Adrian Beltre

In a 2014 season when countless players were injured and the Texas Rangers finished buried in the standings, Adrian Beltre was about as close to a bright spot as there was to be found. Now, the team has decided he'll likely be a key player for at least the next two seasons, picking up his contract option. 

John Blake, the Executive Vice President of Communications for the Texas Rangers, made the news official:

In late 2013, shortly after the Detroit Tigers were eliminated from the playoffs in the ALCS, they traded Prince Fielder to the Rangers in exchange for Ian Kinsler.

It was a huge blockbuster at the time, and analysts immediately started predicting how potent the Rangers lineup would be with Fielder and powerful third baseman Adrian Beltre hitting in the middle of the order.

Why are we here? Is man the product of chance or creation? Where do we go after we shuffle off this mortal coil?

These are all important questions, but today our aim is to discuss a greater quandary in the pantheon of intellectual discourse: Why does Adrian Beltre freak out when you touch his head?

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is apparently not a fan of people touching his head.

During Friday night's game between the Rangers and Detroit Tigers, Miguel Cabrera decided to have some fun with Beltre, patting him on the head while standing at third base. Beltre didn't seem to like that too much, as he retaliated with an attempted shot below the belt.

After belting a fourth-inning home run off Jorge De La Rosa in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers became the fifth player in MLB history to hit 100 home runs for three separate teams, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info). 

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre exited Tuesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox after the top of the fourth inning with an apparent left quad injury.    

Beltre, who was serving as the designated hitter, hit an RBI double off the Fenway Park center-field wall in the fourth but came up limping. He played out the remainder of the frame before hobbling back to the dugout and leaving the contest for good, with the Rangers ahead 8-0.

The Texas Rangers are looking to put the 2013 season completely in their rear view as they gear up for 2014.

Last year was filled with both good and bad memories, from a near-perfect game to a trade that didn’t pan out. The team also made history during a July series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Texas didn’t get a chance at a playoff run, but it was still a fun season to watch.

With the All Star break officially underway, many of the Texas Rangers will get the opportunity to rest up after a long first half of the season. With the exception of Joe Nathan, Yu Darvish and Nelson Cruz, the entire Texas Rangers organization will use this four day break to recharge and get ready for the long haul ahead.

The population of third basemen in Major League Baseball is talented and getting increasingly young, and with the promotion of Manny Machado and impending ascension of top prospects Anthony Rendon, Nick Castellanos and Mike Olt (if he stays at 3B), the position is getting deeper and becoming even younger.. 

Josh Hamilton hit for the "cycle" Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles. But when the ball flies out of the park, they don't let you stop at first, second or third.

Hamilton hit four two-run home runs against the shell-shocked Orioles. He finished a perfect five-for-five with eight RBIs.  He now sits at 14 homers on the year with 36 RBI and appears to be steam-rolling toward another MVP award.