RADIO
Adrian Beltre Keeps Producing In Old Age
7 years agoTexas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre suffered a slew of injuries in 2017, limiting him to just 94 games. The result is a far more modest counting stats line than fantasy owners are accustomed to, producing just 17 home runs, 47 runs, and 71 RBI. When he was on the field, however, Beltre raked. He slashed .312/.383/.532 while producing solid-to-elite level contact metrics and striking out just 13.4% of at-bats. It must be said that by Opening Day, the former All-Star will be 39 and few players produce value into their late-thirties, especially at such a demanding defensive position. The injuries suffered last season may be the result of age, and it would be reasonable to expect some level of wear and tear in 2018. That said, Beltre is in great shape and has shown no decline with the bat. His age will depress his value on draft day, but savvy owners would be wise to pounce on him if he falls past the seventh round.
