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Houston Astros: Time to Rethink Carlos Beltran at DH?

By James Zeankowski

Apr 22, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Astros Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Houston Astros are the hottest team in baseball right now. But their biggest off season signing is not quite living up to the hype so far in 2017.

Carlos Beltran is a future hall of fame inductee, without question. He has an offensive slash line of .281/.353/.490/.843 across an illustrious 19 year career thus far. Add to that the 424 home runs and 1,548 RBI he has tallied, and pride of Puerto Rico is sure to earn his spot at Cooperstown.

Despite all of this, Beltran has hit some early skids in 2017, very unbecoming of what he has done over nearly two decades. Even with the extensive run the Houston Astros have made, owning the best record in baseball at 29-12, the veteran outfielder and DH cannot take much credit for the success.

Sure, he’s a natural leader. Plenty of the younger players on the roster have benefited from his wisdom. Undeniably, Carlos Beltran is a presence in any clubhouse.

However, at age 40, Father Time just may have caught up to the switch hitter. With the deep lineup that the Houston Astros have, skipper A.J. Hinch just may want to consider other options to take some DH at-bats for a while.

Here are some reasons and options for why this is so.

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