While local sources haven’t confirmed anything, ESPN.com has updated yesterday’s Enrique Rojas story within the hour, reporting that the Rangers are near a deal with Adrian Beltre. The newest update places the deal at five years, with an option for a sixth. The nature of that option is not known.
Beltre is widely regarded as the best defensive third baseman in baseball and would fill a need for a powerful right-handed bat, likely replacing Vladimir Guerrero in the Texas lineup.