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Texas Rangers, Say It Ain’t So: Trading Adrian Beltre

By Jared Pelham Stuart

ST PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 18: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers looks on during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 18, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 18: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers looks on during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 18, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 27: Joc Pederson #31, Cody Bellinger #35 and Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after the final out against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on May 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Dodger won 6-1. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

So who will it be?

You might notice that I left a few teams off this list. 

Personally, I think the Brewers would do better to improve themselves in other places than third base. Travis Shaw has been a steady player, and the Brewers may have greater needs to spend their prospects on. 

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Also, the Beltre/Dodgers talk has been loud this season, and with good reason. It’s romantic (the Dodgers signed Beltre, and he debuted with the club in 1998), and practical (Justin Turner could shift to second base, where Chase Utley and Kike Hernandez are hitting a combined .219).

It really does make a lot of sense, but, I just don’t like it, because it means that the Dodgers really are going to crawl out from the basement of the West (which they are), trade for a guy like Beltre (which they probably will), and bully their way back to the World Series (which, well, they probably will). 

A year ago I would have begged for Walker Buehler, but that’s long gone. I’d personally like to see a package involving Caleb Ferguson and Keibert Ruiz, but that might require a throw-in on the part of the Rangers (say, Keone Kela or Alex Claudio).

It’s going to be a sad, sad day when Beltre dons a new cap, for a new team. But this is baseball, and baseball doesn’t really care what you think, or, especially, what you feel. 

Texas should, and will, trade their beloved third baseman, as he will, with his leaving, usher in new blood for the Rangers and their future. Perhaps Isiah Kiner-Falefa will continue his ascent; perhaps it will be someone else (Josh Morgan? Chris Seise?) who takes over the hot corner for years to come.

Next: 4 Trade Possibilities for Cole Hamels

In any case, Texas has great opportunity in a Beltre trade to improve themselves moving forward. Watch him while you can, folks — July is just around the corner. 

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