Baseball Guru
01-02-2005, 02:28 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1957092&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233
ESPN.com news services
The New York Mets, invigorated by the signing of Pedro Martinez, are making another aggressive push at a highly-prized free agent, All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran.
General manager Omar Minaya and other team officials plan to fly to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to lure the slugger to New York, according to a Newsday report. On Monday, Minaya will meet with Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, in New York to begin contract negotiations.
One selling point the Mets will stress, the report cited, is the tremendous marketing potential Beltran will enjoy as the city's newest Hispanic star. The Mets also plan on making Beltran and Martinez the featured faces of the organization, hoping to attract more free agents to Shea Stadium.
Ultimately, it may come down to money. The Houston Astros reportedly have an offer of six years, $96 million on the table, and Boras reportedly has made it known the starting point for further talks is at least seven years and $112 million.
Beltran met with New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner last week and left impressed.
"The meeting with Steinbrenner was very good," Beltran said in a story published in Friday's edition of Primera Hora newspaper. "He is a professional person, super-educated. I've let them know my interest, and they have interest, too, about me joining their team."
While it has been assumed the Yankees would simply top the highest bid, that might not be the case.
According to the New York Post, a $15 million salary would wind up costing the Yankees $21 million when the 2005 luxury tax is factored in, and even Steinbrenner might begin to feel the financial crunch at some point.
Beltran batted .417 in the NL championship series for the Astros with four home runs, five RBI and four steals after hitting .455 with four homers and nine RBI in the division series. If Houston doesn't reach an agreement by Jan. 8, the Astros would be ineligible to re-sign him until May 1.
"As a baseball player, I want to be treated fairly -- based on what I've done in my career," Beltran said. "Of course, the opportunity to win is bigger than the economic thing. I want to be part of a winning team. I will consider every team."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
ESPN.com news services
The New York Mets, invigorated by the signing of Pedro Martinez, are making another aggressive push at a highly-prized free agent, All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran.
General manager Omar Minaya and other team officials plan to fly to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to lure the slugger to New York, according to a Newsday report. On Monday, Minaya will meet with Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, in New York to begin contract negotiations.
One selling point the Mets will stress, the report cited, is the tremendous marketing potential Beltran will enjoy as the city's newest Hispanic star. The Mets also plan on making Beltran and Martinez the featured faces of the organization, hoping to attract more free agents to Shea Stadium.
Ultimately, it may come down to money. The Houston Astros reportedly have an offer of six years, $96 million on the table, and Boras reportedly has made it known the starting point for further talks is at least seven years and $112 million.
Beltran met with New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner last week and left impressed.
"The meeting with Steinbrenner was very good," Beltran said in a story published in Friday's edition of Primera Hora newspaper. "He is a professional person, super-educated. I've let them know my interest, and they have interest, too, about me joining their team."
While it has been assumed the Yankees would simply top the highest bid, that might not be the case.
According to the New York Post, a $15 million salary would wind up costing the Yankees $21 million when the 2005 luxury tax is factored in, and even Steinbrenner might begin to feel the financial crunch at some point.
Beltran batted .417 in the NL championship series for the Astros with four home runs, five RBI and four steals after hitting .455 with four homers and nine RBI in the division series. If Houston doesn't reach an agreement by Jan. 8, the Astros would be ineligible to re-sign him until May 1.
"As a baseball player, I want to be treated fairly -- based on what I've done in my career," Beltran said. "Of course, the opportunity to win is bigger than the economic thing. I want to be part of a winning team. I will consider every team."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.