Beltre Expects to Play Monday

After falling funny on his wrist during Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Adrian Beltre went to Mass General Hospital Sunday to get it checked out. After an MRI, CT scan and X-Rays, it was ruled that Beltre has just a sprain of his left wrist. Beltre was hoping to play on Sunday, but according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, did not return to Fenway until around game-time. As it turns out, the Sox didn’t need Beltre’s bat or glove in Sunday’s 6-0 domination of the Blue Jays to avoid the sweep. Yamaico Navarro showed some excellent leather and heads-up play at the hot corner, as he was tested on many occasions throughout the afternoon. All indications point towards a return for Beltre on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles, assuming his wrist feels fine. (more on Beltre after the jump)

There has been a lot of chatter about Beltre’s incredible 1st season with the Red Sox and the potential for him to return for the 2011 campaign. For the 2nd time in recent history, the Red Sox picked up a 3rd baseman that many other teams overlooked this off-season because of a down year in 2009. Ironically enough, Beltre was replacing Mike Lowell, who was a throw-in to the Josh Beckett because many believed he career was in a decline and he was not worth the investment. In both cases, the Sox got more than they bargained for, having a knack for knowing when a player is really over the hill and when a player just has an off season. In 144 games this season, Beltre has hit .329 with 28 home runs and 98 rbis. Thanks in part to Fenway Park, Beltre has hit a career high in doubles (45) this season, ranking him 1st in the AL in that category.

The big question for Beltre is 2011. He has a player option to stay with the Red Sox for $10 million, assuming he accumulates 41 more plate appearances in the remaining 2 weeks of the season. If he reaches that plateau, I hope he determines Boston is a great fit for him and stays, but he does have Scott Boras as his agent and if there is one thing Boras loves, it’s testing the free agent market and making more money. If Beltre does choose to stay with the Sox, the infield will be locked in for 2011, with the exception of the catcher position. Assuming Marco Scutaro recovers from his rotator cuff injury and Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are back to 100% next season like expected, the Sox infield will be a force in the AL East. Even more importantly, the Sox will be able to focus their attention on re-signing Victor Martinez and deciding whether to bring back David Ortiz and not on where Beltre will end up.

The bigger question for Sox management comes if Beltre decides to test the free agent market. Do the Sox then dish out more money to being him back or do they believe he is reaching the downslope of his career? There is a fine line and difficult line when determining a player’s decline in baseball and in general, the Red Sox have chosen to steer away from dumping money into aging players unless they feel they will get every penny of it back on the field. With that logic, it will be interesting to see what the Sox do if Beltre hits the free agent market, because after this season, he will surely have many suitors and for an over-inflated dollar amount.

Only time will tell what Beltre decides, but I guarantee you the Sox front office is crossing their fingers that he loves Boston enough to just pick up his option and be satisfied. Unfortunately, I have a gut feeling that’s not going to happen.