Because of the Dodgers antics, this is a perfect situation for you guys. From a source of mine who posts at nyyfans....he's our Doc Rocket.... Because of the Big Unit deal falling apart, expect the Yanks to put the Beltran issue on the back burner and devote all of there resources to getting Big Unit in pinstripes. The obvious, most pressing issue for this team last year was there pitching. Its what this team has concentrated on the most this off-season. And Big Unit is there big target. Unlike Beltran, George not only would like to have Unit, but wants and needs him. Whatever George wants, he usually gets. This will take sometime, which will buy the Astros some time to lock up Beltran. My un-biased prediction.....Beltran ends up in Houston some time in the first week of January, no later then the 6th. Boras will not let this drag on past the 8th cause by then, the Astros, whom are the biggest player for his client, will have to drop out. This makes an already thin market for Beltran even thinner, making the chances of him landing a big deal, more unlikely. The feeling is, as long as the Astros are part of this, because of Beltran's stated desire of wanting to stay, it would put the pressure on the Astros to counter any offer any other team makes, thus upping the stakes and offerings for Beltran. The Astros have apparently known this all a long, thus have kept the cards close to there vest. If they had been over anxious and made an offer, the Yanks would have countered with a larger offer, forcing the Astros hand and engaging a bidding war, which the Astros would have been the loser, no matter if they kept Beltran or not. But instead, the Astros have played smart and will most likely be the ultimate winners in the end.
I don't know why you'd call what the dodgers did "antics," as if they were wrong for backing out. The paper work was never sent to the commish as it was reported and they were getting screwed in that deal. If the other teams involved had treated them with more respect and made the deal worth their while, the deal would have happened.
According to www.chron.com, McLane and Purpura met with Beltran and Boras today in Florida. They will supposedly have a comment once they arrive back in Houston this evening.
You have participated in OOTp. Ask anyone how they felt about Deve after he made some similar trades. He would agree to them in chat and then he would back out after the other person posted them in the transaction threads. If some paperwork was submitted to the league then in effect the Dodgers had pretty much agreed on it. Backing out at the last minute is not going to endear DePodesta to some of the other GM's.
Astros, Beltran meet in Florida December 22, 2004 HOUSTON (AP) -- Carlos Beltran met with Astros officials on Wednesday, Houston's latest effort to keep the All-Star center fielder who led the team within one win of its first World Series. Beltran and his agent, Scott Boras, spoke with Astros owner Drayton McLane, team president Tal Smith and general manager Tim Purpura at the team's spring training camp in Kissimmee, Fla. A day earlier, the Beltran met with New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in Tampa. ``We feel we had a positive discussion today,'' Astros owner Drayton McLane said in a statement. ``We'll continue to have dialogue in the hopes of having Carlos in an Astros uniform for many years to come.'' McLane and other Astros officials returned to Houston after the session and weren't immediately available for additional comment. Beltran batted .417 in the NL championship series with four home runs, five RBIs and four steals after hitting .455 with four homers and nine RBIs in the division series. In addition to the Yankees, the Chicago Cubs are also thought to be pursuing Beltran. If Houston doesn't reach an agreement by Jan. 8, the Astros would be ineligible to re-sign him until May 1. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...aA--?slug=ap-astros-beltran&prov=ap&type=lgns
Unrelated: Boras sent a basket of Mrs. Fields cookies to the office. They really hit the spot, so he's back on my good side now.
that's the best Boras can do?? Mrs. Fields cookies?? hell,the company we order office supplies from sends us Mrs. Fields cookies!!
So, are we supposed to be getting a statement from Drayton tonite or is it just going to be in tommorrow's Chronicle? I have a feeling it will be more of the same "we had a positive conversation" stuff.
6 years, 80 million is our offer according to "sources" per Channel 2 news. apparently yesterday the yankees didn't even make an offer...so we'll see. i hope he stays with us.
Chron is saying their sources tell them 6 years 96M Beltran shown the money Astros sparing no expense over coveted free agent By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle McLane, Astros general manager Tim Purpura and president of baseball operations Tal Smith hosted Beltran and his agent, Scott Boras, at the team's spring training facility in Kissimmee, Fla. After a tour, McLane ushered the parties to the conference room to make his offer and recruiting pitch a day after Yankees owner George Steinbrenner led a similar meeting with Boras and Beltran in Tampa, Fla. Although the Astros declined to divulge the offer, industry sources say Beltran's price topped $16 million per year based on the offers he has received and the current market. It is clear the Astros offered at least a six-year, $96 million deal. "It's a very, very substantial offer and one that we feel is certainly competitive, although we have no way of knowing that," Purpura said. "I think we're at a point with this negotiation where we have entertained offers from everyone," Boras said via phone. "We're moving at a much more rapid pace." Drawing on some of the same techniques he used last year while recruiting Roger Clemens, McLane emphasized the Houston community's desire to have Beltran in an Astros uniform. "We were just showing his great leadership and accomplishments," McLane said of the postseason highlight video. "And we were trying to show him all those signs from fans saying, 'We love Carlos.' " Beltran also received a book of about 250 e-mails the Astros have received from fans urging the club to re-sign Beltran, who is considered by baseball officials the top free agent. Beltran returned to his home in Puerto Rico, and Boras returned to his home in California on Wednesday afternoon. McLane and Purpura expect to hear back from Boras after Christmas to resume negotiations. The Astros have until Jan. 8 to sign Beltran or lose all negotiating rights until May. "I think certainly out of respect for Carlos and all of us and our families," Purpura said, "we have agreed to put this thing aside and spend the holidays with our families." The Yankees have been considered the Astros' top competition for Beltran, who hit 38 home runs with 104 RBIs and 42 stolen bases between the Astros and Kansas City Royals this year. Beltran, 27, saved his best for the playoffs, hitting .435 with eight home runs, 14 RBIs, nine walks and six stolen bases over 12 games while leading the Astros within a win of the franchise's first World Series berth. Economically, the Astros broke down the tax rate in Texas, where there is no state income tax. New York residents pay city and state income taxes along with their national income tax. On the loyalty front, McLane pointed out that he has stuck by aging veterans Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, who have the majors' longest active tenure as teammates. "He could be the next generation," McLane said of Beltran. McLane compared Beltran to Bagwell, who signed a five-year, $85 million deal in 2000. "Drayton came in an addressed one issue," Boras said. "The issue is this is one franchise player. "He said, 'I kept a franchise player in Jeff Bagwell in Houston. Carlos is a franchise player, and we intend to keep him in Houston.' "Chron
I agree. I wonder if McLane included in his sale pitch that there will be a statue of Beltran in Halliburton Plaza.
wow..no freaking kidding. $16 million per year. I don't want to hear anyone say, "Drayton didn't do enough...wah," if Beltran doesn't sign here. $16 million is ridiculously fair...and might even be overpaying, given contracts for comparable players in recent years. as an aside...i continue to be obsessed with this. literally...i freaking love carlos...this guy spends his career in astros colors and he will likely finish as my favorite pro athlete of all time. i know some folks who know the guy, and EVERYTHING i hear is positive. just a great guy and a tremendous talent.
Tejada got 6 years, $72 million (last year). Vlade got 5 years, $70 million (last year). Beltre got 5 years, $64 million. Pedro got 4 years, $54 million. If Beltran won't take 6 years, $96 million...
