Adrian Beltre agrees to 2-year, $36 million extension with Rangers

Adrian Beltre will remain with the Texas Rangers for two more years after he agreed to a two-year extension at $18 million a season.

Beltre, who turned 37 on April 7, will most likely finish his Hall of Fame-caliber career with the Rangers, which is what general manager Jon Daniels publicly wished for during the off-season.

Beltre will be 39 at the beginning of the 2018 season, which would be his 21st in the big leagues. He was set to become a free agent after this season. The Rangers announced the deal after Friday night’s game.

Beltre has maintained that he would play as long as he was healthy and productive. He entered Friday’s game batting .310 with two home runs and nine RBI. The deal could potentially push top prospect Joey Gallo’s return to the majors back another year unless Gallo is moved to the outfield or first base.

Gallo made his major league debut in 2015 when Beltre was injured, starting 13 games at third base. He also started 15 games in the outfield.

Beltre has been with the Rangers since signing as a free agent before the 2011 season. He said earlier this spring he wanted to stay with the Rangers as long as they remained a World Series contender.

Hello, old friend

Former Rangers pitcher and Fort Worth-area resident Yovani Gallardo returns to Globe Life Park for the first time since signing with Baltimore when he faces Colby Lewis on Saturday night.

“I have nothing but respect for the guys over in that clubhouse,” said Gallardo, who went to high school at Fort Worth Trimble Tech. “I had a great time [last year]. But that year is over. Now we’re on opposite sides. It’ll get competitive once again. Obviously, I want to do everything I can to help the Baltimore Orioles win.”

Lewis has stayed in touch with Gallardo since he signed with the Orioles in the off-season.

“He’s a great guy, great teammate,” Lewis said. “But he’s wearing a different uniform now. I definitely want to go out there and win for our team, and he’s doing the same for his.

Jackie Robinson Day

Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields had something a little special for Jackie Robinson Day, the day every major league player wears No. 42 in honor of Robinson’s first game in the majors on April 15, 1947.

DeShields wore special Adidas cleats adorned with Robinson’s likeness, No. 42 and famous quotes printed on the soles.

“Without him, who knows where baseball would be, not just for African-Americans but even Latinos, too,” DeShields said. “He paved the way for minorities to get an opportunity to play in the big leagues. Words can’t express how grateful I am for the sacrifice he made and the things he did and went through in order for to give us a chance to play this game at this level.”

First baseman Prince Fielder shared the sentiment.

“It means a lot [to wear No. 42],” he said. “I don’t think I could go through what he went through. I’m glad he was able to do it and I’m able to play this game.”

TCU night

New TCU men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon and former quarterback Bram Kohlhausen threw out the first pitches before Friday’s game.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Adrian Beltre agrees to 2-year, $36 million extension with Rangers."