Beltran turns down Astros, reportedly headed to Mets

[Baseball Guru]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=beltran&prov=st&type=lgns


January 9, 2005
HOUSTON (Ticker) - Carlos Beltran appears to be headed to New York.

Beltran, the biggest name remaining on the free agent market, will not re-sign with the Houston Astros, the team announced Saturday night.

The Astros had a midnight deadline to sign Beltran, a client of agent Scott Boras who is seeking an eight-figure deal for his talented outfielder. The Astros offered $105 million over seven years, which would have made Beltran the highest-paid player in franchise history, but could not corral Beltran.


"We're disappointed, but we also realize that owner Drayton McLane did everything that could possibly have been done," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said.

The New York Mets reportedly have offered Beltran $112 million over seven years. Reports out of Houston and New York say Beltran will sign with the Mets.

Landing Beltran would be the second major offseason coup for new Mets general manager Omar Minaya, who also signed star righthander Pedro Martinez last month.

Beltran, 27, is a star who may not yet have reached his potential. He batted .267 with a career-high 38 homers and 104 RBI in 2004, splitting the season between Kansas City and Houston.

Beltran also stole 42 bases in 45 attempts, becoming the first player in history to string together four seasons of 20 homers, 30 steals and 100 RBI.

The Astros acquired Beltran well before the trading deadline and he helped their charge to the National League wild card berth. In the postseason, he tied a major league record with eight homers as Houston won its first playoff series before coming up one win shy of the World Series.

In seven seasons, Beltran has a career .284 average with 146 homers, 569 RBI and 192 steals. He also is an outstanding defensive player, with double-digit assists in each of the last four years.

[Baseball Guru]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-baseballrdp&prov=ap&type=lgns

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
January 9, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Carlos Beltran's agent was trying to finalize a contract with the New York Mets early Sunday after letting the deadline for the speedy center fielder to re-sign with the Houston Astros pass without an agreement.

The Mets, who haven't made the playoffs since 2000, were trying to pull off a coup for the second time this offseason. They lured three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez from the Boston Red Sox last month with a $53 million, four-year deal.

Both the Mets and the Astros spoke throughout Saturday with Beltran's agent, Scott Boras. Houston had to sign him by midnight or lose rights until May 1 under baseball rules because he finished the season with the Astros, became a free agent and rejected the team's offer of salary arbitration. The Mets and other teams did not have that restriction.


Just after the deadline passed, Boras said he was still negotiating with New York, and the sides kept on talking after the deadline passed, trying to put an agreement in writing.

Houston was disappointed it couldn't keep Beltran, who led the Astros within one win of their first World Series appearance.

``Scott called us to let us know they were going to go in a different direction,'' Astros general manager Tim Purpura said.

There was no immediate comment from the Mets.


``I'm not real worried about it,'' Millwood said. ``If I was at a point right now that I felt I wouldn't be able to pitch all year, I probably wouldn't have signed.''

While talking with Beltran, the Mets agreed to a one-year contract with South Korean left-hander Dae Sung Koo, who pitched in the 2000 Olympics and spent the last four years with the Orix BlueWave in Japan's Pacific League.

Among players eligible for salary arbitration, Texas catcher Rod Barajas agreed to a $1.85 million, one-year deal.

[Liter22]

Good stuff!

[Pizza The Hutt!]

I don't think Beltran would be a good fit for the Mets. He played most of his career in Kaufmann Stadium (good hitters park), with half a season in whatever they call Enron Field these days (also a good hitters park), whereas Shea is one of the worst hitters parks in the majors. He was the biggest star in Kansas City, but c'mon, it's Kansas City. With Houston, he was on the same team with Jeff Bagwell and Roger Clemens. I don't think that, with the pressure of being the biggest star for the Mets he'll have plus a bad ballpark to hit in, he'll be able to hit .290 with over 25 HRs again. New York has destroyed careers before...

[Liter22]

Kaffuman Stadium is a hitters park are you sure about that? Anyways why am I not suprised no optimism is commin out of NY fans but so far me and James lol

[Pizza The Hutt!]

According to baseball-reference.com, the Royals' stadium was a hitter's park every year of Beltran's career except for last season (with park factors over 100.) I'm an Indians fan; I don't have particularly positive or negative feelings about the the Mets, except they couldn't beat the Bankees in 2000...

[yagsy]

I'm happy that it looks like Beltran will sign with the Mets but I am not happy with the size of the contract. But that's the Mets fault in the first place for giving Benson that ridiculous contract. I just hope that these guys produce. I'll remain optimistic until I see the actual performance. :D

[Blue56]

I heard he already signed with the mets.

[Rockin Robin]

Beltran is ours!!!
:Party::Party::Party::Party::Party:


(how's that for enthusiasm, Vin?? ;) )


Yes it's a large contract. But after the $11 mil signing bonus it's only $15 mil a year, which is not outrageous for someone of Beltran's caliber. (only $15 mil? Yeah, it's such a measly pittance.;)) 7 years seems like a long commitment to me, but he'll only be 34 when the contract ends, so that too is reasonable.

[BayStateBabe]

Beyond his hitting, fielding and base running abilities, the Mets are now CREDIBLE again. We CAN in fact nail the big FA. That itself is worth every penny.

[I Are Baboon]

WOOOOOOW! The Mets are PLAYERS this off-season! Congrats to the Mets and their fans. Looks like you guys have a lot to look forward to in '05.

I was pissed that Beltran dragged this out so long and turned down the Astros offer, but that's how the free agent game is played. I'm just glad the NYY didn't get him.

[Baseball Guru]

Thanks Babsy:)

As is proper Mets protocall, we still have to see if the big FA signings amount to anything as they usually dont;)

Good thing this season though is at least they aren't signings to huge contracts at the end of their careers:D

[rockin500]

I'm waiting for him to turn into mo vaughn. :D

lol j/k

[I Are Baboon]

As is proper Mets protocall, we still have to see if the big FA signings amount to anything as they usually dont;)

But how often do the Mets land THE single biggest available free agent? I don't think you have to worry about this signing.

[BayStateBabe]

Thanks Babsy:)

As is proper Mets protocall, we still have to see if the big FA signings amount to anything as they usually dont;)

Good thing this season though is at least they aren't signings to huge contracts at the end of their careers:D
Hmmm...where have I seen this theory before? :D

Thanks for the good wishes Babs! :)

[Baseball Guru]

Hmmm...where have I seen this theory before? :D
:)



Yep, and you were exactly right and I agreed when you said it in the other forum:D

[Jodi2231]

:clap: I'm very happy Carlos is coming to the Mets. I am a little nervous about signing a big name because of dissapointments in the past, but like yagsy said, I'll remain optomistic too.

Wonder what Georgie has to say about it??? ;)

[Rockin Robin]

Let's just hope Beltran does not turn into Robbie Alomar. :eek:

[BayStateBabe]

Yep, and you were exactly right and I agreed when you said it in the other forum:D
Oh I know...that's why I was kidding with you here :)

And thank you!

[Cyberlibrarian]

:clap: I'm very happy Carlos is coming to the Mets. I am a little nervous about signing a big name because of dissapointments in the past, but like yagsy said, I'll remain optomistic too.

Wonder what Georgie has to say about it??? ;)

The Skank spin machine is saying that, since they didn't want him, he can't be any good.

[BayStateBabe]

The Skank spin machine is saying that, since they didn't want him, he can't be any good.
And the corollary to this is if they signed him he'd be the greatest player in the history of the game. Meanwhile, let's see how our "Yankee Reject" does compared to Bernie. Somehow I think we're going to win that little contest.

[Jodi2231]

Let's just hope Beltran does not turn into Robbie Alomar. :eek:

:eek: Don't even put those 2 in the same sentence!! :eek: