mike Cameron has some pop in his bat and can hit around 25 homers. As for Beltre, I believe he can really improve his power numbers at Fenway.. 30+ homerun potential. Another thing is that if Ortiz can prove himself at the beginning of the season instead of getting into a major slump, there's another 30+ homerun hitter.

No way does their lineup suck, the Red Sox are better all around!

This is a most optimistic view though. Somewhere in the middle of this is probably a more apt projection.

 

[TapDancing39]

You're talking to a pessimist here.

I believe Beltre's offensive numbers can turn around playing at Fenway. He played at Safeco Field before and hit around 25 homers a year. Safeco is perhaps the most unfriendly ball park for righty pull hitters like Beltre. The Green Monster should be VERY friendly for him to play with. If his power numbers can reach 30+ homers and maintain a .270 or .280 average, I believe he has the potential be a better offensive option than Jason Bay... who is a strikeout machine (K-Bay) and can only hit high fastballs.

Mike Cameron and Adrian Beltre can provide just as much pop as Jason Bay and Mike Lowell could together... And who led the AL in homeruns from June to the end of the season? Big Papi. Let's hope he can somehow bounce back this season.