In a sense, Carlos Beltran’s awful season is Alex Rodriguez’s fault. Over the past three years – really, about two years of playing time due to injuries – Beltran has +3.9 oWAR and -4.2 dWAR. That’s league-average hitting and the worst outfielding since Raul Ibanez, who’s a not bad comp: both still hit at a similarly advanced age but suffered a Sampson-like loss of all defensive ability when they lost their hair prematurely. What you naturally do with Beltran’s skill set is DH him – except that spot is justifiably taken by A-Rod, who’s a better hitter, older, and even less able to play the field because his (former) position is more demanding.
I’ll Take Half a Loaf: If Beltran Must Play, Bench Him for Fly/Liner-Prone Yankee Pitchers?
