It just re-hashes the chronicle article from today... which is really all that espn insider ever does.
McLane refutes published report Says dollar figure related to Beltran contract is too high By Alyson Footer / MLB.com HOUSTON -- Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane knows it is going to take a lot of money to sign Carlos Beltran, but he was as surprised as anyone on Thursday when he saw a published report that suggested he had made an offer to the free agent center fielder that nearly reached the $100 million threshhold. McLane refuted the report that stated the Astros offered at least a six-year contract worth $96 million. "We acknowleged that we made an offer, but in no way did we disclose [the numbers]," McLane said. "That [published] offer is a rather large offer. And it was not our offer. I don't know where that came from, but it is way beyond what our offers are." McLane, general manager Tim Purpura and club president Tal Smith met with Beltran and his agent, Scott Boras, at the Astros' Spring Training complex in Kissimmee, Fla., on Wednesday. The meeting lasted approximately two hours, during which Beltran took a tour of the renovated Spring Training complex and spoke face-to-face with McLane for the first time since the 2004 season ended. The Astros have until Jan. 8 to sign Beltran, but McLane hopes to come to an agreement with the center fielder before that deadline. If Beltran signs elsewhere, the Astros will have to turn to their backup plans, and with so many free agents already off the market, it may be difficult to find players to fill the void. "We hoped a deal could have been made at the Winter Meetings," McLane said. "That's when Scott Boras did the A-Rod deal. We hoped for something by now. But they're still developing their plan and they told us they would get back to us next week. "This is longer than any of us wanted, but certainly they're in control of the process. We're waiting for them to get back to us."
Boras is just trying to get us into a bidding war with ourselves. The exact same way he got Tom Hicks to outbid himself by 100 million dollars for A-Rod. No real suprise Mclane isn't falling for it, since nobody else is even chasing Beltran anymore.
i've been searching on my parents' slow dial-up looking for confirmation, but when i was at the men's club late tonight, the dj announced some rather bizarre news. he said that: [1] carlos beltran is signing a 10-year deal with the astros tomorrow (the 24th). [2] the astros are involved in a 3-team trade sending bagwell to arizona; the diamondbacks sending randy johnson to the yankees; and the yankees sending kevin brown to the astros. both of these sound far-fetched, but the guy said that houston has a couple early christmas presents from the astros, and he seemed to be serious. again, no confirmation from any internet sources, even though i've searched.
Do you think Drayton would be quoted as saying, "I kept a franchise player in Jeff Bagwell in Houston. Carlos is a franchise player, and we intend to keep him in Houston." and then trade him as soon as Beltran signs?
Then again, trading Bags would allow Lance to play 1B instead of running around the OF and get Lane is the lineup everyday...but it sounds a little far fetched
This coming from a guy who introduces everyone by a fake name. Next on the center stage the lovely Jasmine Lexus Rose.
I would have taken a chance on W.Miller, than the proven always injured K.Brown. Now, being able to dump Bags. salary would be nice though.... Unless Uncle Drayton has been visiting some clubs lately , I doubt this would happen...
Astros Make Offer To Beltran http://www.click2houston.com/sports/4021982/detail.html McLane, Boras Meet With Beltran In Florida POSTED: 3:29 pm CST December 23, 2004 UPDATED: 3:34 pm CST December 23, 2004 HOUSTON -- Astros owner Drayton McLane got an early Christmas present Wednesday -- a face-to-face meeting with Carlos Beltran. Associated Press The free agent center fielder and his agent, Scott Boras, met with McLane and Astros general manager Tim Purpura at the team's spring training base in Kissimmee, Fla. The meeting came one day after the New York Yankees spent 2½ hours with Beltran in Tampa. According to Local 2, the Astros made Beltran an offer, and sources said it was for six years at just over $80 million. The Astros have until Jan. 8 to sign Beltran, who on Dec. 19 rejected the club's offer for arbitration. After Jan. 8, the Astros cannot sign Beltran until May 1, which would effectively end their chances to sign the center fielder to a long-term contract. Because of the Jan. 8 deadline, Beltran will likely make his decision by that date, even if he decides to sign somewhere other than Houston.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/10490683.htm?1c Posted on Fri, Dec. 24, 2004 Yankees, Astros in a tough fight over Beltran By SAM BORDEN New York Daily News NEW YORK - After touring the Florida homes of the Yankees and Astros this week, Carlos Beltran returned to his own house in Puerto Rico with an upgraded offer from Houston in his pocket, reportedly a six-year deal worth as much as $16 million a season. And that's only the beginning. The Astros are intent on doing everything they can to keep Beltran, and while Houston owner Drayton McLane denied to MLB.com the Astros had made that big of an offer, GM Tim Purpura told the New York Daily News on Thursday that regardless of the current offer, Houston has not yet reached its financial ceiling. "There's always ranges in these things," Purpura said. "We negotiate close to our range, but there is always room to keep going. You're not going to put out one or two offers and that's it. You have to get some feedback from the agent, talk about the parameters, see what else can be done to alter an offer if you have to do that." Beltran is the Bombers' top priority among position players this winter, but McLane is determined to fight hard to keep the 28-year-old switch-hitter in Houston. Purpura hesitated to rank Houston's offseason priorities, but placed Beltran at the top along with bringing back Roger Clemens and locking up Lance Berkman. Along those lines, the Astros are pushing for a quick resolution on Beltran, though that seems unlikely. Scott Boras, Beltran's agent, is known for dragging negotiations out, but the last day the Astros are allowed to negotiate with the center fielder is Jan. 8, and he's expected to make a decision just before then. "I expect some resolution with us in the next two weeks," Purpura said, noting that it will take a few days to actually hammer out the language on any deal of such magnitude. McLane's presentation to Beltran on Wednesday in Kissimmee included a highlight video, letters from several of the city's civic leaders and a book laying out the benefits of living in Houston, according to the Houston Chronicle. At Beltran's meeting with the Yankees a day earlier, George Steinbrenner chatted with the outfielder and Boras at the Boss' Legends Field offices, but no official offers were exchanged. GM Brian Cashman, who was also on hand, described the sit-down as a "meet and greet" that allowed Steinbrenner a chance to get to know Beltran better. The general consensus in baseball is that Steinbrenner will do whatever it takes to get Beltran, and there's certainly no doubt that, in the end, the Yankees will be able to outbid the Astros. But friends of Beltran have said throughout the winter that he would prefer to play in a less-explosive city - i.e. not New York - and might even take less to do so. It's also worth noting - and McLane did in his presentation - that there's no state income tax in Texas. That sentiment is exactly what the Astros are counting on. "The thing that we offer that the Yankees don't is an environment that Carlos is knowledgeable of and comfortable with," Purpura said. "We also offer something that no one else can offer and that's that he was in a successful, winning situation with us for the first time in his career. "The question is, what's the value of goodwill?" Both the Yanks and Astros (and Mets and Cubs and Tigers, who are all expected to be involved in the chase) view Beltran as a franchise player, the kind of star who can be the cornerstone of a team for five, six, even seven seasons or more. McLane, in particular, is attached to Beltran and would like him - along with Berkman - to take the reins of the organization from Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. "But even with those thoughts, Drayton still has an end point, a choke point where we'll have to walk away if (the money) exceeds a certain level," Purpura said. If that happens, figure on the Yankees being the one team left standing.
Thanks Gene the PIG for posting that. I was about to register for another paper so I could read that article.
Man I really want him to stay but you've got to think about it like this if you're Beltran: He is going to be the highest paid Astro ever, as well as the most sought after. How will this effect McLane in the near future when Bagwell and Biggio retire and if the farm system doesn't produce high-quality talent? So Houston gets Beltran -- then what? If Josh Beckett wins 20 next year and is a free agent (don't know that he is; just using him as an example), will McLane open up his huge wallet again for him? Actually with Beckett I'm sure there could be a Pettitte-style 'hometown discount' but that's beside the point. McLane won't sign high priced free agents every year and won't trade for them either; there's a maximum threshold that McLane (or even perhaps Fertita) will have in high-priced players. In New York, that's never the case; there isn't such a thing as a budget in the Yankees organization (at least as long as Steinbrenner is owner). Basically what I'm saying is if Beltran wants consistent winning with an annual chance at the World Series than he would be stupid not going to the Yankees. I hope he understands this because in a few years when Houston is in a 'rebuilding' stage he might very well want to be traded. And knowing how dreadful this year's Rockets are doing, I don't see anything preventing the Astros from having (or at least starting off) poorly. They had an amazing run last year, but with the same key players from the first 2/3 of the year, I hope they don't play terribly. The difference is Garner and I'm interested to see how he will regain a winning momentum at the beginning of the upcoming season. Of course none of this can happen without Beltran.
I hope this guy stays here. Man, that would be so awesome. Rockets are damn disapointing this season, and It makes me that more excited about the next Astros season. Hopefully the two big pieces to this offseason puzzle fit into place.
