http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/37932.htm WAITING GAME By MARK HALE and JOEL SHERMAN January 7, 2005 -- A general feeling persists within the baseball industry that Carlos Beltran will return to Houston. The ticking clock favors the Mets. And all those involved continue to worry about the too-quiet Yankees. Such is the conflicting, confusing atmosphere that continues to surround the prized free agent. The Beltran derby is likely winding down to its final 48 hours. Even Beltran's mother, Carmen, confirmed yesterday that she believes her son will "make a decision by the end of the week." If the Astros are indeed the favorites, they are favorites of the oddest variety. If they don't sign Beltran by midnight tomorrow, they lose negotiating rights. And the Astros continue to insist privately that they have not met Scott Boras' publicly stated baseline of $112 million over seven years — and probably will not. "The timetable is getting short for Houston," Astros president Tal Smith said yesterday. But if a short timetable is bad for Houston, it's a positive for the Mets. Omar Minaya's club remains a strong player, and while Boras told the Post in yesterday's editions that five teams had met the agent's starting point of seven years and $112 million, the Mets remain the only known entity to have approached that financial stratosphere. An executive for an AL team believes the Mets have reached at least $112 million. Meanwhile, participants in the negotiations continue to worry that George Steinbrenner is going to order an 11th-hour strike. However, there have still been no overt indications the Yankees are making offers. One AL executive said that it would be the strongest sign yet that the Yankees have really hit their payroll limit if they stay out of bidding for an elite player who could go to the Mets. Of course, a long-held Yankee strategy has been to try to get their main competitors to overpay for players. So do not expect them to publicly back out of the Beltran stakes because to do so could lower the price for the Mets. In another interesting revelation that could favor the Mets, Houston GM Tim Purpura said yesterday the Astros will not increase the bid. "We've let Scott know that the offer you have on the table is the extent of our willingness to proceed," said Purpura, who plans to talk to Boras again today. Interestingly, Beltran's sister, Marie, came to the door of the family's house yesterday in Puerto Rico wearing an Astros T-shirt bearing her brother's name and number. Could Houston owner Drayton McLane relent and go to $112 million? One source familiar with his thinking said: "They have a new TV contract in which they're going to start getting $25-million plus in '06. That will put him in a totally different situation than he's been in [financially]. And there is tremendous pressure on him in Houston to get this deal done. So he might jump outside his traditional box because this is a guy who really acquiesces to public pressure." The Cubs, too, have interest in Beltran but are not sure if they can be a player financially. Additional reporting by Brian Costello.
Not to mention, Beltran might not want to have anything to do with talking to Justice if he has already slamming him.
i'm getting a little bit ahead of the situation, but assuming the astros do sign beltran, what next? do they have any more flexibility in their budget to sign other players? because even with beltran last year, the astros werent good enough to make it to the world series. and next year, they wont have kent and their core group of guys (biggio, bagwell, clemens) will be a year older or coming off injury (berkman). maybe i'm greedy, but after last years playoff run, i really want the astros to make it to the world series next year. but i'm worried that even with the beltran signing, they still need to get better to be able to beat the cardinals.
how about adding Andy Pettite?? think that might help? they'll add some help in middle relief, where they need it.
because it's a fair offer...and there is always a limit. the pressure to get beltran has been ridiculous...the people of Houston said, "go out and get him." if you make an offer like that and a guy doesn't take it, you move on. the offer is more than fair.
Umm...Beltran will be set for life and we will be without a centerfielder and very slim hopes of making the playoffs...looks more like OUR prblem
First, I am glad that Drayton has stepped up and is making a serious run at Beltran. All of the jokes about McScrooge this and that should be tossed out and should have been 2 years ago. Signing Kent, Pettitte and Clemens proves that Drayton wants a winning team. I don't think that he is going to allow a rebuliding year, especially after the amazing 2004 season. Second, do any of you seriously think that they are going through this without a plan b, c, d, or e? These aren't idiots we're talking about. The free agent list may have dwindled, but I'd be willing to bet that there would be a trade on the horizon should Beltran not decide to sign with my beloved Astros. If not a trade, then some kind of move will be made to make sure that the Astros at the very least remain competitive. Third, if Beltran wants a couple of million more to play for the Mets than so be it. Drayton made his case. The city of Houston has made its case. There is nothing more that we can do to prove to Carlos that he is truly wanted here. If he doesn't think that a core of him, Berkman, Oswalt and Lidge won't be competitive for years to come, then so be it. Once final note, I'm not sure if any of you read Ortiz's article in the Chronicle today. He actually said that the Astros are a worse defensive team without Kent. I had to read it twice but that is what he said. If I was Chris Burke, I would keep a copy of that article laminated and glued in my locker so that I could shove it in Ortiz's face when he comes for an interview after I win the ROY. GO ASTROS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I respect the Astros for locking down their offer. I'm sick and damn tired of sports athletes thinking that they are larger than life. It amazes me how this doesn't affect that many people. Baseball is a business and just like any business you want to get the best return on investment. Who pays in the end??? and we're the ones on the edge of our seat. If Beltran leaves town, so be it. I'm sick of this crap.
The Mets, with Beltran, would be pretty competitive. Piazza can still hit. Glavine and Pedro can still pitch. Cameron's a 30 homer guy in the OF who's a solid defender (assuming recovery from his injury). If Benson and Hidalgo can provide anything, they'll be at least .500. I'll criticize the Astros if they don't sign Beltran. Not for the offer, I think it's fair. But for failing to secure any sort of backup plan in the OF, especially in light of Lance's injury status. They can't afford to open their season with Biggio/Lane/Palmeiro as their starting OF.
Hidalgo signed with the Rangers. Benson's never been anything special and many believe that Pedro's fooled the Mets with his bum shoulder. I think they'll be good, but I don't think they'll be better than the Marlins or Braves, with or without Beltran.
Benson better provide something for what they're paying him; Pedro-Glavine-Benson-Victor Zambrano is a solid front 4. Doggy is with the Rangers now, but they also have Cliff Floyd. If we don't keep Beltran, I think we'll still have 10 million in payroll to play with at least. I'll hold off ripping Purpura a new one until Orlando Palmeiro is actually an opening day starter...I shudder at the thought of that.
