Carlos Beltran may retire after the 2016 season, reports Zach Braziller of the New York Post. Beltran is entering his age 39 season and the final campaign of a three-year, $45MM deal signed prior to 2014. Beltran allowed that his decision will be affected by the level of performance he believes he can contribute in 2017. “If I feel like I produce well to the point where I can make a good impact on a team, then I can play one more year. Or if I feel like I have [had] enough, I’ll go home.”
After a rough 2014 campaign, the Yankees outfielder bounced back in 2015 with a .276/.337/.471 line and slightly below average defense in 531 plate appearances. Injuries have slowed Beltran in his time with New York too. While the original plan probably included using him at designated hitter with regularity, the returns of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira last season forced Beltran into the outfield. The club will have to juggle a similar alignment this year.
If it is indeed the last season for Beltran, he’ll go out with an impressive 19-year resume. Over parts of 18 seasons, the switch-hitter has posted a career .280/.355/.490 line with 392 home runs, 311 stolen bases, and 2,454 hits in 9,929 plate appearances. He’s poised to reach 400 home runs, 2,500 hits, and 10,000 plate appearances this year. Defensive metrics also rated him as an excellent defender during his prime. With 66 career WAR, he has a legitimate case for Hall of Fame honors.
Bolstering his candidacy is a strong postseason track record. In 223 plate appearances, Beltran hit .332/.441/.674 with 16 home runs and 40 RBI. Win Probability Added (WPA), an advanced stat that measures the value of each play relative to the state of the game*, credits Beltran with about three wins in what amounts to about a third of a season. In other words, he hit like the 2015 version of Bryce Harper when the games counted the most.
Beltran has spent most of his career split between the Royals, Mets, Cardinal, and Yankees. He spent half the 2004 season with the playoff bound Astros – a year that included his best postseason performance. His .435/.536/1.022 October slash set up a seven-year, $119MM contract with the Mets. At the time, it was just the 10th deal to cross the $100MM threshold. Notably, the Giants traded Zack Wheeler for Beltran at the 2011 trade deadline.
*By comparison, WAR measures the value of each play without regard to game context. According to WAR, a walkoff grand slam down three runs in the bottom of the ninth is equally valuable as a grand slam in a 20-1 blowout. Using WPA, the walkoff grand slam is hugely valuable whereas the blowout grand slam is worth almost nothing.
Was a great journey man.
WPA? Do they really need even more rediculously specific ways to say “this guy was good or bad”?
Great career, great in the post-season. I despise the Yankees, but I hope he has a good final run.
400 HR, 1450 RBI, 300 SB, 2,500 hits, ~68 WAR, 500 2B, 3 GG, and hes one of the greatest post season hitters we’re ever going to see.
Hes probably going to the HOF
I remember when he was on the Mets and said his only goal was to make it to the Hall. I remember thinking then that he needed to step it up to make it and I still say the same thing.
Beltran is a very good player and when he played against the Sox in the WS I remember thinking a key to the Sox winning was to shut down Beltran. But when I look at his career I can’t see a single year that makes me say he was one of the greatest ball players of the time. A very good player, but there’s a handful of very good ballplayers who just don’t stand up to the status of those who belong in the Hall.
Bold words
Should retire this year and make room for a FA!!!
I just hope that if he’s having a great year and the Yankees are out of it that they try to trade him to a contender
Will the Yankees lavishly spend and sigh jose bautista when hes a free agent next off-season? Good luck making him shave his beard!
No thank you. They don’t need that classless player. Plus judge should be ready by mid season to come up.
“They don’t need that classless player”
Because the Yankees are always full of class?
Whats classless about Joey Bats?
His classless bat flips all the time.
Agreed. That bat flip was such a joke. They only got out of the ALDS because of the Rangers three error inning. Bautista’s been pulling this for years. Seemed humble in his break out year, but has developed quite an ego. I think he’s lost a lot of respect around the league and can’t wait to see him return to Arlington.
Luckily Sheriff McCann is in town for the foreseeable future. Nobody flips, twists, drops or even looks at the pitcher when he’s behind the plate.
He talks too much, you get the feeling he feels he has something owed to him
Die hard Yankee fan. Since the days of balboni- Mel hall. And let me tell you Joey bats is as humble human being you’re going to meet. Met him thru a mutual friend and the guy is a classy person. He plays the game with heart and passion. What’s wrong with that.
If he gets into the HOF does he go in as a Royal or Met? I’m leaning towards the Mets .
I wish he would retire early like Mike Cuddyer so the Yanks could sign Justin Upton!
Beltran was good last year.
Carlos Beltran was a great player who fits that catagory, if they weren’t hurt so often where would their stats be. I’m a Yankee fan, and I’m glad he will finish up with us and contribute like always. Flip side, Jose Bautista plays with passion. Nothing classless about him.
There just saying that because all these commenters are racist.
I’m a Giants fan and therefore hate Dodgers, anyone that has ever played for the Dodgers, and the Dodgers… so for me to say I have enjoyed Beltre and respect his career, is kind of a thing.
I like Beltran but if you use WAR to try and make a case for him it becomes difficult to accept. If you look at the top OF over the last 50 years (which would include the full careers of Bonds, Henderson, Griffey Jr, Reggie Jackson, Gwynn and Winfield), then he would rank #12 among all OFers. However, Larry Walker @ 7th, Andru Jones 8th and Tim Raines @ 11th, are ahead of him and I think most would agree that they aren’t HOF worthy.
So if we are limited to couting st
I wish more players would think like this instead of either trying to hang on as long as possible or announcing their retirements a full season in advance.