Player Previews: Adrian Beltre

Defense is the reason Beltre's here.

Today we will look at Adrian Beltre. Entering his first year in Boston, Beltre will hopefully provide superb defense at third while (hopefully) improving his offense in the friendly confines of Fenway Park. We will focus on his 2009 statistics, his career highs in parentheses, and a 2010 outlook.

Games: 111 (159 - 2002)
Average: .265 (.334 - 2004, career average of .270)
On-Base Percentage: .304 (.388 - 2004, career average of .325)
Slugging Percentage: .379 (.629 - 2004, career average of .453)
On Base plus Slugging: .683 (1.017 - 2004, career average of .779)
Home runs: 8 (48 - 2004)
Runs Batted In: 44 (121 - 2004)
Runs: 54 (104 - 2004)
Doubles: 27 (41 - 2007)
Walks: 19 (61 - 1999)
UZR/150* at 3B: +21

*UZR/150 is a sabermetric number of runs above or below average a fielder is, per 150 defensive games. Zero is an average fielder.


2010 Outlook: The Red Sox signed Adrian Beltre this off-season to a one-year $9 million deal with a $5 million player option ($1 million buyout) for 2011. Beltre is famous for his 2004 year with the Dodgers when he belted 48 home runs in the last year of his contract. Beltre has never hit over 26 home runs in any other season and saw his homer total dip to a lowly 8 last year in 111 games. He missed a lot of time last season with shoulder and testicle injuries, playing in the least amount of games since his rookie season.

The Sox will hope Beltre can rediscover his stroke and improve his lowly OPS of .683 that he posted last season. Look for him to double his home run total and increase the number of doubles he hits courtesy of the Green Monster. He doesn't walk much, and that probably won't change, but he shouldn't hurt the Sox too much in that regard hitting at the bottom of the line-up. In the field, Beltre will bring his superb +21 UZR/150 which towers Mike Lowell's -14.4 last year.

Realistically, Beltre will play five games per week for the team in an effort to keep him healthy. Look for the team to try and limit Victor Martinez's games behind the plate by moving him to first and Kevin Youkilis to third which will give Beltre a decent amount of games off. Mike Lowell may steal some playing time as well if he remains with the Sox.

Previous previews:
Kevin Youkilis
Dusin Pedroia
Jacoby Ellsbury
Marco Scutaro
Victor Martinez
David Ortiz
J.D. Drew