The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Mets Deal Beltran to San Fran

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Outfielder Carlos Beltran has agreed to a trade with the New York Mets that now makes him a member of the San Francisco Giants. In return, the pitching rich Giants sent Zack Wheeler to New York. Wheeler was the Giants first round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft.

Beltran had played with the Mets since 2005 when he signed a seven-year, $119 million contract. Although Beltran played a critical role in the Mets playoff run in 2006, Beltran was injured during much of the 2009 and 2010 seasons. However, he has resurged in 2011 hitting .289 with 15 homeruns, 66 RBI and leads the National League in doubles with 30 with an All-Star appearance to boot. Speaking of the All-Star Game, Giants closer Brian Wilson publicly lobbied the Giants to acquire Beltran while reading the NL's starting lineup.

Although the Giants lead the NL West by three games over the Arizona Diamondbacks, they have been in need of a bonafide power hitter. Aubrey Huff and Pablo Sandoval are tied for the team lead in homeruns with 9 while Huff's 47 RBI lead the team. To put the RBI numbers into perspective, it puts Huff in a four-way tie for 33rd in the NL while Beltran's 66 RBI are 7th in the NL.

Chances are that Beltran will only be a Giant for two or three months. But for $2 million thatHe is a free agent at the end of the season and the Giants might not be able to meet the demands of Beltran's agent, Scott Boras. On the other hand, Beltran is 34 and it is unlikely any team would be willing to sign him to another seven year contract. Of course, Beltran has never won a World Series ring. If Beltran plays well and the Giants win back to back World Series titles, he might be amenable to finishing out his career in the City by the Bay.

I am just happy Beltran didn't end up here in Boston. Josh Reddick has earned his stripes as an everyday player and the Sox aren't exactly lacking in offense. I think he would be a much better fit in San Francisco.

View all comments (3) | Leave a comment

Paul McGrath| 7.28.11 @ 10:47AM

Until the Giants got Beltran, they were the only team in professional baseball to not have a player with 10 home runs. And I don't mean just the American and National League, I mean every professional baseball team in North America including the Toledo Mud Hens and the Mexican League! (Yet the Giants are 16 games over .500. Perhaps the bullpen ERA of 0.29 since the All-Star break has something to do with it.)

Sparky| 7.28.11 @ 11:15AM

From a mid-Michigan perspective, I think of Carlos Beltran as the greatest-ever former Lansing Lugnut.

Bob K.| 7.28.11 @ 11:16AM

We will see. Beltran would be a typical Boras client if he did have good numbers in the final year of his contract. But management has figured out Boras by now and can deal with him or not as they please. Boras specializes in overpaid, underachievers. I read somewhere that he takes his entire fee off the top of the contract so it is in his own personal interest to get as much as he can in the deal.