I didn't want Beltran--I'm happy to see him sign elsewhere. He will play most of next season at age 40, an age where very few hitters produce at a high level.
2016 was a very good season, but a last blast for the aging Beltran.
2015 .808 OPS ranks 44th --plenty of players who are less expensive ranked ahead of him
2014 .703 OPS ranks 104th
2013 .830 OPS ranks 32nd behind Daniel Nava
So, yes those years 2013-2015 were subpar years for Beltran who has arguably had an HOF career. He is breaking down.
.830 is a very good year also, and his PAs have shown no sign of "breaking down".
His career OPS is .845. He's been within .037 of his career number in 3 of his last 4 years.
I'm not saying he's not due for a sharp decline soon, but I don't agree that he's been sub par in 3 of his last 4 seasons. It's more like he's been right around his "par" in 4 of his last 5 seasons.
Nobody is expecting his prime year numbers next year. The expectation would be somewhere over .800 and 550+ PAs as mainly a DH.
Last edited by moonslav59; 12-04-2016 at 03:05 AM.
If par is his career averages, he has been below par and dragging down his career averages. OBP has been declining too. His power numbers have been unimpressive in light of the fact that he was playing in the bandbox at Yankee Stadium. Those numbers would be worse in Fenway. I like Beltran, and a one year deal doesn't have too much downside, but his career is on the downside.
If Carlos Beltran is breaking down, Matt Holliday is legally dead...
On a one year deal, there is no real need to worry about his career trajectory. He had a terrific season last year and is unlikely to duplicate it. But how much does he have to drop off before people start thinking "we should have signed Logan Morrison!!"?
For one year, he would have been acceptable. For multiple years, his inevitable decline becomes a bigger factor. ..