According to several reports (Including ESPN&Yahoo!), the Oakland Athletics are interested in 3B Adrian Beltre. As you probably remember, the A’s lost out on Beltre last offseason despite offering him a three-year deal worth $24 million. Beltre opted to go to Boston with the Red Sox, and ended having himself a very fine season. In 154 games this season, Beltre hit .321/.365/.553 with 28 home runs and 102 RBIs.
It goes without saying that the A’s could definitely benefit from Beltre’s services. The A’s hit just 109 total home runs this year, which ranked 28th in baseball. In fact, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff was the only member on the team that had more than 15 home runs this year (he hit 16). Catcher Kurt Suzuki ranked second on the team with 13 home runs of his own, while DH Jack Cust followed right behind him with 13 home runs as well.
The A’s have been very aggressive this offseason, and are trying to address their offensive problems. The A’s recently picked up Edwin Encarnacion, who also happens to play third. The A’s have also won the negotiating rights to Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, and also acquired OF David DeJesus via trade with the Royals. Obviously, the A’s are trying to put themselves in a position where they can contend with the Rangers next year in the AL West.
Persuading Beltre, though, could be somewhat of a challenge for GM Billy Beane. While Beltre declined his option for 2011 with Boston, I can’t picture him leaving Boston to come play in the ghostly Coliseum in Oakland. And if Beltre did opt to come to Oakland, I wonder how much that would cost Beane & Co.