T.R. Sullivan says that a deal between the Rangers and Adrian Beltre is close, is expected to be at $14-16 million per year for five or six years, but likely won't be official until later this week.
In the words of the son of Roxie Roker, baby, it ain't over til its over, but this is looking like it is pretty close to done.
This would give the Rangers a terrific infield defense, allow Michael Young to DH about 90 times per year with another 60-70 starts at various infield positions, allow the Rangers more positional flexibility in using the DH spot to spell guys like Josh Hamilton, and overall makes the Rangers better in 2011.
The issue is going to be what this means for the 2012-13 offseason, when the Rangers will have several players eligible for free agency, including Josh Hamilton, and 2015 and 2016, when Beltre is going to be potentially receiving a lot of money when he will be, at best, an average player.
But that's for later...right now, the Rangers look pretty strong...