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+--- Thread: Yanks Don't Want Beltran (/showthread.php?tid=9844)
- Keyser Soze - 01-04-2005
Yanks Don't Want Beltran? Now That's Big
By MURRAY CHASS
New York Times
Published: January 4, 2005
LET'S select the five most intriguing stories of the off-season. In this opinion, they would be the Mets' signing of Pedro Martínez, Boston's signing of David Wells, the Yankees' acquisition of Randy Johnson, Oakland's trades of Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder, and Washington's attempt to lose the Expos before it had them.
But if a weekend signal is accurate, the most intriguing story has yet to happen. If it does happen, it will be a nonmove, as opposed to the Martínez, Wells, Johnson, Hudson and Mulder moves.
The nonmove? The Yankees will not sign Carlos Beltran, the most attractive, and expensive, position player on the free-agent market. But it's not just that the Yankees will not be signing Beltran. The story would be that the Yankees will not even try to sign him.
That was the surprising signal from a baseball official over the weekend. The official, who is in a position to hear such things, heard last week that the Yankees did not plan to pursue Beltran.
"Someone told me the other day, if they get Johnson they wouldn't go after Beltran," the official, who refused to be named, said. "Even the Yankees have to have a limit."
No one has ever accused George Steinbrenner of having a payroll limit. What an awful thing to say about the freest-spending owner in the Western world.
Sure, once in a while Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, mutters something about a budget, and he tries to sound sincere. The Yankees, like all teams, are also required to submit a budget to the commissioner's office, which they have done for this year. But just like records, budgets are meant to be broken.
Beltran's becoming a victim of a Yankees budget wouldn't simply be the most intriguing story of this off-season; it would be the most stunning development in years. It would also crush Scott Boras, Beltran's agent, who is counting not only on the Yankees' interest but also on what would be a rare instance of the Yankees and the Mets directly competing for a player.
To have the Yankees yank their interest, just when the Mets are heating up theirs, would be a cruel trick to play on Boras. But then some clubs say Boras has been a cruel trick that has been played on them for years.
Mets officials, including the team's principal owner, Fred Wilpon, met with Beltran in Puerto Rico yesterday. They made no offer but are expected to make one this week.
The Yankees, including Steinbrenner, the principal owner, have met with Beltran, too; they have made no offer. In fact, when Cashman was asked about Beltran last week, he said, "We have to decide if we're going to be a player in this."
The reporters on the conference call who heard Cashman's comment had a hearty chuckle in private; of course the Yankees were going to be a player in the bidding for Beltran, a major player. But Cashman may have been speaking the truth. The Yankees had not decided what they would do about Beltran, who batted .435, slugged 8 home runs and drove in 14 runs in Houston's 12 playoff games in October.
Some Yankees officials know what they would like to do. Giving Beltran $17 million or more a year for seven or more years would be too much money over too long a period.
That thinking is presumably what led to what the baseball official heard about the Yankees' not pursuing Beltran if they acquired Johnson.
The Yankees should have Johnson by the end of the week. With Commissioner Bud Selig's reluctant approval yesterday of the trade with Arizona, the Yankees can begin negotiating a contract extension with Johnson today, under a 72-hour window. When they complete that negotiation, no later than Friday morning, Johnson will waive his no-trade protection.
But a wild card remains in the Beltran business. And the wild card's name is Steinbrenner.
Steinbrenner has said that he likes Beltran, but that he has not said if he wants him. Every other Yankees executive can be opposed to giving Beltran $17 million or more a year for seven or more years, but if the owner says do it, they will ask Boras, "Where do we send the money?"
If the Mets are prepared to offer Beltran a hefty contract, Boras would have no problem putting Beltran into a Mets uniform. Boras's history demonstrates that he is more interested in contract terms than geographical location, and the Mets are serious about wanting to sign Beltran.
This is not a Vladimir Guerrero escapade of last off-season, when the Mets made a ridiculously low offer. The Mets' offer will be competitive. But Boras would still prefer to have the Yankees join the competition.
Steinbrenner could be lured into competing for Beltran because of his hitting, fielding and base-running talents - or because the Mets want him. Historically, when the Mets have done something major, Steinbrenner has tried to counter with a major move. When the Mets signed Martínez last month, the Yankees intensified their efforts to acquire Johnson.
If the Mets were to sign Beltran, the Yankees would probably be left without a major move as retaliation. So the more spirited an effort the Mets make for Beltran, the more tempted Steinbrenner may be to ignore his advisers and go after Beltran himself.
Should Steinbrenner choose to sit out the chase, though, his decision would become the No. 1 story of the winter.
- Keyser Soze - 01-04-2005
Big offer to Beltran
Mets brass flies to Puerto Rico to make impressive proposal to free-agent slugger; how will Yanks respond?
BY JON HEYMAN AND BOB HERZOG
STAFF WRITERS
New York Newsday
January 4, 2005
The Mets stormed into the middle of the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes yesterday with a major offer that should make them bona fide contenders for the multi-talented centerfielder.
A high-powered contingent led by owner Fred Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya hand-delivered an eye-opening offer to Beltran in Puerto Rico and perhaps established themselves as clubhouse leaders in the high-stakes game. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated the Mets made an offer that exceeded Beltran's asking price of $17 million a year and $119 million in total.
While the Mets threaten to steal the entire offseason after locking up Pedro Martinez a month earlier, the game isn't over yet. The Astros, Cubs, Tigers and Yankees have shown considerable interest in the five-tool player. While several teams bid in the $90-million range previously, the Mets have set themselves apart - at least for the moment.
Newsday reported last week that agent Scott Boras set $119 million -- $17 million a year for seven years -- as the opening bid for the serious players.
Boras met with a Mets contingent in New York early yesterday to gauge the Mets' interest, and after hearing of their intentions, accompanied them to Puerto Rico for a face-to-to-face meeting with Beltran. The Mets' group also included Jim Duquette and Tony Bernazard. Accompanying Boras was his associate, Mike Fiore.
The Mets are trying to sell Beltran on coming to New York to be the big star in Queens rather than one of many stars on the Yankees' virtual All-Star team. If they can outmaneuver and outbid the Yankees, this could be a landmark offseason for the Mets.
The Yankees have sent mixed signals in recent days. While there is a debate within the Yankees' hierarchy about the wisdom of hitting the asking price, knowledge of the Mets' bid could easily spur George Steinbrenner to act. He is known to be enamored of the idea of carrying on the Yankees' tradition of great centerfielders.
The Yankees have focused most of their offseason attention on pitching and are likely to spend the next two or three days wrapping up a two-year extension for Randy Johnson before turning their attention to Beltran.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sent a signal last week that the Yankees might not be as aggressive in their Beltran pursuit as was first believed, but many of the decisions ultimately are made by the owner. Some Yankees people have wondered about the wisdom of spending $119 million on Beltran.
Baseball people have believed all along that Beltran will sign by Saturday because, according to the rules, that is the last day he can re-sign with Houston, but there is nothing beyond that to prevent the negotiations from carrying into subsequent weeks.
While the Cubs have suggested publicly that they'd first have to trade Sammy Sosa before making a serious run at Beltran, they still are pursuing Beltran while Sosa remains on their roster. If Beltran goes to the Mets, it might inhibit Chicago's ability to unload Sosa.
Beltran has told people close to him that he enjoyed his time with Houston, but it's an upset that the Astros have remained in the bidding this long. Owner Drayton McLane has made it a personal battle to retain Beltran, whose huge postseason turned him from a star into a superstar.
- HedCold - 01-04-2005
he must be to young for the yankees
- Black Lazerus - 01-04-2005
I thought it was the mets who liked to get guys that were past prime.
- HedCold - 01-04-2005
unless i'm missing someone, arod will be their only starter under 30 when the season starts.
- Goatweed - 01-04-2005
I think The Yankees want Beltran, but he's a little too expensive - I'm not saying I agree, but it seems that way, especially after the Randy Johnson deal.
- Keyser Soze - 01-04-2005
get older and more expensive, seems like a good strategy.
- GonzoStyle - 01-04-2005
they won a 100 games with a sub par pitching staff last year, the bull pen is fine, as long as they have pitchers who can eat up some innings they will be fine. Beltran is a great player but we needed to remedy the pitching situation and we did, even though we got an ancient pitching staff.
- Goatweed - 01-04-2005
they cant get rid of Brown - he stinks.
- Arpikarhu - 01-05-2005
i predict big year from brown
- Goatweed - 01-05-2005
Arpi obviously smokes some incredible pot (care to share some with me?)
- Arpikarhu - 01-05-2005
trust me on this. brown will surprise you all this year. in a good way.
- The Jays - 01-05-2005
Keyser posts more Yankee threads that Met threads.
- Arpikarhu - 01-06-2005
this true of all mets fans. they cant root for their team as they know it is a fruitless pursuit. they can only find joy in talking about how much they want the yankees to lose.
- Keyser Soze - 01-07-2005
Beltran is the only player in baseball history to compile four consecutive seasons with at least 20 home runs, 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. If you can boast you are the only player in history to do anything like that, you are special.
- Sir O - 01-07-2005
Quote:Beltran is the only player in baseball history to compile four consecutive seasons with at least 20 home runs, 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. If you can boast you are the only player in history to do anything like that, you are special.
Only if you own yourself in your fantasy league.
- The Jays - 01-07-2005
That's nice.
- Keyser Soze - 01-07-2005
Astros Have Made Their Final Offer
HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros said Thursday that they've made their final offer to Carlos Beltran. They'll find out this weekend whether it was enough to keep the All-Star center fielder.
"The offer on the table is our final offer," general manager Tim Purpura said, without indicating whether Houston made a new proposal. "We're not interested in going any higher."
Houston faces a midnight ET Saturday deadline to re-sign Beltran. After that, under baseball rules the Astros wouldn't be allowed to strike a deal with him until May 1.
Purpura said he and owner Drayton McLane spoke with Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, on Thursday. Purpura said he wasn't sure which way Beltran might be leaning.
"It's impossible to know where we stand in this kind of thing," he said. "We know that we're in the running, though."
Boras would not respond to Purpura's comments.
"Of the teams I'm negotiating with, I have received certain new proposals," he said, without going into specifics.
The New York Mets, who dispatched a delegation to Puerto Rico to meet with Beltran and Boras on Monday, also are trying to sign Beltran, and the Chicago Cubs also might be involved in the talks. The New York Yankees told Boras they would not focus on Beltran until after finalizing negotiations for an extension with Randy Johnson, a process that was nearing completion.
Boras is seeking a deal worth more than $100 million for the 27-year-old switch-hitter.
Purpura declined to discuss the amount of Houston's proposal.
"We feel it's a good offer," he said. "But to go any further wouldn't be prudent for the future of our organization."
Boras said he had spoken with all the teams involved on Thursday and was continuing to negotiate but said no decision was imminent. He says that while Saturday's deadline with the Astros was a factor, it didn't necessarily mean Beltran would make a decision by then.
Beltran led the Astros within one win of their first World Series last season, batting .417 in the NL championship series with four home runs, five RBI and four steals.