Beltre 'thrilled' to be in Seattle Third baseman officially joins Mariners Friday By Doug Miller / MLB.com New Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre led the Majors with 48 homers in 2004. (Kevin Casey/AP) ‧ Fantasy analysis ‧ Mariners introduce Beltre: 350K ‧ Mariners introduce Beltre ‧ Read the official club release ‧ Mariners CEO stays true to his word SEATTLE -- Mariners fans have been waiting for their team to open its wallet an d unload on talented free agents to improve its chances of winning a World Seri es. On Friday, they got a second glittery Christmas gift in the span of one week. The Mariners continued a historic winter, officially announcing the signing of 25-year-old third baseman Adrian Beltre, who joins first baseman Richie Sexson as the second young, high-priced free agent slugger brought in to take the Mari ners from the American League West cellar back to the top. "I'm thrilled to be here," Beltre said at a press conference at Safeco Field. " It's a great opportunity to be in a great organization. This is a great basebal l city, and we're going to have a good team to compete and hopefully bring a ch ampionship sooner than later." Complete coverage > Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said blockbuster moves like this -- Beltre signed f or five years and $64 million, Sexson for four years and $50 million -- are wha t the Mariners had in mind all along to improve a team that lost 99 games last season after winning 93 in 2002 and 2003. "These two signings are just consistent with what we intended to do," Lincoln s aid. "Quite frankly, I don't recall any promises that I haven't kept. I promise d that we would turn this around as quickly as possible and I certainly feel go od about this. "Our commitment is to get this team into the World Series and win it. That's ou r goal and I'm just as excited as our fans." Adrian Beltre / 3B Born: 04/07/79 Height: 5'11" Weight: 220 lbs Bats: R / Throws: R More info: Player page Stats | Splits Gallery Team Site Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi is excited, too, and one quick glance at B eltre's 2004 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers makes it easy to see why. Beltre, 25, led the Majors with 48 home runs last season, matching the Major Le ague record for most home runs by a third baseman, equaling Mike Schmidt's tota l in 1980. Beltre also finished among the NL leaders in almost every offensive category, b atting .334 (fourth) with 121 RBIs (fourth) while finishing second in the Natio nal League MVP balloting, earning him his first Silver Slugger award. He also r eceived the Humanitarian Award, presented at the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inne r cities) Hall of Fame Dinner last summer. Beltre was the only player in the Majors to collect at least 45 home runs and a t least 200 hits in 2004, becoming the 11th player in Major League history with that combination. He had 63 multihit games last season, seven multihomer games and three grand sl ams while committing a career-low 10 errors at third base. Beltre also led the Majors with 26 home runs in the second half in 2004. "He's just a good player," Bavasi said. "He turned the corner last year. He was healthy and he was allowed to be on the field consistently to show what he cou ld do. Everything about this just fit very well with what we're trying to do he re." Beltre said he didn't view 2004 as a breakout year -- his previous best seasons had highs of a .290 batting average, 23 homers and 85 RBIs -- but more of some thing that he hopes will become normal. "(Last year was a result of) many little things," Beltre said. "It was experien ce. It was learning, little by little. It was the fact that I was a father for the first time and I was thinking about other things besides baseball 24 hours a day. "I found some things in my swing that just clicked at the right time. ... I jus t put everything together and I hope to do it again." New Mariners manager Mike Hargrove seems to think he can. "Adrian is a perfect fit for how I envision the Mariners, next season and into the future," Hargrove said in a statement released by the club. "This gives us an infield with, basically, three Gold Glovers, pop at both corners and at seco nd base and an exciting young player at shortstop. "We are a much better team today than we were a couple of days ago. With Beltre , Sexson and (second baseman Bret) Boone in the middle of our order and Ichiro at the top, we now have the ability to run a real legitimate lineup out there e very day." Beltre had played his entire seven-year career with the Dodgers, making his big league debut in 1998 at the age of 19. He said that made this decision difficu lt. "It was tough," Beltre said. "I was born in a Dodgers uniform and the fans in L .A. know that I love that place. But I'm looking forward to coming to this town and loving these fans." Beltre said one reason he came to the Mariners was the legacy of recently retir ed Mariners slugger Edgar Martinez, whom Beltre idolized while growing up in th e Dominican Republic. "Edgar Martinez was one of the best right-handed hitters ever, and he gave a lo t to his community," Beltre said. "Those are the types of things I want to do h ere." The Dodgers reportedly offered Beltre more years but less money than the Marine rs, whose payroll is expected to be about $93 million -- not counting the $6 mi llion still owed to former third baseman Jeff Cirillo and catcher Wiki Gonzalez , acquired in a trade with the Padres prior to last season. Beltre's agent, Scott Boras, said Bavasi's familiarity with Beltre from years w ith the Dodgers organization and his persistence paid off in the end. "I give Bill a great deal of credit," Boras said. "Adrian knew from the start o f Seattle's interest, and it allowed him to rely on the fact that the Mariners were serious about him and his career." Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approv al of Major League Baseball or its clubs. print this page | email this page 看了记者会 他说他很高兴 因为他最喜欢的player是Eager 虽然退休了拉 而且大家都真的喜欢Seattle 不过他说很难忘记LA 毕竟是提拔他的地方 哈哈明年就要往北飞去Seattle拉 高兴 --

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