Beltre open to position switch if Gallo or other prospect emerges

Now that Adrian Beltre doesn’t have to worry about where he will be playing in 2016, he allowed himself on Tuesday to consider how much longer he will want to play beyond the end of his contract with the Texas Rangers.

The short answer: With the Rangers, possibly at another position, possibly until he’s 40 but only as long as he is able to be a productive player.

“I’m all ears,” he said.

The Rangers have discussed an extension internally but haven’t taken it to Beltre or agent Scott Boras. Beltre will be 37 and a 19-year veteran after the 2016 season, hence some of the Rangers’ hesitancy to move more aggressively on a Beltre deal for 2017.

Beltre was realistic when asked about his future. He said that he would have not any issues moving to another position, say, designated hitter or first base, if another player showed that he was a better asset at third base.

“If there comes a time when I need to be moved and it’s for the good of the team, I’m all for it,” Beltre said. “I’m not opposed to playing another position. Right now, I don’t think I’m ready to move.

“I can play when I’m 40, but I’m not going to drag stuff along if I’m not playing the way I’m capable of playing. I’m just going to quit and go home. I’ll just go year by year, and I’ll try to get my body ready the best I can.”

Many believe the player who will push Beltre is already in the system. Top prospect Joey Gallo, though, is content continuing to develop and trying to absorb as much as he can from Beltre in his first big-league camp.

“I’ve got to find a new position, I guess,” Gallo said, jokingly. “It’s awesome. He obviously deserves it. It just gives me a little more time to be around him and learn as much as I can. We started yesterday.”

Beltre also helped the Rangers financially this season with the new terms of his deal. Beltre was supposed to make $18 million this season and $16 million in 2016, but will flop salaries to give the Rangers more flexibility.

That money could be spent on a left-handed reliever this spring or on a difference-maker during the season.

Rangers tryouts

More than 40 former professional players, including former Ranger Brandon Boggs, took part in a tryout in front of Rangers scouts on Tuesday at the Surprise Recreational Complex. Boggs played 101 games for Texas in 2008. He’s been in the Braves’ system the past three seasons.

Other notable names included left-handed pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes (Braves, Blue Jays, Orioles) and Danny Gutierrez. Reyes played in the Phillies’ organization and the Korean Baseball Organization in 2014.

Gutierrez played in the Rangers’ system in 2009 until he was suspended 50 games after testing positive for the banned substance Adderall, which treats attention deficit disorder but is also an amphetamine that is considered a performance-enhancing drug. He has pitched in independent leagues since 2012, including Grand Prairie last season.

Two years ago, the Rangers signed right-hander Scott Richmond after a tryout. He’s pitched for Triple A Round Rock the past two seasons.

San Antonio road trip

During the Rangers’ trip to San Antonio to play the Dodgers on March 20-21, two postgame concerts will be headlined by the Casey Donahew Band and Frankie J at the Alamodome. Tickets to the games are available at the Big League Weekend website, starting at $10. Doors open three hours before game time meaning batting practice is open to the public.

This story was originally published February 24, 2015 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Beltre open to position switch if Gallo or other prospect emerges."