Carlos Beltran wants to play 3 more seasons

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he hopes to play for 3 more seasons.
Jul 16, 2013; Flushing, NY, USA; National League outfielder Carlos Beltran (3) of the St. Louis Cardinals warms up before the 2013 All Star Game at Citi Field. Image Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
I can’t blame him. He has revitalized his career in St. Louis in the same way that Lance Berkman did. The only difference is that Berkman missed most of his second Cardinal season while Beltran made the All-Star team for 8th time of his career.

As of the break, Beltran has a career batting average of .283 with 2,166 career hits and 353 career home runs. With regards to switch hitters, Beltran is in 5th place. There’s no doubt that the Hall of Fame is in his future. It’s a matter of what those final stats look like.

Beltran told Derrick Goold:

"“This is my 15th (season). If I could do (three more), that would be a good career for me. Now that I have heard a lot about (the Hall of Fame) I do think about it, and let’s hope I can stay healthy for the remaining three, maybe three, four years.“If I can stay healthy and play in the game to the level I’m playing right now, who knows, man?…I could be close.”"

Right now, it’s not a matter of if he appears in his 16th season but where those appearances will be. With the pending arrival of Oscar Taveras slated to take place in the spring of 2014, there’s just not a suitable place for Beltran on the Cardinals roster. Everyone knew this was coming and Beltran probably had an idea, too, especially after Taveras had a breakout season in 2012 at Springfield.

Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz looks at what the Cardinals have done and what to expect in the second half.