It's nice to know that there is some dialog between McLane and Beltran on this. However, I still believe the Astros are a long shot. It sounds like Beltran won't sign unless we get Berkman and Oswalt locked up for a while prior to him signing. I've heard a lot of rumors on the radio saying that the Cubs are planning on letting Alou go and going hard after Carlos Beltran. That would be the worst possible situation for us. If he doesn't go to the 'Stros, lets just hope he is lured out to the American league. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...content_id=873587&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp 09/28/2004 12:49 PM ET McLane readies pitch to Beltran HOUSTON -- Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. doesn't buy into the assumption that his team will come up short in its bid to re-sign center fielder Carlos Beltran. "We got Andy [Pettitte] and Roger [Clemens] and Jeff Kent here, didn't we?" McLane said. "Remember, some people thought that wouldn't happen. Our goal has never changed -- we want to be champions, and we'll do whatever we can to facilitate that. We're committed to becoming champions for our fans, and we're going to try to persuade Carlos to come back." McLane footed the bill for a franchise-record $78 million payroll to add Clemens, Pettitte and Beltran to a team that already had Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio and Kent. Injuries to Pettitte and Wade Miller, as well as an offensive slump for much of the season, derailed Houston's ambitious spring plans, but McLane hasn't yet given up on this season. He also hasn't given up hope on bringing back Beltran -- who is about to become the best player on the free-agent market this winter -- even though such a move would certainly mean another record team payroll. "We've had some conversations with Carlos and his agent (Scott Boras), and we've let them know that we would like to have him back," McLane said. "It was just a conversation to let them know our position and to visit with them and get an idea of where they are with regards to [Beltran's] situation." McLane said no negotiations were under way, and characterized the meeting as informal. The Astros understand Beltran is being eyed by a number of teams, and that he would like to see what's out there. But they also want an opportunity to make a pitch of their own to the 27-year-old. The team is getting its foot in the door early. The Astros understand what bringing back the switch-hitter could mean for the franchise in the long term. Beltran is one of the most gifted players in the game. If he hits two more home runs, he would become only the fourth player -- joining Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez -- in Major League history to record 40 homers and 40 steals in a season. He covers the vast center field area at Minute Maid Park with unmatched grace and has given the Houston offense a boost with his booming bat and baserunning. On and off the field, Beltran is a perfect fit for the franchise. He is the caliber of person, and the type of player, who the Astros would love to have as the cornerstone of the future roster. To lock in a switch-hitting slugger like Beltran in the middle of the lineup with another switch-hitting slugger like the 28-year-old Berkman long term would give the Astros a powerful tandem to continue building around. Beltran said he has enjoyed playing for the Astros and, especially, being in the postseason chase. But any decision about his future won't come until he's weighed every scenario after meeting with Boras this winter. Beltran has also said that any decision he makes won't be based purely on money. He would like to play for a team that can go all the way. "This is a great organization. There is a lot of talent on this team," Beltran said. "At the same time, the owner and the front office have to go after some other guys, too, because I don't want to sign here for five years and see Berkman go or some other guys. "If I stay, those guys have got to stay with me because they are the future of the organization. Berkman is having a great year. [Roy] Oswalt is one of the best pitchers in baseball. If I stay, of course I want them to stay too." Berkman, who made $6.5 million this season, is up for arbitration and will be a free agent after the 2005 season. Oswalt, who leads the NL with 19 victories, avoided arbitration last year by signing a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. Both would like long-term deals and both are in line for healthy raises. Bagwell will receive $15 million for 2005, not counting the next-to-last $3 million payment on his signing bonus. Pettitte is owed $8.5 million for 2005. And McLane is also trying to lure back Roger Clemens for another season in Houston. Bringing that cast back would be expensive, but it would improve Houston's chances of keeping Beltran. The Astros can't win a bidding war with the likes of other suitors with deeper pockets. Houston will make a competitive offer financially and hope the other aspects of the team's presentation will make the Astros' offer the most attractive. The last time McLane gave the green light on a long-term deal with an outfielder was four years ago, when the club gave a four-year, $32 million to Richard Hidalgo. That one didn't turn out so well. But McLane is not going to let that experience hinder his efforts to re-sign Beltran. Conventional wisdom says Beltran will head to a major market next year, but that thinking gives short shrift to McLane's ability as a salesman and general manager Gerry Hunsicker's record of assembling contending rosters. Kent, Pettitte and Clemens all came to Houston when many assumed the Astros had no shot. Houston fans can only hope McLane can come up with the best pitch for Beltran. "We talked about the city. He asked me if I like the ballpark, things like that. I said, 'Of course,'" Beltran said. "Then he said they are very interested in me, and at the same time I let him know I don't want to be here by myself. He told me that all the years that he's had the team they have always been a good team. He always tries to put a good team [together] for the city. That's a good mentality from the owner." And one that will, perhaps, enable the Astros to hold on to Beltran. Jim Molony is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
We are gonna have to let Jeff Kent go and at least we can trade Wade Miller since he's still under contract. This should free up the space to resign Oswalt/Berkman/Beltran. With Bagwell retiring soon we might take a slight profit loss now, but we can make it up in the future. Obviously we will be outbid by a few teams for Beltran. I just hope he really likes it here and doesn't want to go to a team that buys it's way to the post season every year.
I have no doubts that the astros will resign Berkman and Oswalt. I think both of those are givens. However, it'll be interesting to see if Beltran turns down a boatload of money from either New York or Boston to play here. We'll make a respectable offer, but obviously it'll pale in comparison to what those clubs can do. The surge back into contention has improved our chances, getting to the postseason would do wonders.
God, that's so great to hear. I was never particularly endeared to Mclane because it used to seem like whenever we had a pitcher that had a good year, he would let them walk (Portugal, Kile, Hampton), but its awesome to hear him say that. I think he has now seen that by spending the money you can get alot more fans in the seats. I think we will be serious contenders for Beltran. And I really like Mclane's attitude towards rewarding the fans with the best team possible. Way to go Mclane!
If McLane is ready to spend the big bux again next season , you might just see Beltran in a Astros uni again.
I really see no reason we cannot fit Beltran into the budget, but I feel it would have to be a backloaded deal that will truly kick in when Bagwell's $17M comes off the books in two years. I have to believe he won't accept anything less than what Guerrero got last year ($70M 5 years), which works out to about $14M per year. If he would agree to accept, say, $8M the first year and $10M the second, we could compensate by paying him an extra $2-3M per season over the last 3 years. Going by this year's payroll, I figure the following increases in salary for next year past what they made this year: Bagwell: $2M Berkman: $4M Oswalt: $6M Pettitte: $1M Clemens: $2M I believe that those are the only big names who will be getting significant raises next year; the total increase for those 5 is $15M. Now, assuming the 2004 payroll was about $80M, we now have a total 2005 payroll of $95M, which is way too high. But, now we can start subtracting...the following are the respective savings on those I expect to lose: Kent: $8M Miller: $3M Add another $1M from a cheaper deal for Biggio, and we have now trimmed a total of $12M from that $95M to a total of $83M, which is almost exactly where we are now. From there, I would think (and hope) Drayton would be willing to bump that payroll up an additional $7-8M or so to keep a talent like Beltran. To summarize, I think the following roster could be had for a total payroll of about $88M: Burke Biggio/Taveras Beltran Bagwell Berkman/Lane Lamb/Ensberg Everett/Vizcaino Chavez/Ausmus Oswalt Clemens Pettitte Hernandez Backe Lidge Miceli Harville Qualls Gallo Buckholtz Munro What do you think? Is this a legitimate hope for Opening Day 2005, or am I just dreaming?
I honestly cant see why you'd NOT sign with the yankees.. unless you wanted to go home or something... If you care about just money you can go to whoever will pay the most... If you care about winning you should go to a team like the yankees... In this case.. the team that has the best shot of winning each year also pays the most amount of money.. why would you not go there?
He was a rookie last year... he's got awhile. On the post pointing out why anybody wouldn't play for the Yanks... maybe the big city life isn't for everybody. Also, maybe the Yankees way of doing business doesn't neccesarily mean they're going to win it all. Its been FOUR years since the subway series... and this year's team looks even WEAKER than any of the last 6 years. Who is the Yankees ace again?
nick.. . wow seems like hes' been here longer than that. That's true about the yankees.. my thinking is though.. if you sign with the yanks for 7 years you have to think you will most likely win a ring.. if you sign with the astros for 7 years I don't think you'd be so sure of a champ.. Arod got bashed because he took all the money to go to a junk team... Signing with the yanks gives you the most money and.. regardless of if they've won the last few years.. if there was one team I'd say will most likely win a ring in the next 7 years .. it would be the yanks.. (as much as I dislike them)
There is a chance they can resign beltran.. It's just if I'm going head to head with a team to sign someone.. I'd hope to either have a better chance of winning than the other team or have more money to offer the fact that the yanks have a better shot at winning the champ in most peoples eyes.. and more money to offer.. makes it such a hard sell. unless of course roger and andy have been convining him that ny isn't any good
I wouldn't be equating the Astros with those Rangers teams.... we've got pitchers that they could have only dreamed of. Also, the trend lately has been that the big young players ARE NOT going to the Yankees... Pujols signed in St. Louis, Vlad signed in Anaheim. I don't see why either of those teams are more or less likely to contend for a championship for the next 7 years (of course, I'm talking about the current make up of teams.. not their past playoff histories). The Yankees have had to settle for aging veterans in Brown, Sheffield, and Lofton finally trying to win a ring. I don't doubt that the Yankees are a very successful club, but I'm just noticing that the trend seems to be going away from every great player on earth signing with them and doing well... Jason Giambi may have been the last one (and that hasn't turned out too well).
one last thing.. I think Houston is a great city and if someone plays here a year or two.. they migh take less to stay here... My worry with beltran is that.. he has most likely lived in a hotel or something ?? .. and hasn't really gotten to know houston at all... how many off days have they had where they were in town since he's been here? I hope he hangs around a while after the year ends and gets to know the city
nick.. wasn't trying to equate astros and rangers.. I was just talking about players getting bashed if they take big money for a team that won't win.. but if they take big money from the yanks they have a chance to win.. Heck yes we are better than Rangers ... As of right now.. I definitly think there are some teams that have a better shot of winning this year than yankees... I was looking at it more from a long term standpoint.. if you sign with the yankees long term you know they will spend the money to put a good team on the field for the length of the contract.
There is a limit. Yes, you make him a fair offer. But if you get up to having to pay him somewhere between $15-17 million per year, you let him walk. It's just not worth it. And I love Beltran. I hope like hell he stays with us. Until there's real revenue sharing or a real salary capy, you can't hamstring yourself like that. The Astros will make a healthy offer. And I'll call it now...if he signs somewhere else for $3 million more per year, everyone will say, "the astros are so cheap! they let beltran slip away." And they'll still be wrong.
I just worry that if Kent leaves will be that be a sign to Beltran that the Astros are not "competing." Berkman and Oswalt IMO are givens. Without Kent, Weathers, Dotel, and Hidalgo's salaries, and a cheaper Biggio can we afford to offer 14-15mill a year? Got to think the Yanks and BoSox will exceed anything we throw out there so there needs to be an extra factor. If only the Stros would make the playoffs and maybe to the NCLS. Once Beltran got a taste of that I think he'd stay.
anyone else here richard justice say he thinks the astros should keep kent next season? this guy flip flops like a sandal. remember, if it were up to rich, good mr. kent would have been riding pine behind chris burke this season. that guy makes my head spin.
Kent's leaving is actually part of the reason I think our chances with Beltran improve... Regardless is whether or not we make the playoffs and/or actually do something once we get there, unless the Astros don't win another game this year I think most would agree that this team has given itself a lot of positive momentum for next year. They have made the season exciting down to the last week, they are averaging about 37,000 people, and have completely erased the bad taste of the underachieving team we saw for most of the year with this incredible run. Clemens and Oswalt have proven they are the best starting duo in the NL, and with a healthy Pettitte back next year, the foundation of starting pitching this team could field next year is scary good. I've got to believe Drayton is too smart a business man to let that kind of momentum die with a ho-hum offseason that includes losing Kent and Beltran without adding anything. What do you think is better in the long run? Increasing the payroll for a once-in-a-lifetime talent like Beltran and keeping the turnstiles humming to the tune of 35,000 a night for the next couple of years? Or once again alienating fans by holding down the payroll and watching 25,000 pissed off fans show up every night to watch an average team?
