Texas Rangers: Beltre is a Cornerstone, Not Progress Stopper
By Reid Hanson
Adrian Beltre isn’t a progress stopper but rather the perfect cornerstone player to build the Texas Rangers youth movement around.
On Saturday, the Texas Rangers announced they came to an agreement with third baseman Adrian Beltre. The two year extension will keep the future Hall of Famer in Texas through the 2018 season, and possibly the rest of his career.
Adrian Beltre, 37, is long in the tooth but certainly doesn’t play like it. The former Gold Glove third baseman is playing among the league’s best defensively and isn’t giving up his starting spot anytime soon — no matter how tantalizing the prospect is behind him.
He provides the kind of leadership and situation-appropriate light-heartedness that every team with championship aspirations requires.
The Texas Rangers are loaded with on-the-cusp prospects, and few look better than power hitter, Joey Gallo. Joey Gallo has been blessed with power, rarely bestowed upon players these days. Texas Rangers’ fans were treated a taste of it last season when Gallo made an appearance in the majors.
Gallo’s time up wasn’t flawless, by any means. His pitch selection was enough to make Josh Hamilton cringe and his strikeout totals were simply unacceptable. But his power is something that can’t be taught, and with a little added refinement and restraint, Gallo could be a super star of the highest level.
The only thing standing between Joey Gallo and some steady on-the-job training with the Texas Rangers is the recently extended Adrian Beltre.
"“Joey’s got a ton of talent and is still very much in our plans,” President and GM Jon Daniels said."
Where exactly those plans lead Gallo remain to be seen. With limited experience at both first base and left field, a position change could be in store for the big swinging third baseman. Mitch Moreland is likely in his last season with the Texas Rangers so 1B would seem the most logical step for Gallo.
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With Adrian Beltre still playing at such a high level at 3B, it doesn’t make sense to replace or even lighten the workload for him. Gallo obviously can’t wait for Beltre to retire so a position change is inevitable, whether the Texas Rangers admit it today or not.
On paper, the situation paints Adrian Beltre as a progress stopper.
But even if Beltre is blocking the direct path for Joey Gallo, Beltre’s still a vital part of the Rangers youth movement.
Adrian Beltre’s chemistry with the team is undeniable. He provides the kind of leadership and situation-appropriate light-heartedness that every team with championship aspirations requires. As young players like Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, Rougned Odor, Hanser Alberto, Ryan Rua, and Delino DeShields carve out roles at the highest level, the leadership that Adrian Beltre provides and the example he sets, is priceless.
Next: Delino DeShields: Not Done Yet
These are the formative years for many young players on the Texas Rangers roster and while Adrian Beltre may be preventing one prospect from breaking through at his natural position, it certainly doesn’t inhibit his progression and does infinitely more good for the organization than anything resembling bad.