Let's Trade Beltran to the Pirates and Become Pirate Fans

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Pirates have a few pretty good prospects and are 1 game back of loathsome Milwaukee and boring St. Louis in the NL Central race.

They could use our help and us theirs. Let's get behind the Bucs here and give them the difference-making right fielder they need to hurtle beyond their shit-eating NL Central brethren and the division title that's eluded them for 20 years.

We'll take P Jameson Taillon and/or OF Sterling Marte if we must.

[metirish]

Yes on both , will easily root for the Pirates ......


who owns the Pirates?, whoever it is they deserve some credit for sticking with Neal Huntington.

[TransMonk]

If we have to trade him, I'd rather him have a better chance at a ring.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

When we were at the Pirates game Edgy remarked that the one separating factor between us and them was that we had Beltran and they didn't have anything quite as good. Garrett Jones and Xavier Paul are playing right field for them, and even tho they're doing OK upgrading to Beltran would be an enormous lift for everyone. Heck, we might have to be forced to take 22-year-old Jose Tabata back.

Trading therm Jason Bay just wouldn't be the same.

[G-Fafif]

I'm in a "hands off" mode when they start talking about Carlos, as in "get your grubby hands off our All-Star right fielder," so no. But it's an intriguing thought. It was in Pittsburgh that Beltran, having an All-Star year in 2009, first had to start sitting out games en route to missing significant time. Also in Pittsburgh where he slugged in an All-Star Game.

They have my N.L. Central support and all, but still. Mets fans pulling for the Bucs...what's this post-realignment world coming to?

[Willets Point]

I like Beltran. I like him as a Met. But logically he is not part of the Mets future and his value in a trade is not going to get any higher than it is now. The Mets need to plan for their future and I think that should start with trading Beltran for well-scouted, talented young players.

However, keep your hands of my Reyes.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I could get into some of this

[starling Marte] is built in the mold of Darryl Strawberry, a sleek, athletic 6 feet 2, 179 pounds. He has the speed and grace of an Omar Moreno, the kind seldom seen with that size. He already can cover as much of center field -- maybe even more -- than Andrew McCutchen. And his arm, already the Pirates' best at any level among outfielders ... well, no need to go there. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10073/1042712-63.stm#ixzz1Ro6kB6wh

[metirish]

No pressure on young Marte with that write up.

[TransMonk]

As I was speaking this weekend to non-Mets fans about Beltran going to the AS Game, it finally hit home how much I am going to miss Beltran when he is gone and what an under-appreciated all-time Met he is.

My goal for the next few weeks is to take advantage of watching as many remaining Beltran at bats as I can.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

If Beltran's to be a Buc:

1) The Mets will likely have to eat most/all of his remaining salary.

2) Salary having been eaten... they ain't getting no Tabata back. (Anything resembling a Tabata that they'd get would be, like, low-A with swing problems.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I could get into some of this [starling Marte] is built in the mold of Darryl Strawberry, a sleek, athletic 6 feet 2, 179 pounds. He has the speed and grace of an Omar Moreno, the kind seldom seen with that size. He already can cover as much of center field -- maybe even more -- than Andrew McCutchen. And his arm, already the Pirates' best at any level among outfielders ... well, no need to go there. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10073/1042712-63.stm#ixzz1Ro6kB6wh

6'2" 179 sounds more like young Jose Reyes than Darryl Strawb.

[seawolf17]

I could get into some of this [starling Marte] is built in the mold of Darryl Strawberry, a sleek, athletic 6 feet 2, 179 pounds. He has the speed and grace of an Omar Moreno, the kind seldom seen with that size. He already can cover as much of center field -- maybe even more -- than Andrew McCutchen. And his arm, already the Pirates' best at any level among outfielders ... well, no need to go there. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10073/1042712-63.stm#ixzz1Ro6kB6wh 6'2" 179 sounds more like young Jose Reyes than Darryl Strawb.

Or...

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, Beltran as a Pirate is unlikely for several reasons:
- money and the diminishing haul of prospects you'd get the less of it you're willing to eat
- his no-trade power which he could use to block deals to non-contenders (or questionable contenders)



I also think it's safe to say that we're not getting Taillon. Don't know much about this Starling Marte guy although John Sickels wasn't quite as high on him prior to this season as the article in that above link. Good athlete but the power and plate discipline are both questioned.
Hitting decently in AA this year though few walks and HRs

A quick glance at the Pitt system from a few months back
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/1/3/1910902/pittsburgh-pirates-top-20-prospects-for-2011

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Being a tiny bit facetious here.

It's more like, IF we gotta trade Betran, then to whom would it be most palatable, and which package of prospects can we then soak them most for.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'm pretty sure my temperature killed my humor reserves for the month. If anyone's got some to spare, that would be great. (Also, coffee. Also, also, bread. We really need to do some shopping.)

Also, also, also... I think I'd rather super-stack a non-Phils team, like the Jints, in the partial service of ruining the next year-or-two for them (y'know, when their payroll takes that job over for us).

[TransMonk]

I'm agreed, I'd like to see him go to the Jints.

They have a couple of nice looking A-level teenaged starters. I'd be happy to take one and pay some cash to see Carlos play by the bay.

[Vic Sage]

yeah, with Beltran's no-trade, he'll likely veto any team that isn't a clear playoff contender. Plus any team getting him owes about $6M due after 7/31st, and he is unrestricted FA with no draft picks going to them if they don't re-sign. So, its a PURE rental for a big-market team 1 bat short of a playoff run. I don't know that we can get very much in that scenario, even if we pick up some of the $6M. But if we can get at least 1 blue chip prospect, we should absolutely do it.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: yeah, with Beltran's no-trade, he'll likely veto any team that isn't a clear playoff contender. Plus any team getting him owes about $6M due after 7/31st, and he is unrestricted FA with no draft picks going to them if they don't re-sign. So, its a PURE rental for a big-market team 1 bat short of a playoff run. I don't know that we can get very much in that scenario, even if we pick up some of the $6M. But if we can get at least 1 blue chip prospect, we should absolutely do it.

Are we sure it's $6million? Beltran deferred some of his salary this year, so does that deferred salary only apply to the "Mets portion?" Or is it all deferred and closer to $4million?

[ashie62]

The best the Mets may be able to do in Trading Beltran is save two months of salary.

He is a pure rental. You are not likely to land much of a prospect.

Anyone for keeping Carlos and resigning him? You need an RF.

[metsmarathon]

if we do decide to trade him away, i see no reason why we necessarily wouldn't entertain bringing beltran back.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm certainly for keeping him. Re-signing him would be a decision for the offseason.

[Ceetar]

metsmarathon wrote: if we do decide to trade him away, i see no reason why we necessarily wouldn't entertain bringing beltran back.

Wouldn't lose a draft pick for doing so.

[Guest attgig]

it seems like duda's bat is getting an extended look for the majors once carlos is gone. We also have kirk, evans, and there still is fmart who seem deserving of regular ab's.

I don't see us keeping beltran around next year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Going into the season, Carlos seemed certain to be an ex-Met by 2012.

Now, I'm not so sure. It's probably still the more likely outcome, but I can see the possibility of him returning.

[Gwreck]

I would offer Beltran 2 years at, say, $7.5M a year. Would he get more from an AL team that could put him at DH if necessary? Probably.

[Ceetar]

Gwreck wrote: I would offer Beltran 2 years at, say, $7.5M a year. Would he get more from an AL team that could put him at DH if necessary? Probably.

I think that's too much. But I don't think his ego (Boras) would settle for even that much of a paycut.

I'd like the second year to be an option of some sort. (Not vesting, I fully believe there should be no vesting options in MLB)

The thing is, if the Mets are in any sort of financial budget that they need to be careful what they spend on, I'm pretty sure offense is pretty low down on the list.

[Gwreck]

Ceetar wrote: Gwreck wrote: I would offer Beltran 2 years at, say, $7.5M a year. Would he get more from an AL team that could put him at DH if necessary? Probably. I think that's too much. But I don't think his ego (Boras) would settle for even that much of a paycut.

So....you want the Mets to re-sign him? You want him re-signed cheap but don't think he will? You don't want the Mets to re-sign him? What's your actual opinion here?

[Ceetar]

Gwreck wrote: Gwreck wrote: I would offer Beltran 2 years at, say, $7.5M a year. Would he get more from an AL team that could put him at DH if necessary? Probably. I think that's too much. But I don't think his ego (Boras) would settle for even that much of a paycut. So....you want the Mets to re-sign him? You want him re-signed cheap but don't think he will? You don't want the Mets to re-sign him? What's your actual opinion here?

depends if you're asking emotional, logistically, or something else..


I want him to end his career with the Mets, have a couple more good years and go up on the wall.

I'm not sure a player of his age with the lack of cartilidge in his knee (though maybe he's found a way to manage that) can be given a multi-year contract. Especially if the Mets are truly going to have to pick and choose the holes they fill, budget-wise. Offense probably won't be a problem next year, even if they downgrade to Duda/Evans/Fmart, etc. On the other hand, if they 'can' afford it, you have a decent shot of calling one of those guys up and them being helpful, so that the risk of injury to Beltran is not that big a deal, they've got the horses to cope.

But I'm not hopeful, as much as I truly believe Beltran does like it here, that he'll sign somewhere south of 2 years/20 million, which I think might be above what's financially wise for the Mets.



Actually, I pretty much wrote just that, back in February, before he even moved to RF. Beltran in 2012

[Farmer Ted]

Rangers fan in the office (really) says Beltran to Texas for Tanner Scheppers (Rangers first round pitcher from 2009) is a hot topic on the airwaves in Dallas. Hamilton or Beltran to roam center; Endy not cutting it.

Do we have a trade rumor thread?

[bmfc1]

Jonah Keri: Mets should trade Carlos Beltran to Rangers for Tanner Scheppers and Michael Kirkman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Rangers_minor_league_players#Tanner_Scheppers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kirkman

Scheppers has had injury problems:
http://rangers.scout.com/a.z?s=324&p=9&c=2&cid=1080606&nid=5670653&fhn=1

Scheppers video:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=7962336&content_id=7150811

Kirkman has a great year in 2010:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=kirkma001mic