Red Sox sign Adrian Beltre

[Big_Matt34]

Atleast according to Gordon Edes, says it was down to the Sox/A's/Angels/Orioles, Jon Heyman said the same earlier. The O's signed Atkins so i cant see them going all out, Ken Rosenthal and Buster Olney just tweeted that the A's tried their best but have now dropped out, the Angels make sense but why would they pay for Beltre after not giving Figgins 9 million a year.

Peter Abraham/Amalie Benjamin of the Globe are both also reporting they have offered him a deal, and that Beltre is close to picking a team. If its for 8 million or so a year id love it, think he'd hit .275 with 25 homers here ontop of playing elite defense. Anyways, here is the story

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=4795915

Terms and timing of the offer were not disclosed, but given the likely drop in Beltre's market and the Red Sox's proximity to the luxury tax threshold, it would make sense for the team to have offered a two-year deal that is heavily backloaded in the second year. It remains to be seen, however, if that will be enough to entice Beltre.

The source had indicated last week that even after the Mike Lowell trade with Texas was nullified by the Rangers, the Red Sox had quietly continued their pursuit of Beltre through agent Scott Boras, and those conversations have now reached the stage of an offer, with Beltre close to making a decision.

[Donoghus]

Well, the years and money are a lot better than the numbers that were being thrown around originally. 

I'm still not enamored of Beltre but 2 years would be a lot more reasonable in my eyes.

[Big_Matt34]

http://twitter.com/SI_jonHeyman

adrian beltre is close to a deal with the #redsox, si.com has learned. story should be up soon.
9 minutes ago from web

If its around 8-10 million for 2 years and a option year ill be very happy. This lineup is pretty good offensively and the best in baseball defensively.

Ellsbury
Pedroia
Victor
Youk
Ortiz
Drew
Beltre
Scutaro
Cameron

[winsomme]

definitely not a fan of this deal.

the sox don't need more decent hitters that get exposed in the postseason.... personally i'd rather just keep Lowell. this is 8 million that needs to be directed toward a feared hitter.

this is just another reason for them to not go after what they actually need.

[Big_Matt34]

this is 8 million that needs to be directed toward a feared hitter.

Like who? Theres no FA's on the market, A-Gon/Miggy/Hanley arent going to be traded, atleast not anytime soon unless you overpay bigtime.

The Red Sox have no faith in Lowell to be able to play 3rd anymore, and id trust their medical people. You get Beltre without giving up any prospects or Clay/Ellsbury, which is big for Theo. He is arguably the best defensive 3B in baseball, and he has always hit great outside of Safeco. The Sox just have to hope he is more the player from 2006-2008 and last year was a result of the injuries, if you get the version of him from 06-08 he will hit around .275 with 25-30 homers, which is a very good player when you take his defense into account.

[winsomme]

http://twitter.com/SI_jonHeyman

adrian beltre is close to a deal with the #redsox, si.com has learned. story should be up soon.
9 minutes ago from web

If its around 8-10 million for 2 years and a option year ill be very happy. This lineup is pretty good offensively and the best in baseball defensively.

Ellsbury
Pedroia
Victor
Youk
Ortiz
Drew
Beltre
Scutaro
Cameron

I think the Sox front office is trying to put together a lineup that has no weak hitters, but IMO absolutely need those middle of the lineup guys that teams don't want to pitch to.

this is the kind of lineup that looks good during the regular season but gets exposed in the postseason....

[Big_Matt34]

Sounds like its 2 years for 20 million, i dont care about the money so much as the years, and 2 years is a good deal.

SI_JonHeyman

beltre boston deal likely for 2 years but also will include an player opt-out clause. whatever, nobody's improving like #redsox this winter

[winsomme]

this is 8 million that needs to be directed toward a feared hitter.

Like who? Theres no FA's on the market, A-Gon/Miggy/Hanley arent going to be traded, atleast not anytime soon unless you overpay bigtime.

The Red Sox have no faith in Lowell to be able to play 3rd anymore, and id trust their medical people. You get Beltre without giving up any prospects or Clay/Ellsbury, which is big for Theo. He is arguably the best defensive 3B in baseball, and he has always hit great outside of Safeco. The Sox just have to hope he is more the player from 2006-2008 and last year was a result of the injuries, if you get the version of him from 06-08 he will hit around .275 with 25-30 homers, which is a very good player when you take his defense into account.

i would overpay (in terms of prospects) to get a guy that actually fills a need....beltre is a sideways move that just takes money that needs to be put toward an A-Gon type.

[yall hate]

Sounds like its 2 years for 20 million, i dont care about the money so much as the years, and 2 years is a good deal.

SI_JonHeyman

beltre boston deal likely for 2 years but also will include an player opt-out clause. whatever, nobody's improving like #redsox this winter

if thats the deal, its a good one for the sox.  beltre will improve their defense immeasurably, get lowell off the field, and not break the bank (they could still make a deal for someone come trade deadline).

solid deal if true.

[winsomme]

Sounds like its 2 years for 20 million, i dont care about the money so much as the years, and 2 years is a good deal.

SI_JonHeyman

beltre boston deal likely for 2 years but also will include an player opt-out clause. whatever, nobody's improving like #redsox this winter

this is insane....just pony up the prospects and get something we need....10 million??

this just makes me even more worried that they either don't know what we really need or just aren't going to get that type of move done.

[Big_Matt34]

if thats the deal, its a good one for the sox.  beltre will improve their defense immeasurably, get lowell off the field, and not break the bank (they could still make a deal for someone come trade deadline).

solid deal if true.

If Gammons is right you will like it even more. Nobody can complain about a one year deal, if he sucks then they can easily afford to make a trade for a big hitterl ike A-Gon.

http://twitter.com/Pgammo

Beltre 1 yr. Deal for $9m with player option for $5m. Physical coming

[winsomme]

Sounds like its 2 years for 20 million, i dont care about the money so much as the years, and 2 years is a good deal.

SI_JonHeyman

beltre boston deal likely for 2 years but also will include an player opt-out clause. whatever, nobody's improving like #redsox this winter

if thats the deal, its a good one for the sox.  beltre will improve their defense immeasurably, get lowell off the field, and not break the bank (they could still make a deal for someone come trade deadline).

solid deal if true.

are you sure this doesn't break the bank?

this move makes me very concerned that they have no intention of getting a feared hitter for the middle of our order.

[Big_Matt34]

are you sure this doesn't break the bank?

this move makes me very concerned that they have no intention of getting a feared hitter for the middle of our order.

Look at all the players the Sox have had to eat their contracts, they can easily afford it if needed. I dont think thaty will be necessary as i think Beltre does good here, but if not they will definately go out and improve the team if needed.

[winsomme]

if thats the deal, its a good one for the sox.  beltre will improve their defense immeasurably, get lowell off the field, and not break the bank (they could still make a deal for someone come trade deadline).

solid deal if true.

If Gammons is right you will like it even more. Nobody can complain about a one year deal, if he sucks then they can easily afford to make a trade for a big hitterl ike A-Gon.

http://twitter.com/Pgammo

Beltre 1 yr. Deal for $9m with player option for $5m. Physical coming

i yr i can deal with....still sounds like a move to give them way to explain not going after what they need and makes that move less likely.

again, this is a lineup that gets exposed in the postseason but makes it seem like you don't have any weak links.... frustrating.

[winsomme]

are you sure this doesn't break the bank?

this move makes me very concerned that they have no intention of getting a feared hitter for the middle of our order.

Look at all the players the Sox have had to eat their contracts, they can easily afford it if needed. I dont think thaty will be necessary as i think Beltre does good here, but if not they will definately go out and improve the team if needed.

i hope you're right, but they seem very wary of this lux tax threshold.

this seems like Theo's "this team is good enough to win" rationale.....