Mitch Moreland, Adrian Beltre win Gold Gloves

Mitch Moreland and Adrian Beltre, Gold Glove winners: The Rawlings Gold Glove winner for first base in the American League is Mitch Moreland, who spent the 2016 season with the Texas Rangers.

(I started to call him Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland, but of course, he’s a free agent).

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, meanwhile, was named the Gold Glove winner for third base.

That’s a nice honor for Moreland, who has garnered praise for his glove work at first base for a number of years now. Its the fourth time a Ranger has gotten the award for first base -- Mark Teixeira won in 2005 and 2006, and Rafael Palmeiro won in 1999.

Beltre, meanwhile, has won the award for the third time as a Ranger, and the fifth time overall. Given that Beltre will go down as one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, that seems light, but hey, five is still pretty awesome. This is the ninth time a Ranger third baseman has won — Buddy Bell won six straight times, from 1979-1984.

Jonathan Lucroy was also a finalist for a Gold Glove, as a catcher, in the National League segment.

Former Ranger Ian Kinsler, meanwhile, picked up the award for second base in the American League. I mention that because he’s a former Ranger, and because he’s still one of my favorite players.