Not done yet
Beltran says retirement after 2016 no sure thing
TAMPA — For those who believe the upcoming season likely is the last of Carlos Beltran’s career, don’t be so sure.
“I love baseball and I love doing this. I am going to be 39, but I don’t feel 39,’’ said Beltran, who is in the final leg of a threeyear deal worth $45 million and at an age when retirement t al k is normal. “I guess it’s part of a baseball career where you might play 18 to 19 years and people are expecting you to retire. So see what happens.’’
Beltran said the decision to continue a border line Hall of Fame career or retire will be based on how his body holds up and what kind of numbers he produces in his 19th major league season.
If the switch hitter who will be 39 in late April wants to play in 2017, it’s a lock it won’t be with the Ya n ke e s , who are g rooming Aaron Judge as Beltran’s replacement. However, what the Yankees need this year is for Beltran to be the hitter he was in the second half of last season.
After hitting .260 with seven homers, 30 RBIs and posting a .739 OPS in his first 66 games, Beltran batted .292 with 12 homers, 37 RBIs and an .877 OPS in his final 67 tilts.
Knee problems and age have slowed Beltran in the outfield considerably, but he is locked into playing right f ield because Alex Rodriguez is the full-time designated hitter.
As for Rodriguez, who d r ove from Mi a mi to Florida’s West Coast on Tuesday ahead of reporting Wednesday, Beltran said he learned something about Rodriguez by playing with him.
“Alex is a baseball man and a big guy in the clubhouse,’’ Beltran said. “He is a guy who loves to talk about baseball and wants to wi n . He ce l eb rate s everyone’s hits like his ow n hits. S o me t i me s when you play a gai nst him I didn’t know that. Being in the same clubhouse I can tell you that he is a good teammate. We just hope he is healthy and performs and puts [up] a good year or close to like last year.’’