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While local sources haven’t confirmed anything, ESPN.com has updated yesterday’s Enrique Rojas story within the hour, reporting that the Rangers are near a deal with Adrian Beltre. The newest update places the deal at five years, with an option for a sixth. The nature of that option is not known.

Beltre is widely regarded as the best defensive third baseman in baseball and would fill a need for a powerful right-handed bat, likely replacing Vladimir Guerrero in the Texas lineup.

According to T.R. Sullivan, Texas Rangers officials are “not particularly optimistic” that a deal will be reached with free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. This is contrary to reports from Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, who reported earlier that a deal between Beltre and the Rangers was “imminent.”

Further complicating matters regarding Beltre is current Texas third baseman, Michael Young. Texas officials apparently have reached out to Young about a potential position change, but Young was “not receptive” to the idea. Young was well below average defensively at third in 2010, posting a DRS (defensive runs saved) of -13 and a UZR/150 of -5.8. Beltre would represent a substantial upgrade over Young defensively as Beltre posted a DRS of +10 and a UZR/150 of 12.7.

Beltre had been rumored to sign with the Los Angeles Angels before the reports that a deal was imminent between Beltre and the Rangers.

Jeff Euston of Baseball Prospectus has final payroll numbers for 2010, and the team that catches his eye is the Rangers. Euston details how Texas started the season with a $58 million payroll and ended it at $74 million, thanks to trades, bonuses and buyouts.

The final number landed the Rangers at 22nd in payroll, about $15 million below the league median and of course much lower than the average payroll. While that is still below where they should be once they're a healthy organization again, it should serve as another reminder that this club isn't going to be able to afford more than maybe one big free agent contract over the next couple of years.