ANAHEIM, Calif. – Adrian Beltré doesn’t make social calls. Oh, sure, everybody on the Rangers staff hustles over to give him a hug and jaw with him. It’s fun....
The question: How much time is Beltré willing to commit to such projects? The Rangers, with President Jon Daniels leading the charge, continue to communicate with Beltré about some kind of role. Beltré, so far, has been resistant to taking a job. He’s completely fine with being an occasional guest – a working guest, but a guest, nonetheless.
“I invest myself too much in things when I take something on,” he said after a long, animated on-field conversation with Ibáñez. “I want and need to give that to my family right now.” Tuesday before the Rangers began a two-game series with the Angels. The Rangers haven’t given up Ibáñez, yet. But they may be getting close. They could split time at third between Charlie Culberson and Brad Miller against , if they wanted to. Such an arrangement might also create opportunity for Leody Taveras to be called up from the minors to get at-bats in the outfield that had been going to Miller. They are not ready to consider calling up Josh Smith or Ezequiel Duran.
The other conversation the Rangers hoped Beltré would have was with Semien, who has struggled since the start of the season. The Rangers believe Semien has struggled with living up to the expectations that came along with his seven-year, $175 million contract.