Major League Baseball

Rangers close to deal with Beltre

Published Jan. 4, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Texas Rangers are close to signing free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, a major league source confirmed to FOXSports.com.

The contract, if completed, would effectively be a five-year deal with a vesting option for 2016.

The move signals that Michael Young, the team’s popular third baseman, will be traded or moved to designated hitter.

The Colorado Rockies emerged as the most serious suitor for Young when he became available on the trade market during the winter meetings last month. But the Rockies and Rangers have not had serious talks about Young within the last week, a major league source told FOXSports.com on Sunday night.

The Los Angeles Angels, the Rangers’ rival in the American League West, had long been viewed by many as the leading candidate to sign Beltre. But now it appears they have lost out on Beltre, just as they did with Carl Crawford.