Report: Astros, Beltran agree to 1-year, $16M deal
The Houston Astros have struck again.
Carlos Beltran has agreed to a one-year, $16-million deal with the Astros, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The free agent spent half of the 2004 campaign with Houston following a trade from the Kansas City Royals.
The deal reportedly includes a full no-trade clause.
The Astros have been extremely active this offseason. They've already come to terms with outfielder Josh Reddick on a four-year, $52-million deal, added pitcher Charlie Morton on a two-year, $14-million contract, and traded for catcher Brian McCann.
Beltran, despite being limited in the outfield, has proven he can still provide above average offense, coming off a season when he slashed .295/.337/.513 with 29 home runs and 93 RBIs. Throughout his 19-year career, the future Hall of Fame candidate has appeared in nine All-Star Games to go along with 421 home runs and 1536 RBIs.
The addition improves an already lethal lineup that includes AL MVP finalist Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. The club has won more than 80 games in back-to-back seasons, and qualified for the playoffs in 2015 for the first time since 2005.
The New York Yankees were interested in a reunion with Beltran after dealing the 39-year-old to the Texas Rangers last season, but didn't present him a formal contract offer, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
Other teams interested in the veteran slugger were the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and the Rangers.