http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2875866 FULL ARTICLE of the one on the ESPN Insider. ^^
So the Angels didn't pick up their option on Glaus. Their chances for getting Beltran are probably higher than Chicago's and close to New York's. They've got a latino owner who talks to free agents in their own language and he's got lot's of money. If Beltran's wife is like Vlad's mom, she'll accept living in Anaheim.
I wouldn't mind taking Glaus as a consolation prize. He's been plagued by injuries the last couple years, though. Apparently the Angels are going to move Jose Guillen. He may be worth taking a look at, despite his off-field issues (temper).
You know, if Beltran ends up with the White Sox, that means Magglio Ordonez would be available. He would be a great alternative if he can stay healthy. He doesn't have the speed and alot of the defense, but he can sure hit the ball out of the park.
If Beltran leaves, Kent stays gone and Clemens decides not to return, this would be my ideal, REALISTIC offseason: 1. Sign Steve Finley to a 2YR, $15M deal with team option for a 3rd year. He is still an exceptional defensive player in center, and he would fit in very nicely as a powerful, left-handed hitter in the 5th spot behind Berkman and Bagwell. Plus, he gives Taveras a little more time to get his feet wet before being handed the full-time job in Center. 2. Resign Berkman and Oswalt. For Berkman, 6 years and $66M sounds about right. For Oswalt, 4 and $40M should be enough. 3. Give Eddie Guardado and Steve Kline 2-3 year deals averaging around $3M apiece. Adding this Lefty-Righty combo in front of Lidge would take the bullpen from a weakness to a strength overnight. Also, their combined $6-7M annual salary would, in effect, replace Clemens' in the overall payroll structure. 4. Look into the possibililty of adding a Corey Koskie or Troy Glaus at 3rd base. I'm not unhappy with Ensberg/Lamb at 3rd, but losing Kent and Beltran is way too much of a drop in production from the middle of the order to realistically expect to be replaced by only Steve Finley. If they are too expensive (anything over $7M annually), then forget it and go to spring training with this 25 man roster: Burke Biggio Berkman Bagwell Finley Ensberg Ausmus Everett Lane Chavez Lamb Taveras Whiteman Oswalt Pettitte Miller Backe Hernandez Lidge Guardado Kline Wheeler Qualls Gallo Redding
Mags is represented by whom? Might Boras be inclined to send Drew to 'replace' Carlos? Would Doggie be welcomed back? Could Lane actually handle a full load of play? BTW - does Ensberg have a future? Does he have trade value?
Mags ain't comin' here, stop dreaming guys. Boras has been known to get in funny business like that..at least rumored. I wouldn't put it past him...though he'd ask for a lot more $ than I'd be willing to throw at Drew. Throw Hidalgo in the trash chute. Lane is ready. Biggio spot-starter in CF and LF and 2B with pinch-hitting duties. He can still smack the occasional fastball outta here. Hmm...Biggio will become what Casey Candaele was around '91. Ensberg has a future as a solid role-player and line drive hitter. If the team has some power at 2B or SS or C, he can fit in. With Burke, Everett, and Ausmus/Chavez, we need some power from 3B and Ensberg isn't a long-term solution.
According to the Chronicle, Purpura contacted Boras....which is great. However, I didnt see anything saying that he is making a trip to Puerto Rico to visit Beltran. I hope he is intending on using this window to our advantage.
Why aren't the Astros doing everything they can to make Beltran sign? Its as if they realise its a lost cause.
They're planning on tying him up and tickling him till he signs a contract... How you like that Boras!
Off the Astros website: Sounds like they're willing to go down there but they don't want it to be a waste of time, which is understandable.
All we can do is to tell Beltran and Boras (the real killer B) that we want Beltran and are willing to go to Puerto Rico. Boras is directing this movie and would be pissed if we set up something with Beltran directly or flew down for even a friendly hello without his say so.
Rich and David (from 610) were talking about this last night and they said that Boras has informed the Astros that everyone would work around their time schedule. Boras would set the time for anyone intrested to come and bid for his services....most likely a blind bid as he did with ARod. Boras blows....if we offer somewhere in the $15 million dollar per year range and they do not accept it then I will feel Drayton and company made a fair offer.
Ooops, maybe I should have put this in here. My bad. http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newsse...ts/10102662.htm Beltran wants 10-year deal HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Astros free agent center fielder Carlos Beltran is seeking a 10-year contract, his agent told a television station on Thursday. "All of the fundamental aspects about the desire of him to stay in Houston and to look at Houston as a serious contender for his services I think are there," Scott Boras said in an interview with KRIV. Boras said Beltran is also interested in a couple of other teams, but he did not name them. He declined to discuss salary figures. "He is going to just go through the process, talk to those teams, and we are going to evaluate the ability of the club to have a winning environment every year, and certainly the economics of it." Astros owner Drayton McLane told the station that the club will not receive the financial parameters from Boras until next week and won't respond until then.
Man! Ten years makes him 37 on the last year of that deal. That's pushing it. However if he would do 10 at 140M, I'd be inclined to do it.
