So Long, Adrian

After a stellar 2010 campaign with the Sox, third baseman Adrian
Beltre is taking his talents to the Ballpark in Arlington. 

In 2010, Adrian Beltre exceeded all expectations that Red Sox Nation had of him and quickly became a fan favorite. He played a flawless third base, earned the first All-Star appearance of his 13-year career and had a monster season at the plate, hitting .321 with 28 homers, 102 RBIs. And, even though the writing was on the wall for Beltre to leave Beantown after the Sox brought in Adrian Gonzalez and shifted Kevin Youkilis to third this offseason, the news today that Beltre officially signed with the Texas Rangers for six-years, $96 million is still difficult to take.

If you remember correctly, 2010 was infamously dubbed a "bridge year" for the Sox by GM Theo Epstein, symbolizing a drastic change to the philosophy of the front office. Instead of inking big name free agents to long term deals (John Lackey was the one exception) or trading young prospects for proven commodities, Epstein opted for short term contracts and lesser known veterans with upside (i.e. Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron). And, with Mike Lowell's thumb and hip injuries putting his availability in question, Theo decided to bring in Beltre to play third base with an ironically affordable one-year, $10 million deal (which included a player option for a second year).

Boy did that move pay off. On a team decimated by injury, Beltre was a gamer. Not only did he play in 154 of a possible 162 games in 2010, but he quickly became one of the team's most reliable leaders. After winning two Gold Gloves at the hot corner earlier in his career, Beltre's reputation as being one of the game's best third baseman preceded him to Boston. However, it wasn't until we were lucky enough to watch him play everyday that we realized how good he truly is.

Nothing got by him. He snagged screaming line drives with ease, came up with difficult short-hops and overall made the routine play look effortless. He came in on a bunt better than anyone else and started countless double plays with his quick release to second. Did I mention he had an absolute cannon for an arm? I thought Lowell was as good as it got at third. Then I watched Beltre day in and day out and was forced to change my mind.

Offensively, Beltre was one of the most feared hitters for the Sox in 2010. We all fell in love with his towering home runs in which he would scoop the ball just inches off the dirt and launch it over the Monster, landing on one knee. Hitting fifth or sixth in the lineup, he added thunder to the middle of the order and made both Victor Martinez and David Ortiz better by providing them with more than adequate protection. He could hit to all fields for both average and power, wearing out the Green Monster to the tune of 49 doubles, the most in the American League in 2010. His staggering numbers just barely came short of his career year in Los Angeles for the Dodgers in 2004 when he hit .334 with 48 homers and 121 RBIs.

The reason the Sox were able to sign Beltre in the first place was the troubling fact that he had just come off his worst year at the plate. From 2005-2008, Beltre averaged nearly 23 homers and 85 RBIs with the Mariners. However, in 2009 he hit just .265 with 8 home runs, driving in a mere 44 runs over 111 games with Seattle. This is what made his bounce-back year in Boston last season so gratifying. We were all witnesses to the resurrection of Adrian Beltre.

Nonetheless, it was never meant to be for Beltre in Boston. Early into free agency he turned down a one year player option for $10 million, making him a free agent. Despite olive branches extended by Theo to Beltre, the sense around Boston was that it was cost too much money to retain Beltre, who will turn 32 this upcoming season.

At the time, Sox fans were left dumbfounded. Our smooth, switch hitting catcher Victor Martinez had just walked to Detroit and each day it became increasingly evident that Beltre would bolt as well. Today, it became official: Adrian Beltre is now a Texas Ranger.

However, as devastating as this move would have been a few months ago, today it doesn't seem so bad. After all, we have a couple guys by the name of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford set to take over in 2011.

Spring Training can't come soon enough.