Pay day awaits Beltre by Jared Carrabis
Adrian Beltre declines 2011 option with Red Sox worth $10 million


(Extra Bases) -- Not that this will come as any surprise, but a Major League source told the Globe that Adrian Beltre officially informed the Red Sox he has declined his $10 million option for 2011.

When 2010 was just five days old, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein reeled in Scott Boras client Adrian Beltre to take over as Boston's full-time third baseman.

Rebounding from an injury-plagued 2009, and an underperforming tenure as a Seattle Mariner in which Beltre signed a 5-year, $64 million deal to play in the Rainy City, the Red Sox acquired Beltre's services at a bargain rate -- one year, $10 million, with a player option for 2011 worth $5 million.

Beltre's $5 million player option for 2011 was increased to $10 million once the third baseman reached 640 plate appearances in 2010. On October 1, Beltre left the mathematically eliminated Red Sox to be with his pregnant wife, freezing his at-bats total for the season at 641.

"If you ask everyone down there, they love him, myself included. He was a real treat," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "We were used to seeing him from the other side of the field. We saw what he could do defensively, you'd see that sparkling play every once in a while, and he'd beat us with a big swing. But when you see him every day -- beat up -- he's a real pro."

The one-year deal worked out perfectly for both parties. Beltre, who claims he took less money to come to Boston for the chance to play for a championship, boosted his value through the roof while playing in Boston, and the Red Sox got a power-hitting corner infielder with Gold Glove caliber defense. It was a perfect match, but it possibly could be a short-lived fit.

"[Beltre] is going to have some [decisions]," Francona said of Beltre. "He was pretty honest about what he was doing here. He was coming kind of on a make good, and he made pretty good. It worked out for everybody. Now, where it goes will be interesting."

Beltre exceeded all expectations here in Boston, as the right-hander hit for a .321 average and .919 OPS, ranking fourth and fifth in the American League respectively. Beltre's 49 doubles were tops in the AL, as his 102 RBI in 2010 marked the second time in his career that he eclipsed the 100-RBI plateau. The first time Beltre knocked home 100+ was back in 2004 during his NL MVP runner-up season in which the third baseman hit 48 homers and drove in 121 runs.

For the fans that are convinced he only had a stellar season because of Fenway Park, think again. Beltre actually hit for a higher average on the road (.327) than he did at home (.314), and popped more homers away from Fenway (15) than at Fenway (13). While the numbers are good no matter where you put him, they were better on the road, which should be great leverage for Boras to use.

In the predictions of many, and in the words of LeBron James, Adrian Beltre will not be taking his talents to Boston next season. He's a west coast guy, and that's where his family resides. His one season with Boston was the only year he played on a team that didn't play 81 home games on the west coast.

If the Red Sox can lure his family to the east coast, he surely enjoyed his teammates and the experience of playing in Boston, but it may be too tall of a task for the Red Sox to handle. The interest is there on the Red Sox' part to bring him back, but between his family situation, and the fact that Scott Boras is his agent, I'd have to say that the odds, unfortunately, are not in Boston's favor.

Then again, you never know. In Theo We Trust.

-Jared Carrabis

Published on November 03, 2010

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