Rangers reaction: Bullpen meltdown puts damper on Beltre extension news

Early Friday evening Rangers fans got some great news when word broke that Adrian Beltre had agreed to a two-year, $36 million extension.

The deal should guarantee the Hall of Fame-level third baseman finishes his career with the Rangers. That’s what the Rangers publicly said they wanted during the off-season and it looks like they found enough coins in the sofa cushions to pay Beltre $18 million a year when he’s 38 and 39 years old.

There will be a faction of fans who think the club is rolling the dice on Beltre’s health over the next three seasons and perhaps they’ll have a point, if indeed, his body begins to breakdown. But so far in 2016 (I know it’s early) his defense looks as stellar as ever and he was hitting over .300 before going 0 for 4 Friday night.

But even beyond Beltre’s production, which will no doubt continue to wane with age, is his clubhouse importance and the guidance by example he gives young teammates. For the most part, it’s Beltre’s clubhouse and the Rangers understandably would like to keep his presence around as much as they want to continue watching him flash the Gold Glove leather and drive in runs.

He can also be one of the funnier players in the clubhouse, too. See below:

OK, commence to argue over the Beltre news while I rundown a few rapid reactions from the Rangers 11-5 loss to the Orioles Friday night at Globe Life Park:

1. Bullpen blues — Martin Perez had another decent start ruined by the bullpen. Both times Tom Wilhelmsen was the unfortunate reliever on the mound when most of the damage was done. Perez played it cool after the game Friday, defending the bullpen and chalking it up to things that will happen during a 162-game season. Kudos to him. Wilhelmsen wasn’t in the mood to talk to reporters when he arrived in the clubhouse with his son in his arms after watching the postgame fireworks. To tell you the truth, that was fine with me because my deadline was coming quick. Thanks, Tom!

2. Faulkner’s future — Left-hander Andrew Faulkner struggled behind Wilhelmsen and also allowed two homers. In five appearances (4 1/3 innings), the 23-year-old reliever has allowed four runs on five hits, including three homers. He also only has one strikeout compared with three walks. His offspeed pitches were up in the zone Friday and the Orioles made him pay. It wouldn’t be surprising if the club sent him down to Triple A Round Rock to work through some things for a couple of weeks and try to rediscover the juice he had during spring training.

3. Respect for Jackie Robinson — Friday, April 15, is Jackie Robinson Day across the major leagues where players for each team all wear jersey No. 42 to honor to the Hall of Fame Dodgers slugger who became the first African-American to play in the big leagues on April 15, 1947. Since its inaugural celebration in 2004, it has become one of the coolest and most substantial traditions MLB has instituted. Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields wore spiffy Adidas cleats inspired by Robinson in Friday’s game. He said his father, a former major leaguer, taught him as a young kid about the important role Robinson played in baseball. Good stuff.

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 12:17 AM with the headline "Rangers reaction: Bullpen meltdown puts damper on Beltre extension news."