Jul
27
2011

San Francisco Giants Heavy Favorites To Land Carlos Beltran

An article by Craig Lerner

Updated 12:50 PM

Jon Heyman of SI.com says via twitter that Carlos Beltran essentially controls the show with regards to where he is traded because of his no-trade clause.

Wasn’t that always the case? Has something changed?

He does believe that even though the Rangers did their best to acquire Beltran, the Giants are still the heavy favorites to land the Mets centerfielder.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post agrees and says that Beltran’s new agent Scott Boras is pushing for Beltran to get traded to the Giants, because they will have the payroll to re-sign him after the season.

Sherman also says that one player he hears being mentioned as part of a Beltran deal is LHP Jonathan Sanchez.

Updated 11:30 AM

This just in from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/ken_rosenthal/status/96235750923841537"]

I don’t know where they get this stuff, seriously I don’t, but I thought you hould know.

Quantity or Quality?

Who is determining the quality of the players? Scouting reports, advanced metrics, gut feelings?

Original Post 9:30 AM

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, wrote that teams are telling the Mets no whenever they bring up the names of their top prospects in return for Carlos Beltran.

They asked Atlanta for Mike Minor, Julio Teheran or Arodys Vizcaino. Atlanta said, “No thanks.”

They asked Philadelphia for Domonic Brown or their top pitching prospect, Jarred Cosart. The response, essentially, was, “In your dreams.”

They asked the Giants for Zack Wheeler, the best pitcher in their system, or Gary Brown, their most highly rated outfield prospect. “Not happening,” the Giants told them.

And that’s how it’s gone — with those three teams, with Texas, Boston and everyone else that has checked in. The Mets still think they’re auctioning this guy off at Christie’s. But next thing they know, they’ll be placing him on eBay.

It looks like the Mets had been locked in a stare-down with some teams and were holding firm to their demands for a top prospect in return for Beltran, so much so that some teams started looking elsewhere for help.

But the Mets may now be softening their stance.

According to a report by Buster Olney of ESPN, the Mets are making progress in their negotiations with the Rangers and Giants for Carlos Beltran.

It seems that most of those who are following the negotiations closely are split down the middle as to whether the Giants or Rangers are the favorites to land the Mets right fielder. The Braves are also still involved, while the Phillies have backed off and are now focused on acquiring either Hunter Pence from the Astros or B.J. Upton from the Rays. The Giants and Rangers are also rumored to be interested in acquiring either of those two.

As Joe D. has stated here before, the notion that any team, contending or otherwise, would give up seven years of a top prospect for two months of Beltran with no draft pick compensation after he walks at the end of the season, was just “pie in the sky”.

Now that the Mets have seemingly come to grips with the reality of the situation, maybe they can get a good mid-level prospect and who knows, maybe they can re-sign Beltran again in the offseason. Stranger things have happened.

One thing that may reel the Braves back into serious negotiations with the Mets, is the injury to their slugger Brian McCann last night. With Chipper Jones already out, the loss of McCann for 2-3 weeks may force the Braves to overpay for a bat like Beltran.

Things are starting to tighten up and the rumors are now beginning to make more sense. It’s only a matter of waiting three more days now.

About the Author: Craig Lerner

I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.

13 Comments + Add Comment

alex68 July 27, 2011 at 10:02 am

is probably not only me, but i can’t stand jayson stark!!! or any espn guy for that matter.. ugh..
Kranepool7 July 27, 2011 at 10:11 am

I’d much rather see him go to the Rangers than anyone else. Truth be told though, I’m just glad it’s not the Phillies. As for the Braves let them suffer!! No way do we help them! We now have a chance to maybe keep fighting and see them fall in the standings. There’s still two months of baseball left.
jdon July 27, 2011 at 11:12 am

The braves have to be desperate, with mcCann going on the DL. Hell, they are the WC leader. Not a division leader. I would think they might pay more. And when you consider Texas, remember: they missed out on the gold ring last year. They may be sensing a little desperation as well. Don’t listen to the ESPN losers. I have no respect for ALMOST EVERYONE who reports on sports (any sports) at ESPN.
- Seligman July 27, 2011 at 11:25 am
  
  I agree with your point. The Braves have more to lose than any of the other teams and that wild card lead could vanish in a hurry if th dont add a big bat soon. Great comment.
alex68 July 27, 2011 at 11:34 am

am i the only person who does not wanna trade beltran in this blog?? hellooo?? mccann got hurt, mnaking the braves pathetic and anemic offense even more vulnerable, this is the opportunity the mets were waiting for, now the offense is clicking in all cylinders, can we add a player to help this team instead of getting rid of one more who is arguably the most important met on the team not named reyes??
chuck July 27, 2011 at 11:42 am

This is NY why are we selling(well I know why). If the Mets run off nine of ten they will be right there. Why cant they just offer Beltran a two yt 17 mil deal. 8.5mil a yr. Its not crazy money.
- alex68 July 27, 2011 at 11:45 am
  
  chuck, why are we selling??
  remember who we hired as a GM, and the reason why he was brought here
- Donal July 27, 2011 at 2:12 pm
  
  The Mets are selling because they can’t keep Beltran. Geography is irrelevant.
alex68 July 27, 2011 at 11:44 am

Joelsherman1 Joel Sherman
by AdamRubinESPN
Beltran says open to all publicly, but friends say choices are 1) #Phillies 2) #Giants. Puts #Mets in box because #Rangers offering most

lmao, is funny how beltran’s friends say this and that.. never mention their names or anything.. even beltran himself is puzzled by the comments
JBMets July 27, 2011 at 11:56 am

I wouldn’t be surprised if the braves pony up and offer minor but I’d rather quantity than quality since prospects are so unpredictable
srt July 27, 2011 at 1:46 pm

Sounds like Beltran to the Giants is a done deal.
Waiting to hear on what the return is.
russell Zanca July 27, 2011 at 12:58 pm

Sure would be nice to keep CB!
Donal July 27, 2011 at 2:01 pm

“Joel Sherman of the NY Post agrees and says that Beltran’s new agent Scott Boras”

uh…Beltran has been with Boars for a while. He was Beltran’s agent when he signed here.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	42	30	.583	-
Phillies	35	37	.486	7.0
Nationals	34	36	.486	7.0
Mets	27	40	.403	12.5
Marlins	22	48	.314	19.0

Last updated: 06/19/2013

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