I hope you are serious. I will say a good prayer for you if true. I have faith that Beltran Carlos will be ours too.
Uh oh - here comes trouble... Yanks saving for Beltran December 9, 2004 -- While focusing on upgrading their rotation, the Yankees haven't forgotten about Carlos Beltran. With Jason Giambi's pinstriped future cloudy at best, the Yankees not offering John Olerud, Tony Clark and Travis Lee arbitration, the best first basemen on the free-agent market are Richie Sexson and Carlos Delgado. However, an industry source told The Post yesterday that those sluggers aren't in the Yankee plans. "That money is going to be used for Beltran," the source said. Of course, the Yankees have been the favorites to land the switch-hitting Beltran since the free-agency process opened last month. The Angels are considered the co-favorite, and it's likely agent Scott Boras will meet often this weekend at the winter meetings in Anaheim. To use as a guide to what Beltran might get, remember that Vladimir Guerrero, the premier free agent player last year, hauled in a five-year deal from the Angels worth $69.5 million. Boras said in November that the 27-year-old Beltran wants a 10-year deal. If Beltran sticks to that demand, the Yankees will likely go in a different direction, such as J.D. Drew or Steve Finley. Or they could leave Bernie Williams in center and re-think their position on Sexson and Delgado, who would likely cost in the $12 to $15 million per year range. Bringing back Tino Martinez, who left after the 2001 World Series and was replaced by Giambi, would be a popular move for Yankee fans, but he was 37 Tuesday and there are questions as to how much Martinez has left. He batted .262 with 23 homers and 76 RBIs for the Devil Rays a year ago. As for the pitching picture, it's starting to develop. "I am totally concentrating on pitching right now," GM Brian Cashman said yesterday. Righty Jaret Wright took a physical yesterday and has agreed to a three-year deal worth $21 million after going 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 32 games for the Braves, who were willing to go three years for $9 million. Jon Lieber opted for the same deal in Philadelphia yesterday. The Yankees are hoping the younger Wright (29 Dec. 29) is a better long-term investment than the 33-year-old Lieber. It's a gamble because Lieber proved he can pitch in New York, and those who know Wright question whether he can survive the pressure. Yes, he has matured since his early years in Cleveland, but remember he had won 17 games from 1998 to 2003 thanks to inconsistency and arm trouble. There are fears that if Javier Vazquez couldn't make the transformation from the NL to The Bronx it will be very difficult for Wright. Carl Pavano and Eric Milton are looking for a little more than the Yankees want to spend, but the differences aren't wide enough to kill deals. In fact, after believing Pavano was going to remain a Marlin, the Yankees now think they have a chance to sign the right-hander, who according to sources has been offered a $40 million deal for four years. The left-handed Milton is looking for a three-year pact worth between $24 million and $26 million. Then there is Randy Johnson. The White Sox-Yankee-Diamondback three-way rumor gained fuel yesterday but the Yankees said they haven't heard from Arizona in more than a week. According to a Houston television report, the Astros have offered Beltran a five-year deal worth $70 million to stay an Astro.
I'm not at all worried about Steinbrenner's dreamcasting for Beltran. I have said before that I may be underestimating the Yankees, but I don't think they have the kind of loot to sign Beltran with their need for quality front line pitching with the addition of the impossiblity of ridding themselves of Giambi's contract. It's just not likely.
Last season the Yankees had to make the World Series to turn a profit with a 180 million dollar payroll. I expect their payroll to increase this season but Cashman knows they have too many glaring needs in the starting rotation that they need to take care of first. It's not impossible for them to aquire Beltran, just not likely.
I don't think it's going to come down to money. The bidding is going to be around 14 mil per year, for 6-7, maybe 8 years. Vlad Guererro's contract set the market. If the Yanks go ape**** and up the ante to 16 or 17 mil per year, I'm dead ass wrong. Anyway, if the bidding is about the same, ultimately it's up to Carlos to decide where he wants to be. I have read that in Puerto Rico, the most popular team is the Yankees and all kids dream of playing in pinstripes. If that's the case for Beltran, then I can accept that.
this was posted in the Kent is a Dodger thread, but i thought it was important. It looks like the angels are close to signing steve finley which should be good for the astros because then the angels would most likely not sign another outfielder (beltran). http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3233388
Looks like Finley to the Angels is a done deal. I can't believe how much money he got at his age. It's interesting that they don't mention the Stros as suitors of Finley. That tells me they really are going after Beltran and not spending time on Plan B yet ... Angels Will Get Finley and Retain Flexibility Beltran seems out of the picture, but there could be room on the payroll for a free-agent pitcher. By Mike DiGiovanna Times Staff Writer December 10, 2004 The Angels are expected to make an early splash at the winter meetings today when they announce the signing of center fielder Steve Finley to a two-year contract with an option for a third year, a deal that eliminates the Angels from the Carlos Beltran Sweepstakes but leaves them in better position to bolster their rotation. General Manager Bill Stoneman did not return calls Thursday night, but baseball sources confirmed that Finley, who helped key the Dodgers' National League West title run after July's trade from Arizona, had spurned the Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers to sign with the Angels. The deal, believed to guarantee the 39-year-old Finley between $15 million and $20 million over two years, will go a long way toward filling the power void left by the departures of left fielder Jose Guillen and third baseman Troy Glaus and should give the Angels one of baseball's most formidable outfields, with Vladimir Guerrero, the American League most valuable player, in right and Garret Anderson in left. "I think it's a better outfield than we had last year," said Tim Salmon, the Angel veteran who will sit out most of 2005 while recovering from knee and shoulder surgery. "Garret did an admirable job in center, but I think his natural position is left. And offensively, [Finley] gives us one more good solid bat. He still has some sock." The deal also leaves the Angels in good financial position to pursue such top-notch free-agent pitchers as Carl Pavano, Matt Clement, Russ Ortiz and possibly Pedro Martinez, and to possibly make another run at Arizona ace Randy Johnson, whom the Angels tried to acquire in July. If the Angels are to keep their 2005 payroll in the $100-million range or less, a target owner Arte Moreno has mentioned on several occasions, they would have about $20 million to allocate to new players this winter. Had they continued to pursue Beltran, who could cost $15 million a year or more, they would have had no more than $5 million left for other players. By signing Finley, who hit .271 with 36 home runs and 94 runs batted in last season, the Angels will have at least another $10 million to play with, which would be enough to sign just about any of the free-agent pitchers remaining on the market. "They have holes to fill," said one source familiar with the Angels' thinking. "You don't want to back yourself into a corner with one signing." Plus, to get Finley, the Angels had to act quickly. The 16-year veteran, who made $6.75 million last season, had attractive offers from Detroit and Arizona, and San Francisco hoped to sign him before the winter meetings, which begin today at the Anaheim Marriott. With negotiations for Beltran expected to drag deep into December and possibly January, Stoneman decided to go with a less expensive but still-attractive option in center. The Angels hadn't made Finley a formal contract offer as of Tuesday, but when the Dodgers decided not to offer salary arbitration to Finley on Tuesday night — meaning the Angels would not have to surrender a first-round draft pick to sign Finley — negotiations moved quickly Wednesday and Thursday. Though the left-handed-hitting Finley will turn 40 in March, he is in excellent shape and hopes to play for another four years. A four-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time All-Star, Finley has a .276 career batting average, a .337 career on-base percentage and a .450 career slugging percentage and has averaged 27 homers and 87 RBIs over the last six years. Finley, who phoned Salmon and Angel first baseman Darin Erstad on Thursday to ask them about the organization, hit .263 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs in 58 games for the Dodgers after a July 31 trade from Arizona. Guillen, traded to Washington in November, had 27 homers and 104 RBIs in 2004. But with Finley in center and Dallas McPherson, who combined to hit .317 with 40 homers and 126 RBIs in the minor leagues in 2004, taking over for Glaus at third, there shouldn't be a marked drop-off in power. Stoneman said earlier this week he would have "no qualms" about starting 2005 with the speedy Chone Figgins in center, but with Finley, the Angels can keep the versatile Figgins in the infield, where he can fill in for the injured Adam Kennedy at second to open next season and possibly platoon with David Eckstein at shortstop when Kennedy returns from knee surgery. The Angels would also like to add a proven reliever — possibly a left-hander to replenish the bullpen depth lost when closer Troy Percival signed with Detroit, and it's possible they might try to upgrade at shortstop and designated hitter. Robb Quinlan and reserve outfielder Juan Rivera are currently the leading DH candidates, though the Angels have explored a possible deal for Mike Piazza. "The game revolves around starting pitching — that's really important — but you still have to score runs and defend," Stoneman said. "We look at everything. It's a matter of fitting people in, making sure they're the right people for your club." http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels10dec10,1,4871467.story?coll=la-headlines-sports
wow. i'd say at this point it's down between the yanks and the 'stros. this reminds me a bit of the offseason where we got jeff kent.
We lose Kent's RBIs....Bags isn't getting any younger...and Berkman is coming off of a career threatening injury...Clemens is gone (or so it seems)...Andy coming off surgery...as is Wade...I wonder if we would be better off firming up our pitching staff and turning our focus away from Carlos at this point.
The way I understand it, our window to sign Carlos closes Jan 8...so if he ends up not making a decision until spring training, we are out of the race. Has something to do with accepting/not accepting arbitration or something like that.
That is correct. By offering arbitration, the "rights owner team" (in this case, the Astros) have the window on Clemens and Beltran until January 8. If no deal is struck, they cannot talk again until May.
If we lose Kent and Beltran w/o adding a significant hitter to the middle of the lineup, this would be a pathetic opening day lineup: Burke Biggio Bagwell Lane Ensberg Ausmus Everett Taveras At this point, it looks like Beltran or bust for the Stros. With Finley, Glaus and others rapidly coming off the market, not signing Carlos would leave us with no moves left to make if, as his agent has said, this negotiation drags into January. Maybe it's time to start talking to Boras about Beltre or JD Drew as a plan B if Beltran goes somewhere else. At least laying the ground work now would give us some alternatives if Carlos leaves.
gammons just said on espn earlier he thinks beltran will end up back with the astros... the other guy tim kurjian? or something said the yankees
Gammons says we've started the bidding at 15 million a year for 6 years, and we will increase our offer.
I don't like this..... who are we bidding against? The Angels look like they may be out of it if they pick up Finley..the Yankees are still trying to acquire pitching..the Cubs just resigned Nomar, Walker and they can't get rid of Sosa. I might increase the number of years but I'd be hesitant to go more than 15mill a year.
