Scwible Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 The Astros were unable to make a deal with free agent Carlos Beltran before Saturday night's 11 p.m. deadline. The Yankees have said they won't be entering the Beltran sweepstakes now that they're paying big for Randy Johnson. That leaves ... The New York Mets. According to a report in the Houston Chronicle, Beltran is in the process of finalizing a deal with the Mets. Terms of the deal are not yet known, but if it's better than Houston's offer — believed to be for seven years and more than $105 million — Beltran stands to do very well. The number of bidders for Beltran's services is one fewer today. Because the Astros slugger declined salary arbitration earlier this off-season, Houston had until 11 p.m. Saturday night to re-sign him. According to the Chronicle, Beltran turned down the team's final offer (the largest in franchise history) just minutes before the deadline. Beltran had 38 home runs with 104 RBIs while splitting time between Kansas City and Houston. His arrival in Houston helped turn the team's season around. After he joined the Astros, the team went 54-36 and won the National League's wild-card berth. But it was during the postseason that Beltran really raised his free-agent profile. In 12 games, he hit .435 with eight home runs and 14 RBIs, while carrying the Astros within one win of the franchise's first World Series appearance. If the Mets are able to close the deal with Beltran, it will be the second splashy free-agent signing for new GM Omar Minaya. Earlier this off-season, Minaya was able to steal Pedro Martinez away from other deep-pocketed bidders like the Yankees and Red Sox. http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3307774 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Haha, I see it to. Robbie Alomar Mo Vaughn Jeromy Burnitz Pedro? Beltran? All FA's the Mets sign suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Credepopsup Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Good news - out of the AL and NOT to the Cubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Personally, I don't know what Omar Minaya has done to warrant an unlimited checking account with Mets ownership. Obviously, he had his hands tied in Montreal, but he really botched the Colon trade, giving up a lot of prospects to acquire him, and getting squat back. Really, didn't do anything else spectacular. The one thing I will always remember about him was at their press conference announcing the Colon trade with the Sox, he really had no idea who Leifer was, and he just traded for him. Beltran is a great player. It will be interesting to see how he handles being the top dog on the biggest stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 11:57 AM) It will be interesting to see how he handles being the top dog on the biggest stage. There were some whispers that this would be the reason he went back to Houston. Some baseball people apparently believe that he's more comfortable in the background, and might wilt under the glare of being The Man in the largest market in baseball. We shall see, it appears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kogs35 Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 any1 for a lockout in 06? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Showtime Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 11:57 AM) Personally, I don't know what Omar Minaya has done to warrant an unlimited checking account with Mets ownership. The Mets are starting their own cable channel like the Yankees have. Thus, they know they'll have the capital, and that they'll need stars if people are going to pay for this channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Tizzle Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 If Astros are unable to land Ordonez, add Houston owner Drayton McLane to the list of baseball executives unwilling to negotiate with Boras. Astro fans are (rightfully) furious over this midnight decision from Boras. MLB boards are full of disgruntled messages towards Boras and New York. Another fanbase irked, another example of baseball economics gone awry. It must be frustrating to hear Beltran compliment every fascet of the Houston organization, yet let Boras knowingly prostitute him. Now Beltran can hear the criticism following every slump, every vital strikeout in the ruthless New York media. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxman352000 Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 QUOTE(Credepopsup @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 05:46 PM) Good news - out of the AL and NOT to the Cubs. Thank God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 01:56 PM) Astro fans are (rightfully) furious over this midnight decision from Boras. MLB boards are full of disgruntled messages towards Boras and New York. Another fanbase irked, another example of baseball economics gone awry. It must be frustrating to hear Beltran compliment every fascet of the Houston organization, yet let Boras knowingly prostitute him. That midnight deadline was not a measure of Boras... It's MLB rule -- as a FA who was offered arbitration, and declined, MLB rules state that both sides had to have a deal in place by last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Not sure if this is just fluff from the Beltran camp, but according to ESPN, had the Astros included a full no trade cluase, he would have signed with them. That makes me believe the Mets did include a full no trade clause. SB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 I wanted him to sign with the Astros. Remain in the same division that the Cubs are in. Like many of you know, he killed the Cubs when playing at Wrigley. Oh well... Seems like the Mets want to be just as big as their neighbors: The Yankees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 At least the Cubs aren't getting him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan562004 Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Beltran to the Cubs seemed to be more of a media creation. I heard a report that Boras hadn't talked to the Cubs in like a week and a half. I personally think the whole "no trade clasue" thing is a Boras smoke-screen to make his client look better. that seems like something that could have been dealt with if brought up... Boras used it as a trump card so some of the blame can fall on the Astros. He got roughly what he was asking for with only 2 serious bidders. And the Beltran/Astros situation proves to me even more that Maggs won't be giving any "hometown" discount to the Cubs... that statement in my opionion was a negotiations strategy to get Orioles, Astros and other teams interested to make larger offers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitewashed in '05 Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Beltran to Mets for 119 million, heard it on the radio on the way home from work on espn radio 1000 just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxman352000 Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 As long as he doesn't goes to the Cubs its all good with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Now Ordonez might. :puke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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