ARLINGTON, Texas _ Though the Rangers traded away their ace Monday, Adrian Beltre does not believe the club is headed for a rebuilding period.
At least, it better not be.
Beltre on Tuesday acknowledged the disappointment in the trade of Yu Darvish, but said he "tries to understand the business side" of baseball. He also has some business in mind: Winning a World Series before he retires. And if the Rangers decide they don't have a legitimate chance to contend next year, it very well could change his approach to finishing out his career in Texas.
"Yes, it absolutely would change my mind," Beltre said. "At this stage of my career, I'm not here for a rebuild. I don't think it will be. I think there is a possibility of this team playing better. I'm still focused on this year and don't want to think about it right now, but it would change things for me."
Of a potential rebuild, general manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday: "I don't see it that way at all."
Beltre, who turns 39 next April, will be in the final year of his contract in 2018. He will likely begin that season as one of only 23 players in baseball history to have played at least 2,800 games. He has appeared in only one World Series, that coming in 2011 when the Rangers lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.
He also understands his time in the game is short and wants one more chance at winning a championship. In part, that's why he participated in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic this spring: To have one last chance to win a championship while representing his country.
The Rangers did not seriously entertain trading Beltre at the deadline, but there would have been interest. Boston is sorely in need of an upgrade at third base. The Rangers likely wouldn't entertain trading him this winter of their own volition. He has full ability to veto any trade, but it's unclear how the Rangers would react if he asked to be traded to a team that would have a shot at contending if the Rangers decide they need another year or more of growth.
For now, Beltre still believes in this team's ability to make a run and expects the Rangers will retool for 2018. When Daniels announced the Darvish trade Monday, he didn't indicate the Rangers planned to go through a major rebuild in the way the team did when it traded Mark Teixeira in 2007.
"We're not pleased with the trade," Beltre said. "I don't think we are completely sold on the situation being (hopeless) for this year. It was a tough a situation. I know he's going to be a free agent and they were trying to get something. I try to understand the business side of it and I understand what they are doing, but the on the baseball side you are not happy. That doesn't matter. That's not going to change our mentality."
