Beltre doesn't want to see Rangers 'dismantled' at trade deadline
Adrian Beltre has made a reputation for himself as one of the best teammates in the game, though right now he's simply trying to keep his pals together.
With the Texas Rangers mired 16 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West, though only two back of a wild-card spot, Beltre knows general manager Jon Daniels may be ready to capitalize on his veterans' trade value in an effort to get younger.
But the 38-year-old Beltre, who needs just 18 hits to reach 3,000, says he's even putting his personal achievements on the back burner in an effort to convince the club's front office not to disband the group.
"When I get to single digits, I'll start to think about it. But my big concern for the last week has been to find a way to win games," Beltre told Evan Grant of Dallas News. "That's more important. It's important to put ourselves in playoff position. ... I hope he understands and believes in this team. I do not want to see this team dismantled. It's been on my mind that I hope he doesn't think about (trading guys away).
"As a team, though, we need to do it. I need to do it. I need to be more productive. We all need to. This is the time when teams become buyers or sellers and right now we're not helping (ourselves). But, me, I'm a buyer. I've always been a buyer."
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That the Rangers are underperforming this season (or the Astros are blowing away expectations) certainly isn't to blame on Beltre.
The future Hall of Famer is hitting .276/.371/.510 in 145 at-bats this season to go with eight home runs, 10 doubles, and 30 RBIs.