The Angels missed out on another big-name free agent, as third baseman Adrian Beltre has agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract with the Texas Rangers. It has been reported in many places as a six-year, $96 million deal, but the fact that Texas can void the deal after 2015 makes that sixth year, at $16 million, more like a vesting option. Beltre joins Carl Crawford as "could have been Angels" this winter.
Beltre, who will turn 32 in April, hit .321/.365/.553 with 28 home runs and 102 RBI for the Red Sox in 2010. The Angels reportedly made a "significant" offer to Beltre last month, but apparently not as significant as the offer made by Texas. Per the Associated Press, Beltre will get paid the following salaries:
- 2011: $14 million
- 2012: $15 million
- 2013: $16 million
- 2014: $17 million
- 2015: $18 million
- 2016: $16 million; can be voided by Texas "if Beltre fails to have either 1,200 plate appearances in 2014-15 combined or 600 in 2015"
The biggest free agent remaining on the market is closer Rafael Soriano, although he seems an unlikely fit for the Angels. The Angels already have $9.3 million committed to relievers Fernando Rodney and Hisanori Takahashi in 2011. A more likely scenario for the Angels would be to pursue designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, who left the Angels after 2009 and signed with Texas. Mike Digiovanna of the Los Angeles Times suggests that very scenario, for the return of Guerrero, who hit .300/.345/.496 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI for the Rangers in 2010.
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