Peter Gammons: "Beltran will stay with Houston" Peter Gammons, who appeared on PTI today, was asked where he thought Carlos Beltran would end up. Peter Gammons said that he was surprised by the signing of Steve Finley by the Angels. He believed that the Angels were atop Beltran's wish list. He know believes that Houston has the best chance and he cited that Beltran loved the city, enjoyed his time here, AND has family, who own a business, here in Houston. According to him, his gut instinct is that, "Beltran will end up in Houston."
Detroit and Seattle are two teams looking to make a splash with a ton of money to spend. Not to mention the Yankees are believed to have been saving for Beltran.
No way I see Beltran going to Detroit or Seattle...he wants to go to a contender after all...not another KC.
he also said that he wouldn't be suprised if the yankees offered more, or if there was another team that was laying low in the bidding. so take gammons words with a grain of salt
Even without my Stros-colored glasses on, I've got to believe that this is now a two team race: Astros and Yankees. Boston - Damon, Manny and Trot aren't going anywhere, and they've still got the whole Randy/Pedro/Varitek thing to work out. Cubs - Unless they can move Sammy, I don't think they will be able to match the offer Houston has already made. Angels - With Finley in, Beltran is out. Baltimore - Tejada is better than any player left on the Stros, but they still have absolutely NO pitching. Mets - Please...if he wanted to play for a last place team and make a lot of money, there would be a lot more teams in the running. That leaves the Stros and Yanks. I'm inclined to agree with Gammons (reluctantly) and think that with Kent leaving, we just found a little more money to throw at Beltran, and it will be enough. Hopefully Roger comes back and we can make a serious run again next year. Of course, if the Cards can somehow land The Unit, this is all a moot point.
I'm not sure if anybody saw it, and there wasn't really any real data to report, but on CNBC yesterday there was an interview with Scott Boras at the winter meetings. Two things were notable to me: 1.) In the lay-fan's mind Carlos Beltran is IT. He is Joe DiMagio waiting to get signed. The caption under Boras' name read "Carlos Beltran's Agent". Probably the first 1/2 of the 5+ minute interview was dedicated to asking questions about Beltran which Boras was typically coy about answering. Only after this did they discuss sterioids which, considering Boras' role as Barry Bond's agent, would have seemed to be a more important topic to start with for a CNBC type audience. 2.) In typical Boras fashion, Boras hinted that Baseball revenues have grown 20% since A-Rod signed his deal, so he sort of suggested that Beltran was worth A-Rod money x1.2. He also had some crap about how Beltran is statistically the greatest basestealer in MLB history, based on some bizare statistical study that he had his office do and put into a pamphlet, so Boras is being Boras in trying to get a deal.
The Astros broadcasters talked about this all year last year, and it's based on success rate, which I wouldn't call a bizarre stat.
Just checked on it KC - 14 SB 3 CS Hou - 28 SB 0 CS For a nice 41 SB and 3 CS Post season 6 SB 0 CS Great line.
I really think if Mclain really thought about it he would see the benefit of paying Beltran the money. Just to have so many more fans come out to the games he is automatically going to make more money. All the novice fans out there know who Beltran is now and will come out to see him and have a reason to. There was once a time that Biggio and Bagwell was enough to draw that crowd but it is not happening anymore. This year having Clemens brought in the crowds and Beltran made himself a house hold name. You bring those two guys back or just Beltran it really gives the people in the city someone to come see with great skills. More ticket sales = more consession sales = more merchandise sales = more money for Drayton = Justifying Beltrans costs.
I think he does know that... that's why (for the first time ever), we're actually aggressively trying to go after a big-ticket free agent... instead of relying on the home-town discount for a guy who's approaching the latter stages of his career (Kent, Pettite). However, I still believe that this ultimately won't be about the money... and will be about where Beltran truly wants to play. Both teams (NY and Houston) are going to offer great salaries.
One thing that may help us is that Jaret Wright failed his physical with the Yankees...thus the Yanks are going to still be pressed to lock up a pitcher other than the "discounted" Wright. It looks as though they will definitely get Pavano...and with Wells already with the Bosox...and Pedro probably right behind him, the Yanks may have to shell out some more money for a guy like Milton, Milwood or Clement. Granted, this IS the Yanks and they can probably sign all of those guys AND Beltran...but I think pitching is priority #1 for them and now that Wright is a no-go...maybe they turn their attention away from Beltran just long enough for us to keep him in Houston.
Here's a good article from ESPN on Beltran. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=1944316 I'm going to quote one portion of the article that really made me think, is he really worth all this time and money? Don't get me wrong, Beltran is a very good player, but is he an elite player? If you just go by October, then yes, but if you look at his career, I think I'd say no. "An official of another club wondered: "Where are his Gold Gloves? (Uh, he's never won any.) How many batting titles or home run titles has he won? (Uh, that would be zero.) How many all-star teams has he made, playing for a team that had to have one all-star every year? (That would be one -- which he made this year, after being traded.)" The article also mentions that the Astros have consiered Scott Podsednik as a fall back option. Yes please.
Time to resurrect the "Beltran won't play here unless we remove Tal's Hill" threads ... http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/n...211&content_id=920789&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp Purpura met for approximately one hour with Carlos Beltran's agent, Scott Boras. Purpura and Boras would not discuss specifics of the meeting but a source familiar with the negotiations said the removal of Tal's Hill in center field at Minute Maid Park was one issue that was discussed as a possible condition of Beltran's re-signing with Houston.
How hillarious would that be if THAT was what kept this from happening. Drayton: "Now, Carlos... I know you're a special talent and all, but think of how much exposure that hill has gotten our fine ballpark. Every time somebody goes up and falls flat on their face on there... their highlights make sportscenter, guaranteed. We even got to see you go up there... but you made it look to easy in that playoff game... you gotta sell it if you really beilieve its a hazard out there."
Well, good. If he signs here for that amount of money, you don't want him to run up that thing and tear an ACL or something.
As things go on, I'm becoming more optimistic that we may be able to resign Beltran. I didn't think we had a chance at the end of the season. Thank God people are saying no to Boras' ridiculous demands.
