Rangers reach two-year extension with Adrian Beltre
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The Texas Rangers and third baseman Adrian Beltre have reached a two-year contract extension that will keep him in Arlington through the 2018 season, the team announced on Saturday.
He will make $18 million per year.
Beltre was expected to hit the free-agent market after this season. Both parties began discussing a contract extension during spring training. He has averaged $16 million per year in his six seasons with the Rangers.
Beltre is coming off a season in which he hit 18 home runs with 83 RBIs and posted a .287 batting average in 143 games.
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Beltre turned 37 on April 5 and is in his 19th major league season. He has hit 419 home runs and 2,780 hits in his career with the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers. With one more hit, he will tie Ken Griffey Jr. for No. 50 on the all-time list.
“I feel like I am 25,” Beltre said Saturday. “Age is just a number. I'm still playing like I thought I would. There is no doubt the motivation is there. The motivation to win is always there. The challenge to beat the team is always there. If that's not there, I might contemplate retirement, but I still feel great.”
Before his career comes to an end, he could become the first player born in the Dominican Republic to reach 3,000 hits for his career.
