I disagree...effort is one thing...they decided long ago to go after ONE free agent....which is fine IF you decide from day one that you will match any offer on the table. If they lose him at this point, and go into next season without Kent, Beltran, Clemens, Miller (i realize he is damaged goods) and with Berkman's bad knee to boot...this will be one of the biggest mistakes the Astros have made. They have a guy who, by most accounts, WANTS to stay in Houston...they need to make it happen.
Here's the NY Post story... http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/37810.htm January 5, 2005 -- Recognizing they must counter Carlos Beltran's preference to stay in Houston and the lurking potential for the Yankees to jump hard into these negotiations, the Mets are prepared today to submit an offer for the star center fielder for more than $100 million. In addition, during face-to-face meetings Monday in San Juan, a contingent of Met officials led by owner Fred Wilpon and GM Omar Minaya satisfied Beltran's concerns about whether the team was truly committed to contend by saying that even if he were signed they would still aggressively pursue Carlos Delgado and/or Sammy Sosa. The Mets initial bid today could be for six years with an option in the $105 million range, but the Mets seem willing to approach $112 million over seven years, which was the base line that agent Scott Boras had established for the Mets to get to the negotiating table. With the top known bid, the Mets were growing more confident that they would make their second longshot signing this offseason following the four-year, $53 million deal forged last month with Pedro Martinez. The Astros' widely reported bid is six years at $96 million. However, a major league official said Houston executives claimed the offer is really five years at $75 million with a sixth-year option. Another executive said he thought Houston had agreed to guarantee a sixth year in an $84 million package. Whether, the total is $75 million, $84 million or $96 million, the gap between the Astros and Mets might just be too much for Beltran to ignore despite his strong feelings about Houston. A friend of Beltran's said, "He liked it there. His wife liked it there. And (Astros owner) Drayton McLane really reached out to him and made him feel good." A second major league official said Roger Clemens has let Astro officials know he would return if Beltran did, which could further motivate McLane to offer more years and dollars. At midnight Saturday, Houston loses its negotiating rights with Beltran. As the clock ticks toward that Saturday deadline the question about the Yankees' true intentions still lingered. A major league official who speaks to the Yanks continued to claim that with the addition of Randy Johnson they are "done" and not going to make another major investment. However, Beltran's friend said the player fully expects the Yankees to make an offer - perhaps between that of Houston and the Mets - and see if the power of the pinstripes sway Beltran that the Bronx is a more attractive place to play than Queens. As of yesterday, though, the Yanks were still saying no serious internal meetings about whether even to make a bid for Beltran would come before Johnson's contract was finalized, which will probably be tomorrow. "I don't think this game really begins until Scott knows (George Steinbrenner's) true intentions, and I think that might not come until even Saturday morning," Beltran's friend said. As for other possible suitors, an NL Central executive said he thought the Tigers could still plow into these negotiations and approach the 10-year, $200 million standard Boras had initially established. However, Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski said by phone, "We are not involved and we have never been involved. Where the dollars are just does not make sense in our situation." The Cubs would love to enlist Beltran, but they do not think they could compete financially with either New York team. The Cubs are currently leaning toward adding another Boras client, Magglio Ordonez. Boras told the AP yesterday "We're certainly at the point now where we've gotten offers from all involved clubs." But did that include the Yankees? Interestingly, Steinbrenner's reputation is so strong that despite everything short of an actual white flag on the Beltran subject, many people involved in baseball still consider the Yankees a player. A survey of seven team executives and two agents broke down as five thinking Beltran would go back to the Astros, three voting for the Yankees and one for the Mets. But Met fans do not despair. Even the voters who did not take the Mets as a first choice considered them definite contenders. "I think Beltran goes to the highest bidder," said an NL West executive who did pick the Mets as his top choice, "and I now believe the Mets will be the high bidder." Boras' history is he directs players toward money. Alex Rodriguez put himself in baseball prison to take the Rangers' 10-year, $252 million deal. Ivan Rodriguez took $40 million from the downtrodden Tigers. And, at this moment, the Mets are the team offering the most money.
The Mets initial bid today could be for six years with an option in the $105 million range, but the Mets seem willing to approach $112 million over seven years, which was the base line that agent Scott Boras had established for the Mets to get to the negotiating table. Lots of key words in here...NY media is assuming a lot of things that they don't really know for sure yet
Cubs have just offered a similar package like the Astros..looks like the ****ing cubbies are trying to "block" Houston from getting him or Boras' evil ways showing again....I don't know. http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub05.html
Jayson Stark on ESPN Radio said something this morning that I've been saying for a while. This whole thing comes down to who's driving the ship: Beltran or Boras?? If Boras is exerting a ton of influence, Beltran will be in NY. If Beltran is the one really in control, Beltran will be in Houston.
imo, the only reason the cubs are involved at this point is to mess with and scare the astros and raise the bidding if they can.
I heard on 93.7 the arrow that Mclane is going to up the offer if needed. Man, that is encouraging. Where the Hell is Purpura in all of this?
I heard that too and thought of our conversation. Adding that to what you said about Boras being the one who's in effective control, do you think then that Beltran is likely gone?
Drayton has always taken the lead on big-ticket negotiations... even when Hunsicker was around (probably one of the reasons the Hun felt insignificant). Tim will handle other things like who makes the team from the minors, and the signing of role-players. I stand by the fact that our offer won't be significantly less than any other on the board... McLane will offer just about anything if needed.... but if it doesn't happen, it will be because Boras has advised Carlos against it, for the sake of "his" career.
i don't know, but it certainly concerns me. as pro athletes, most of these guys don't know jack-diddly-damn about contracts or business, in general. i don't know how astute carlos is in his personal dealings. so he may be the kind of guy very easily influenced by a sharp-tongued suit. let's just say i wish he had a different agent. most of these guys don't do a ton of homework in hiriing agents, either. they're largely from referrals from other buddies who've used them. the other problem, obviously, is pressure from the players' union, because Carlos is considered such a benchmark player for this offseason.
This is an MLB rule: Since the Astros decided against offering Beltran salary arbitration when the season ended, they can only have negotiating rights through the 8th of January.
Just to clarify, the Astros did offer arbitration (which he predictably refused)... thus they'll get draft picks if he leaves.
For the people who said something about signing others with the 17 or so mil a year. Who said we would ever do that? I don't think it's a certainty that the money would be used at all on anyone else. My guess is we are only offering all this money because we know Beltran will sell the tickets and attention etc to be worth it. Several small name free agents wouldn't do that. You certainly take into account the superstar power when you decide to spend that much money.
i agree. they'll make a move to pick up someone...but they're not just gonna throw that kind of money around.
Arbitration hearings are only a last resort... if the two sides can't come to an agreement. I think they would be able to work a nice incentive-laden clause out for Roger if everything works out, and he decides to come back.
