"Adrian Beltre, according to numerous media reports, is closing in on a deal with the Texas Rangers, a move that would be a considerable blow to the Angels' playoff hopes and would greatly increase the chances of slugger Vladimir Guerrero returning to Anaheim.

After losing Carl Crawford to the Boston Red Sox, which signed the left fielder to a seven-year, $142-million deal during the winter meetings in early December, the Angels made a run at Beltre, offering the free-agent third baseman a five-year deal for at least $70 million.

But the Angels pulled their offer to Beltre before Christmas, and owner Arte Moreno made it clear at the time that the team would not increase what it felt was a very competitive offer. Beltre's deal with the Rangers will reportedly be for five or six years and between $90 million and $100 million.

Beltre, who hit .321 with 28 home runs, 49 doubles and 102 runs batted in for the Boston Red Sox last season, would have bolstered a position that was essentially a black hole for the Angels in 2010.

Their third basemen combined to hit .233 (ranking 29th among 30 major league teams) with a .266 on-base percentage (29th), a .307 slugging percentage (30th), eight home runs (29th) and 52 RBIs (30th) last season."