The Texas Rangers today officially announced that the club has signed third baseman Adrian Beltre to a two-year contract extension through the 2018 season.
The announcement was made at an afternoon press conference at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Those present in addition to Beltre included Rangers Co-Chairman Ray Davis, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jon Daniels, and manager Jeff Banister.
The third baseman is hitting .283 with two homers and nine RBI while starting all 12 games at third base in 2016. In a major league career that began in June 1998, Beltre ranks among the all-time leaders at third base in a number of offensive and defensive categories. His 2495 games at third rank second in major league history behind Brooks Robinson and his 415 homers are the fourth most ever among players who primarily played third. He is also one of four players ever to hit for the cycle three times in a career.
Beltre has been one of the American League's top all-around players in his five-plus seasons as a Ranger, producing a composite line of .309/.358/.515 with 137 homers and 468 RBI in 744 games and winning three consecutive Rangers Player of the Year Awards from 2012-14.
Beltre has earned four Rawlings Gloves for his defensive work at third base and played in four All-Star Games during his career He ranks among the major league career leaders in doubles (25th 565), total bases (39th, 4660), games (43rd, 2579), homers (49th, 415), hits (51st, 2780), and RBI (56th, 1476) With a career .285 batting average, Beltre Is one of 15 players in major league history with at least 400 homers, 500 doubles and 100 stolen bases.
Beltre signed a free agent contract through 2016 with Texas on January 5, 2011 after stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004), Seattle Mariners (2005-09), and Boston Red Sox (2010).