28
2011
Mets Make It Official: Carlos Beltran Dealt To Giants For Zack Wheeler
An article by Hojo's Mojo
The New York Mets today announced that they have acquired minor league righthanded pitcher Zack Wheeler from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for outfielder Carlos Beltran and cash considerations.
Wheeler, the Giants’ first-round selection and the sixth player picked overall in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, is 7-5 with a 3.99 ERA (39 earned runs/88.0 innings) with 98 strikeouts this season for San Francisco’s Advanced Class-A affiliate in San Jose. The 21-year-old was named a California League mid-season All-Star and ranks fourth in the league with a .224 batting average against and fourth with 10.02 strikeouts per nine innings.
“We’re excited to add a player of Zack’s caliber to our organization,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. “Zack is one of the top pitching prospects in the game and we are fortunate to have him in our system.”
Wheeler began his professional career in 2010 at Augusta (A) of the South Atlantic League, where he went 3-3 with a 3.99 ERA (26 earned runs/58.2 innings) and 70 strikeouts in 21 games (13 starts). He pitched in Major League Baseball’s Futures Game last summer earning a hold with a scoreless inning.
Baseball America ranked Wheeler as the 35th best prospect in minor league baseball in their mid-season report. The publication also ranked him as the top pitcher in the Giants’ minor league system.
The 6-4, 185-pounder graduated from East Paulding High School in Georgia and was named Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year for the 2008-2009 season after posting a 9-0 record with a 0.54 ERA.
Beltran is batting .289 this season, with a National League-high 30 doubles, 15 home runs and 66 RBI. During his career with the Mets, Beltran hit .280 with 149 home runs and 559 RBI. He signed a seven-year deal with New York on January 11, 2005.
“We thank Carlos for all he has done for this organization – both on and off the field – and wish him well,” Alderson said. “It has been a pleasure for me personally to know and be able to work with Carlos. He has been the consummate professional.”
Alderson will address the media on a conference call at noon today.
About the Author: Rob Johnson
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[...] Carlos Beltran Traded To Giants, But For Who? | Mets Merized Online __________________ "Hell of a situation we got here. Two on, two out, your team down by one in the ninth. You got a chance to be a hero on national television… if you don't blow it. By the way, saw your wife last night, hell of a dancer, you must be very, very proud. I mean that guy she was with, I'm sure he's a close personal friend and all. But tell me, what was he doing wearing her panties on his head?" [...]
Ahead of the pack hojo. Nice work.
This is a very irresponsible headline. The deal technically isn’t a “done deal” yet. You may want to change it, regardless of how close they truly are.
It’s being reported as done all over the place, MMO may have gotten the scoop first.
The current headline isn’t what gave me the willies (lol). This one is more responsible.
My insides are a mess! Good luck Carlos, many of us loved you on the Mets even though it never seemed that way.
Bittersweet, I hope what we got will bear good fruit, but until then it’s just bittersweet. Thanksfor the additional info on who these guys are.
Alderson is a genius for pulling this off. He said he wanted a top prospects and by golly he got one. I tip my hat to you sandy, fine job. And to you Carlos Beltran I wish nothing but the best. Go get yourself a World Series ring, you deserve it.
Yes, Mr. Beltran certainly deserves a ring… even as a Mets fan, i really hope the Giants win it all this year if Beltran goes to their team… i hope he produces very well for them… i also hope that Wheeler pans out to be a #2 or potentially #1 Starter….. LGM
The deal has been agreed upon, pending Beltran’s approval, which could come later today.
I think Metsblog blew up. Hee hee
The servers on Metsblog must be on fire lol
Hey guys, Joel Sherman just said this is the deal:
If nothing happens in the next 24 hours to scuttle the deal, it’s just Wheeler and cash for Beltran.
I love how some journalists “know” what the deal is before it’s announced. Joel Sherman says it’s just Wheeler for Beltran & cash. Ken Davidoff says it’s Brown and two other players. How do they know what the deal is? I’ll believe it when it’s made official. If it’s straight up Wheeler for Beltran/Cash it’s an OK deal. Maybe they could’ve gotten 2 or 3 players from the Rangers or Braves but they likely would’ve had lower ceilings than Wheeler. On the other hand, Wheeler is at least 2 years, and maybe 3, from the Majors and has serious control issues (currently 4.8 BB/9IP in high A ball). And the Mets system doesn’t have the greatest track record of improving pitcher’s control issues (see Holt, Brad as one example).
However, if Wheeler reaches his potential he and Matt Harvey would make an excellent 1-2 punch in the rotation. If this is indeed the deal it’s certainly a high risk deal, but also high reward. While I would prefer a two for one deal given that the Mets may pay most of Beltran’s salary, getting Wheeler looks pretty good as well. Well done Mets! (For once, LOL!)
Just shows you ho;w tightlipped the Mets brass is now. Thank God.
Well I know this was the right thing to do and it looks like who ever we get it will be a good prospect. That said, I’m saddened to see Beltran go. A truly class act one of the finest to don a Mets uniform.
wow.. i didn’t realiza we’re getting s prospect with fingernail issues already.. wow.. so, we’re basically can tank it the rest of the season, i guess we’ll get better picks now that beltran is gone..
You are making this TOO easy
“His cracked nail was a blessing in disguise because it forced him to take time out to work on smoothing out his mechanics. He got on a more direct line to the plate and cut down the effort in his delivery, allowing him to command the bottom of the strike zone much better. Wheeler threw an easy 94-97 mph fastball during instructional league with improved location. His changeup became functional toward the end of the season, and his breaking ball became tighter and more consistent. He can throw an overhand curveball but has had more success with a slurve. He did a lot of maturing on the mound in his first pro season and learned he can’t strike out the world.”
well.. wow.. i am speechless.. (sigh)
if only that were true
brainless yes, speechless, never
This stinks to high heaven! Goodbye 2011 season, congratulations Atlanta Braves on wild card.
I dont think you should just give them the wild card at this point. They are in the lead but cant hit to save their life. Its still wide open.
na na na na… na na na na… hueeehheeeeyyyyy… GOOD BYE!!!!
thank you reyes for a marvelous season in 2011, the season has ended!!
helloooooooo FOOTBALL!!!!
Alex68 you seem like you may be a bit of a douche? Are you sure you dont wanna root for the team in the Bronx instead?
no thanks.. by the way, i admit on last night’s game that i was wrong, but face it, this season the F/O has given up on the team, but the team hasnt given up and still fight DESPITE the fact that the front office won’t bring in anyone to help us..
The Front office is building a bright future for this team, you can jump on the bandwagon anytime.
There are 4 other teams ahead of us. Any one of them can catch the Braves.
My guess is the Braves started calling and SF got off the pot.
Good point. As soon as McCann went down, along with Chipper’s quad injury and Schafer also going to the DL the Giants probably figured ATL would up their offer for Beltran so they decided to roll the dice and deal their best pitching prospect. Not that they’ll miss Wheeler anytime soon with Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner cemented 1-2-3 in that rotation for the foreseable future. I never thought anyone would end up giving a top shelf prospect for 2 months of Beltran with no compensation to fall back on. I was very happily wrong!
And as I said in my other post the ESPN guys are always WRONG. Like weathermen, they still get paid on time.
Great job by Sandy Alderson getting a top pitching prospect…
Now lets finish this season and resign Carlos in the offseason….
we’ll see in 2015 whether it was a great job or not, is not like he got matt cain or anything.. he can be as good as projected, or a bust!!!! big time!!!
Thats the chance you take with any prospect whether you draft them, sign them or trade for them. All you can do is go after those with the highest potential ceiling and thats what Alderson did.
Agreed Mike. They got huge upside in Wheeler, as well as Nimmo (assuming they get him signed). It appears that Alderson and Co. are going to pursue high ceiling talent in the draft and trades when possible. A nice change of approach from the previous front office. Although I will give them props for getting guys like Murphy, Davis, Parnell, Niese, and Pelfrey among others so their approach landed some decent complimentary players as well.