Adrian Beltre likely d.l. bound again

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre appears likely to be headed back to the disabled list after he was lifted mid-inning from today’s game against the Houston Astros with a hamstring issue. Beltre had just returned from the disabled list on May 8 after having missed two weeks with a hamstring strain, and reports after the game indicated that it was a different part of the hamstring that he tweaked today.

The Rangers have an off day tomorrow, and Beltre will presumably get an MRI, but it would be astonishing at this point if he avoided a return to the disabled list. Beltre has battled leg issues for the last several years, and appeared in just 94 games last season due to leg problems. As indestructible as Adrian Beltre has seemed during his time with the Rangers, at this point, it is starting to look like, at the age of 39, he may be breaking down to the point he’s not going to be able to stay on the field. As much as it pains me to admit it, we may be witnessing the final season of Adrian Beltre’s career.

The Rangers will have to make a roster move to add a bench player for Tuesday, assuming Beltre does land on the d.l. Drew Robinson is eligible to return from the disabled list on Tuesday, and if he is healthy, activating him to resume utility infielder and backup center field duties would seem to be the most likely scenario. Alternatively, the Rangers could bring Eliezer Alvarez back up, or, with a 40 man roster spot still available, even after the addition of Brandon Mann, Texas could purchase the contract of a utility type from within the organization, or add one from outside the organization.