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Beltre would find it difficult to retire without a World Series ring

Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / Getty

While Adrian Beltre has put together an impressive career and is proud of his many accomplishments, there is one notable omission from the 38-year-old third baseman's resume: a World Series championship.

"To me, I have had a decent career, accomplished a couple things ... But I want to be a champion. That's what drives me every day. I want to win the World Series," Beltre told Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com.

Beltre and the Texas Rangers made it there before, in both 2010 and 2011, but lost to the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.

"Really close," Beltre noted of being on the cusp of a World Series championship. "But it's a sour situation whenever you think about it."

During the 2011 Fall Classic, Cardinals third baseman David Freese was famously down to the last strike of Game 6 before tying the game with a bases-clearing triple before winning it in extras with a walk-off home run. The Rangers held a two-run lead in the ninth and tenth innings. If they maintained either, they would have won the series - the first in franchise history.

"I tell the young guys," Beltre continued. "'You might be okay to make the World Series, but to me, that's not enough. My window is closing. If I win a World Series it would make it a lot easier for me to hang it up and go home and be with my kids. For me, it's difficult to go home because I haven't earned that ring.'"

Beltre is set to make $18 million in 2018 before becoming a free agent prior to his age-40 season. The legendary third baseman collected his 3,000th hit in 2017, continuing a remarkable career that is already destined for Cooperstown.

While Beltre has seemed ageless at times during his career - eluding any marked decline phase - the Rangers do not appear to be contenders in the immediate future. In a division with the defending World Series champion Houston Astros as well as the Los Angeles Angels - who have transformed their roster this offseason - it would take a lot for Texas to improve on their 78-win campaign last year and be in the hunt for a wild-card spot.

Prior to 2017, the Rangers had appeared in back-to-back postseasons, losing both times in the American League Division Series.

Over 2814 games in 20 seasons between four teams, Beltre has collected 462 home runs, 120 stolen bases, and 84.3 WAR, according to FanGraphs.

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