With multiple people agreeing, and on the side of overwhelming logic as well, it appears that within the next 12 hours or so, Adrian Beltre will decline the Mariners offer of arbitration.
Beltre, or Scott Boras rather, seems to still be pressing for a multi-year contract for Beltre, something in the 4/40 range. It strikes me as unlikely that Beltre will reach that. He may get $10 million in annual, but guaranteed for four years coming off the season he had in 2009, the reputation that he's garnered and the general state of free agent contracts this winter, seems unlikely. Beltre and Boras are probably aware of that. They probably know that they are more likely to prefer a one year contract in order to have Beltre put up respectable offensive numbers and then land a four year deal next winter. By declining arbitration, they are refusing a guaranteed one year, ~$12 million contract.
What this tells me is that, while the Mariners are objectively no different from any of the other 29 teams in terms of chance of signing Beltre, realistically, they don't want him to return for 2010. I do not blame them.
In his five years here, Beltre provided legitimately top of the line defense (48.2 runs by UZR), a dedication to play through all sorts of pain as long as it didn't impact his ability to play, fantastically easy to root for antics and many other things. According to FanGraphs, Beltre was worth 16.6 wins with the Mariners, an amount that from 2005-9 was valued at $67.4 million for which he was paid $64 million.
Everything that Adrian Beltre did not provide is irrelevant. He was worth his salary in performance on the field alone. His performances in other aspects, the dancing, the lovably retarded plate discipline, the interactions with Red, etc were just gravy. Godspeed, Adrian. I hope you find success and appreciation where ever you go*
*offer void in Anaheim
9 recs | 116 comments
Thank you.
royalcurve - December 7, 2009
Whole-heartedly concur with everything said
Particularly the addendum. Thanks for giving everything you could Adrian. Good luck.
miracle_max - December 7, 2009
So I have to wonder:
If Anaheim signs AB, does Red become a Halos fan?
esoteric - December 7, 2009
You can't figure out the answer by yourself? I'd think it's obvious. No.
royalcurve - December 7, 2009
.
PositivePaul - December 7, 2009
I wouldn't normally link here to things I wrote, but I feel like it's appropriate here
This is something similar that I wrote a couple of months ago. Here
gregrabble - December 7, 2009
Can I still wear my Beltre jersey?
I love Adrian Beltre.
skijake1 - December 7, 2009
You can always wear a Beltre jersey with pride!
RED29 - December 7, 2009
Thanks, Red.
skijake1 - December 7, 2009
I love Beltre
InSpokane - December 7, 2009
I love Johjima!
Rachmaninoff - December 7, 2009
THANK YOU AND GOODBYE YOUR CRAZY POINTING MOTHERFUCKER
I WILL MISS YOU. AND I WILL NO LONGER BE THE ADRIAN BELTRE OF POSTERS. ALAS WHAT AM I TO DO?
chinn - December 7, 2009
your=you
chinn - December 7, 2009
Maybe turn the caps lock off?
zeeehjee - December 7, 2009
Nah he's fine
Robert - December 7, 2009
I wanted to delete that comment actually.
Regret.
zeeehjee - December 7, 2009
Why?
seattlebruin - December 7, 2009
Because I don't want to start posting at Halos Heaven.
chinn - December 7, 2009
You wouldn't dare.
royalcurve - December 7, 2009
I don't think they allow curse words there.
So you would be banned by your first game thread.
CapSea - December 7, 2009
I think I would do that just for the fun of it.
nathaniel dawson - December 7, 2009
You can.
Though if I’m not mistaken J/M/G would ban you here for it, so I probably wouldn’t.
CapSea - December 7, 2009
I've got to think me up an alias handle
nathaniel dawson - December 8, 2009
Thanks, Beltre for being the man.
stupidquestions - December 7, 2009
I am sad that he is leaving.
:(
Eyebrows - December 7, 2009 via mobile
Beltre is one of the few baseball players I think I would actually enjoy hanging out with.
He’s funny, a little off-kilter, and seems like a genuinely cool guy. Plus, I bet he likes Star Trek.
Phil Hatzenbuehler - December 7, 2009
I had to explain to my wife yesterday why Beltre was no longer a mariner.
It was sad.
Scruffy Lefty - December 7, 2009
You see...
He was always so bored here, so we took him to a farm where he could play baseball and do little dances and throw his glove at fly balls without anyone bugging him about his balls.
He’ll be happy there…. Now here’s a new puppy!!!
Faux - December 7, 2009
If this park hadn't been tailored for a half a season of Griffey's left handed swing Beltre probably wouldn't be leaving
Burn in hell Junior!
Poochie - December 7, 2009
Couldn't have said it better myself!
RED29 - December 7, 2009
Tis a sad day...
I’m about to officially become the owner of 10 retro Beltre jerseys. This was the first time I have been able to watch my favorite player on a daily basis and it was truly an honor, the last 4 years have been awesome. I wish him nothing but the best, even if he signs with the Red Sox or Angels. I will never be a fan of those teams but Beltre will ALWAYS be my favorite player.
Thank you for the appeals, the happy feet, throwing your glove at a ball, the signed bats, the interactions, just everything. You were down right fun to watch play baseball, you will be missed.
Thank you to everyone here as well for pretty much creating my 15 minutes. I had a blast!
RED29 - December 7, 2009
Thanks Red, Safeco would be a better place if there were a few* more giant sign holding fans like you!
*a few more= maybe 20, maybe 200? but no more that could get crazy.
mark sobba - December 7, 2009
You really need to create a Gutierrez face sign now.
Benne - December 7, 2009
You don't just make a giant face sign. You need to feel it in your heart and let the fandom love create the giant face sign.
mark sobba - December 7, 2009
Or you let Kinko's create the giant face sign.
Vatinius - December 8, 2009
Enjoyed every minute of it
I hope we eventually find another player even close to as awesome as Beltre for you.
OlSalty - December 8, 2009
Dance Red Dance!
Scruffy Lefty - December 8, 2009
Ah, Beltre.
I loved how he would do his little tap dance when he was barely able to stop himself from swinging at a slider three feet outside.
Manzanillos Cup - December 7, 2009
I hope Adrian is sent this link.
He was a wonderful player who didn’t get the recognition he deserved. Good luck, Adrian, you will be missed.
Wilder. - December 7, 2009
I'll miss that awesome idiot.
Eyeball Kid - December 7, 2009
And lo did the good Lord Beltre leave his people.
And there was much lamenting and sadness. And the people did look to their new God for guidance.
In all seriousness though, I will really miss Beltre. He was one of the only bright spots of the Bavasi years and he was my favorite Mariner for most of the time he was here. He’d better not sign with the Angels though, that would just suck.
Vatinius - December 7, 2009
Nice,
Especially Gutierrez as our new hope.
ARock - December 7, 2009
I support fanshotting the Guti God so I can rec it again.
CapSea - December 7, 2009
It is entirely appropriate for the Guti God to have gold armor and sunglasses.
JY - December 7, 2009
That Guti picture is mindblowingly awesome
Fearless Frog - December 7, 2009
is 27 recs a record?
Godly Guti Mullet. Wow.
kearly - December 9, 2009
It's not even a record for this week.
CapSea - December 10, 2009
Or this page.
Vatinius - December 10, 2009
Though you still deserve extra recs.
Bring it back to the fanshots by the time the season starts yeah? It’d be nice to have easy access.
CapSea - December 10, 2009
Best. Free. Agent. Signing. Ever!
When he was signed here after the ‘04 season, I was dumbfounded that it was such a “short” deal. His was actually one contract that I was hoping Bavasi would go longer on. I knew that when we reached this date it would be something I’d still be upset about. I was fine with the M’s giving Beltre 5-6 years back then and I really wish they would have.
So, moral of the story – even though Bavasi actually got the right guy in free agency that time, he still found a way to muck it up…
PositivePaul - December 7, 2009
Uh they gave him 5 years
Graham MacAree - December 7, 2009
More than five*
Finished my sentence too early.
PositivePaul - December 7, 2009
Beltre
Thank you for everything.
ThundaPC - December 7, 2009
When we signed him...
I remember talking to my dad about it and saying how excited I was that we actually invested in defense at a corner. And when I bought my first non-Japanese version of Power Pro, I felt like wriing Konami and complaining that Beltre was rated as an average defender with a below average arm.
skwid206 - December 7, 2009
writing*
skwid206 - December 7, 2009
I will miss him so much.
I love all the idiosyncrasies of his AB’s: The patented self appeal. The incessant whacking of the the cleats with bat handle. The funny little dances.
When Lopez fouls off 10 pitches that are laughably out of the strike zone, it irritates me to no end. When Adrian would do the same thing it was somehow charming.
Even here where defense is appreciated, I think it will only be after he’s gone awhile we’ll appreciate how spoiled we’ve been by his wizardry. He is just so damn good at every part of playing third. He consistently made plays other guys usually don’t and he often made it look easy.
It was a great pleasure to watch him these last 5 seasons. Thanks for everything Adrian.
Big Jared - December 7, 2009
Love you Adrian!
You will be missed.
krb - December 7, 2009
I love you Adrian
gregrabble - December 7, 2009
I miss you Adrian =(
Don’t know what you got till it’s gooooooooone
Slurvey - December 7, 2009
Nice
moose_knuckle - December 7, 2009
Without question one of my favorite Mariners of all time
I’m still disappointed he didn’t receive the fanfare he deserved during the final game of the season.
edddgar - December 7, 2009
The greatest third basemen in the history of this franchise.
Thank you for everything Adrian. You may not of matched the raw numbers of some of the greats we have had play for this team, but in my opinion, when it comes to discussing all time Mariner players, you are definitely in that conversation.
You’re one of my favorite players to every play here in Seattle and I, like all the others here, will miss you greatly. Good luck and please, do not sign with the Angels.
Goose - December 7, 2009
I was happy that he seemed happier this year.
even with the mid-year Traumatic Event.
msb - December 7, 2009
sigh.
msb - December 7, 2009
Oh man. One of the best!
royalcurve - December 7, 2009
Stop it! :(
EnglishMariner - December 7, 2009
Hidden
because if I keep looking at it it’ll make me cry.
Eyeball Kid - December 7, 2009
Goodbye, Adrian
Thanks for being one of the few players lovable enough to make the Bavasi era a little less painful, and a shame you can’t be around to complete the resurgence.
drblacknwhite - December 7, 2009
This post needs more .gifs
JY - December 7, 2009
`
BrianL - December 7, 2009
Oh God, so much win.
Benne - December 7, 2009
This may very well be the greatest thing ever.
Vatinius - December 8, 2009
Not-Bad Baserunning!
ThundaPC - December 8, 2009
This is my very favorite.
Robert - December 7, 2009
:-(
wipes tears
appleshampoo - December 7, 2009
bummer
Beltre was the kind of player I enjoyed coming to the ballpark to watch. I will miss him sorely.
Corco - December 7, 2009
Thank-you so much for everything you've done for us Adrian!
You were truly one of the bright spots on this team when everyone else was so inconsistent. Your humor and wit will be truly missed. You will always be one of my favorite players and
I wish you good fortune with whatever team you land on, even if its a division rival.
C-Nage - December 7, 2009
Felix in tears hugging Beltre at the end of the final game broke my heart.
royalcurve - December 7, 2009
Yeah that was a very touching moment
gregrabble - December 7, 2009
Well thanks, I was wondering what the next 20 minutes of my life were going to be
and now it will be full of looking for video of the end of that game.
mark sobba - December 7, 2009
If his name was Adrian Catchtre I bet he would have been better loved in Seattle.
His last name wrote a check that Safeco couldn’t cash.
CapSea - December 7, 2009
Adrian Beltre was my favorite non-Mariner back when he was a Dodger
Even before his crazy year. So I was thrilled to see him go nuts in 2004. And over the moon when we signed him. I’ve spent the better part of 5 years defending him to his critics, even before I knew exactly and statistically why he was good. Because Beltre is one of those guys that is just flat out fun to watch, one of them that makes baseball entertaining and great. The league needs more players like him. Godspeed Adrian, you crazy motherfucker.
Nick S - December 7, 2009
ADRIAN!!!!
Even when the Mariners sucked (often) over the past few seasons,there were precious few games when Beltre didn’t do something that made me think (and sometimes say) “hot damn.” I miss him already (including his crazy at-bat dance). I hope for only the best for him no matter where he lands…
glennpdx - December 7, 2009
Chone may replace him in the field
but no one will ever replace Adrian in my heart.
I Lick Squirrels - December 7, 2009
I guess the only thing that I can say that hasn't been said is
I just wish more people realized how awesome you were. Here’s to a ring for each finger in the future regardless of who it’s with.
Zwakamatsu - December 7, 2009
*offer void in Anaheim
msb - December 7, 2009
Beltre was one of my favorite players.
Sad to see him go. I wish him well.
Fearless Frog - December 7, 2009
Adrian rivaled Yuni in silliness and was actually good at the sport of based ball
In this way he will always remain one of my favorite Mariners
Dewey N - December 7, 2009
I'll second this.
Amazing glove, entertaining to watch in the batter’s box and on the basepaths.
Sinking Away - December 7, 2009
Yep
Robert - December 8, 2009
is sad day
Out of all the things, I’ll shall miss his appeals the most.
IceStormV1 - December 7, 2009
Does anyone know which game it was where Beltre got really close to Griffey running around the bases?
Janic - December 7, 2009
If anyone has .gifs of the eye-level tomahawk home run or the on-his-knees home run, I'd love to see them here.
Weren’t they both within the same week or something?
Terminator X - December 7, 2009
Ask and ye shall receive
JLC - December 7, 2009
Glad I was there for the one-knee dinger
After that sweep-clincher at Petco I was raving about Ichiro’s 5-for-5, at which point Jeff reminded me that I had just seen a man hit a home run while kneeling. Awesome.
lemonverbena - December 8, 2009
That second one was so absurd
It was higher than his forehead! And he was way late on the swing and hit the ball from his back shoulder! God I’ll miss him
tootthekazoo - December 8, 2009
I like how he takes a few seconds before he realizes what the hell he just did
OlSalty - December 8, 2009
Farewell, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest
…..wait FUCK
OlSalty - December 7, 2009
These make him look like the best player ever.
Or a goddamn retard.
I don’t know.
chezbergrur - December 7, 2009
Meant to reply to the .gifs.
chezbergrur - December 7, 2009
Boooo...
Faux - December 7, 2009
Just officially declined arbitration
Brian Floyd - December 7, 2009
:(
:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
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Faux - December 7, 2009
.
msb - December 7, 2009
Bye Adrian. :(
You’d better be as awesome as him, Chone.
Benne - December 7, 2009
Adrian will always be a special player to me.
He really is the player that introduced me to modern baseball analysis. The first two years of his contract I thought he was an absolute bust for all the wrong reasons, then I discovered LL and USSM and learned how wrong I was.
To me, Adrian is the player who showed me that value is derived from far more than simple counting stats. He’s the player that showed me the immense value of defense.
So, thank you Adrian. Thanks for showing me that defense matters and a run is a run.
BrianL - December 7, 2009
I'm suprised nobody mentioned the fact that
Beltre was only the 4th Mariner to hit for the cycle. That rates as one of my favorite Beltre moments.
faceplant_04 - December 7, 2009
Much like playing 5 more innings after breaking your testicle...
I’ll fight on, but it hurts. It hurts bad.
CapSea - December 8, 2009
:(
Pack up
I’m Straight
Enough
Oh say say say you’ll
Say say say you’ll
Say say say you’ll
Say say say you’ll
Say say say..
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Maps………..
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Made off
Don’t stray
Well my kind is your kind
I’ll stay the same
Pack up
Don’t stray
Oh say say say
I’ll say say say..
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Maps………..
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Maps………..
Wait.
they don’t love you like I love you
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Maps………..
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Wait.
They don’t love you like I love you
Maps………..
Wait.
they don’t love you like I love you
-Yeah Yeah Yeahs
portablestsanzas - December 8, 2009
Vaya con dios amigo.
waldo rojas - December 8, 2009
Do we not have a gif of the hotfoot dance in the batters box, when a pitch went by that he decided too late he should have done something with?
I love those happy feet.
msb - December 8, 2009
Hasta luego, Yaydrian.
I hope we don’t see you soon. It would make my heart hurt too much.
Kirsten Schlewitz - December 8, 2009
Anyone have video
or animated GIFs of Beltre appealing his own check-swing to the first base ump?
Lents Park Homer - December 8, 2009
But of course!
Big Jared - December 8, 2009
He did this a million times, but how often did the first base umpire honor his appeal?
Simply awesome.
Wilder. - December 9, 2009
Bye friend.
Thanks for everything.
Omerta - December 9, 2009
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