Jul
20
2011

Braves In On Beltran, Is Julio Teheran A Possible Return?

An article by Clayton Collier

After reading the now daily updates on the trade market for free agent-to-be Carlos Beltran, I noticed that the Braves have been emerging as a very realistic suitor for the All-Star outfielder. With now 7-8 teams in the mix to acquire Beltran, this appears to be shaping up to become a deal similar to that of the Mariners/Rangers Cliff Lee trade before the 2010 trade deadline.

The Mets have stated that they want a Grade A prospect in return for Beltran, and they very well may get just that if a bidding war ensues in the coming weeks. Of the teams interested in Beltran, Atlanta holds the best chip in that of firerballer Julio Teheran. The Braves are in desperate need of offensive production, particularly from the outfield; but the question is, are they desperate enough to move their top prospect for a rental bat? I would not put it out of the question.

Beltran is undoubtedly the best player actively on the market, an instant game changer for any team that eventually acquires him. When teams compete for a player at the deadline, they always overpay for said player at a hope to give them an edge down the stretch, and Beltran will be no exception.

I see this deal getting done very similar to the Cliff Lee trade July. Lee was the best available player at the 2010 deadline and Beltran is the best here in 2011. The Mariners got one of the best prospects in baseball at the time in that of Justin Smoak out of their deal, so why not top pitching prospect Julio Teheran for the Amazin’s now?

The Braves have excess pitching, but are one of the worst offenses in baseball this season with a .230 team average, a figure that is 26th in baseball. The Mets are in need of more promising young pitching and have a rental, switch-hitting power bat who is putting up exceptional numbers in 2011. A deal here makes sense between the two teams.

To ensure a deep postseason push, an acquisition of Beltran would all but secure just that for the Braves. It also would be a waiving of the white flag for the Mets in not only dealing their 34-year old outfielder, but also trading him to the wild-card leading Braves.

But if the Mets can acquire one of the top young arms in the game in dealing Beltran to the Braves, I would say it is worth it to forfeit a very weak chance at contending in 2011.

About the Author: Clayton Collier

Clayton, a Long Island native and die-hard Mets fan, started writing online about three years ago. He is currently a Journalism major with a minor in Broadcasting at Seton Hall University. Although very disappointed with the current state of the team, Clayton remains hopeful that the young prospects in the farm system will bring the Mets back to a respected franchise in baseball once again. Besides writing for MMO, Clayton is also a staff member at 89.5 WSOU, Seton Hall's modern active rock radio station. You can contact Clayton by following him on Twitter: @Clayton_Collier or E-mailing him at MaybeNextYearMets@yahoo.com

22 Comments + Add Comment

Steve S. July 20, 2011 at 8:42 am

Wow, if NY can get Teheran, they should do it! And he’s only 20 years old, and doing great at AAA right now.

Then get rid of Pelfrey, and our rotation next year looks pretty good: Santana, Niese, Dickey, Teheran, and Gee.
- alex68 July 20, 2011 at 8:50 am
  
  NOW we’re talking.. although i really doubt they give him up.. hudson is old and lowe is a POS, they need more pitching other than jurjean and hanson, who both are injuries liability..
  - Devin July 20, 2011 at 8:58 am
    
    Dont forget their rookie Brandon Beachy 16 games started only gave up more than 3 runs once. Only gave up more than TWO earned runs 3 times.
    - alex68 July 20, 2011 at 9:01 am
      
      didn’t he get BOMBED last night???? just saying
      - Devin July 20, 2011 at 9:04 am
        
        That was his first bad start in the major leagues. Doesnt Dickey, Pelfrey, Gee, Niese and Capuano get BOMBED every other start? Just saying too.
        
        alex68 July 20, 2011 at 9:34 am
        
        we have too many “soft tossers” on our team already, we have our better version of brandon beachy here, his name is dillon Gee.. if alderson takes this guy then i realize he will be applying for a braves job coming soon. beachy is not, that, gooooooood!!!!!
        
        http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=beachbr01&t=p&year=2011
    - t agee July 20, 2011 at 9:20 am
      
      They also have Mike Minor, Randall Delgado and Aroyds Vizcvaino, Abreu, Clemens, Gilmartin, Oberholtzer, Geraren, Marek, Hoover and those are just the sure bets. That right there (including Teheran) is a full Major League rotation and bullpen without even including Beachy, Hanson, Venters, Kimbrell and Jurjens.
      
      You guys don’t realize just how far away our farm system is from mostly everyone else’s especially our main competition like the Braves.
      
      Five extremely young pitchers dominating the Major Leagues and 11 can’t miss one’s on the way spread out between AAA and A+ and another dozen quality arms that are no sure bet to make it but considering Atlanta;s elite monor league development cooridinators…………
    - Steve S. July 20, 2011 at 9:24 am
      
      Agree that Beachy would be worth taking!
- MetFan Lou July 20, 2011 at 8:52 am
  
  Agreed, but with Beltran gone don’t we need a power hitting outfielder? We have a good starting staff and some stud pitchers coming through our system now.
  - alex68 July 20, 2011 at 9:00 am
    
    lou:
    we have duda, capt kirk, fmart, pridie.. pick your poison because money saving sandy won’t be getting ANYONE in this upcoming offseason..
    - MetFan Lou July 20, 2011 at 1:16 pm
      
      Yeah, but I wouldn’t have brought the subject up if Bay was hitting.
    - Donal July 20, 2011 at 1:38 pm
      
      What free agent to be would you like to see in our outfield? Johnny Damon?
      - alex68 July 20, 2011 at 1:52 pm
        
        no johnny damon, but i am sure had the owners of the mets be someone else other than this crooks, i am sure we’d be talking extension RIGHT now instead of trading him for suspects!! err… prospects!!
        
        Donal July 20, 2011 at 2:01 pm
        
        crooks? Don’t confuse ineptitude with malice.
        
        And the reality is what it is. Beltran is most likely moving on.
        
        alex68 July 20, 2011 at 2:05 pm
        
        lickety, do you approve of what this owners have done? lie to the fan base, lie to themselves and the public? and profit of this team to pay for their bad judgments???
t agee July 20, 2011 at 8:57 am

Julio Teheran has flat out dominated every levl of the minors since he came to the US in 2008. If he was offered for Beltran there would be no better offer coming from elsewhere but I really can’t see it. Teams do crazy things at the deadline and maybe they feel with Chipper retiring, Prado can go to 3B, Beltran in LF and by trading for him have the inside track on signing him for 3 years. I can certainly see why the Braves would want Carlos but to give a team in their own division a true potential #1 frontline ace?

That’s seems way too much to give up for only two sure months of Beltran.
jessep July 20, 2011 at 9:08 am

worth mentioning that I have read reports of Atlanta possibly moving Derek Lowe to Detroit to give themselves from payroll flex down the road. Which would lead to a confidence in Beachy. If they did that, trading them a pitcher like Capuano along with Beltran isn’t the worst idea in the world.

I don’t care where Beltran goes to be honest. Sure if he goes to Philly, Atlanta or even NYY it may sting. But if he goes there, that means they gave the Mets the best offer. I don’t care if trading Beltran makes a team better for 2 months, I want to trade him because it makes us better for years down the road. No matter where he goes.
Tomterif July 20, 2011 at 12:05 pm

If the Braves are worried about pitching, send Pelfrey over with Beltran and get two prospects!
Chris W July 20, 2011 at 3:40 pm

Keep dreaming there is no way Julio Teheran or Beachy is leaving Atlanta.
MetFan Lou July 20, 2011 at 5:57 pm

Don’t forget the Braves have two, TWO legitimate closers, Johnny Venters and
Gregg Kimbrell. I think Venters is a stronger closer but Kimbrell ain’t chopped liver. Wouldn’t be a bad deal and we do need a closer.
- Jester99 July 20, 2011 at 10:14 pm
  
  You can FORGET about getting Venters or Kimbrell. My Braves won’t even think about that because they, along with O’Flahrety pretty much shorten the game to 6 innings. NO CHANCE ON GETTING THEM. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing Beltran with a tomahawk across his chest.
Braves In On Beltran, Is Julio Teheran A Possible Return? @ Facility Blog July 21, 2011 at 8:53 pm

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