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The Reds are interested in signing free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran and they have reached out to his agent, Dan Loranzo, according to a report from Noel Piñeiro of Primera Hoya. The 36-year-old All-Star expects to make his decision by mid-December, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Reds join a long list of clubs chasing the former-Cardinal this winter. Reports have already connected Beltran to the Red Sox, Yankees, Mariners, Rangers, Orioles and Royals this off-season. According to Piñeiro, joining a contender and having a shot at a World Series title is a top priority for Beltran.
He played in his first World Series in 2013 as a member of the Cardinals, but he had reached the National League Championship Series three times before, as a member of the 2012 Cardinals, the 2006 Mets and the 2004 Astros. With a .333/.445/.683 batting line over 219 postseason appearances, the eight-time All-Star has earned the reputation as one of the top postseason performers in the game.
If a shot at the World Series is really Beltran's top priority, the Reds might have a chance. Cincinnati has made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons and with the possible exception of right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, who Beltran would likely replace, and free agent pitcher Bronson Arroyo, the core of the 2013 team is expected to return next year. The Reds are at a distinct disadvantage, however, as one of the smallest market clubs in the game. With much richer contenders like the Wold Champion Red Sox and the perennial powerhouse Yankees bidding for his services, the Reds are long shot to land him.
In fact, the Yankees will now make signing Beltran a "number-one target" after landing catcher Brian McCann, according to Mark Feinstein of the New York Daily News. Feinstein also believes that New York is Beltran's top choice, but the two sides are separated by Beltran's desire for a three-year deal. The Yankees want to sign him to a two-year deal. The team is planning on "moving fast" to land him, according to Feinstein, so a deal there could happen soon.