25
2011
Should Mets Attempt To Re-Sign Carlos Beltran During Offseason?
An article by 
With all the hype this week surrounding Carlos Beltran and the trade deadline, I felt it necessary to throw in my two cents.
Most likely, before the week is through, Beltran will be playing for another team. I’m normally optimistic about matters concerning the Mets, but I’m definitely realistic when it comes to this impending trade.
Carlos Beltran will no longer be a Met when this week is through.
Besides missing time due to injury and the unfortunate Game 7 strikeout, Beltran had a fine Mets career. He’s enjoying one of his more productive years this season as well.
So while Beltran will likely make another NL team very happy during the stretch run, he still will be a free agent after this season.
I’ve heard that some analysts believe the Mets would be wise to try to re-sign Beltran this offseason to a short-term deal.
I am very curious to hear what the fans think about this. I will present both sides of the argument to give everyone a clearer picture of what we are dealing with.
Beltran, when healthy, is an extremely productive all-around player. He hits for power, a decent average and has shown he can drive in runs in clutch situations. He also has shown surprisingly good range in the outfield, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he can shift back to center if he had to (or another team wanted him to be their everyday centerfielder).
Next year’s free agent outfield class will include Jonny Gomes, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Ludwick, Juan Pierre, Josh Willingham, Rick Ankiel, David DeJesus, Lance Berkman, Michael Cuddyer, J.D. Drew, Jeff Francoeur, Kosuke Fukudome, Xavier Nady, Cody Ross and of course Beltran.
Of this group, Beltran is by far the most complete player and will likely be the most sought after, except for maybe Berkman who’s having a phenomenal offensive season.
Since he will be heavily pursued, there will be a hefty price tag associated with him. He’s also a Scott Boras client meaning his agent will drive up the price. He’ll likely command a two-three year deal in the neighborhood of $10 million per season, if not more.
Do the Mets have the money to make this deal, especially with the possibility of re-signing Jose Reyes on the table? Reyes will easily get a deal of six-seven years, $130+ million, which may cripple the Mets payroll.
While Beltran may still be the most productive outfielder of the group, let’s look at the cons to re-signing him, regardless of the money.
He will be turning 35 years old in April. He’s no spring chicken and eventually his age is going to catch up with him. It may not affect him next season, but if he’s looking for a two-three year deal, that might be a factor.
Additionally, it’s tough to ignore Beltran’s injury history. Luckily, he’s been one of the few Mets to survive the second coming of the injury plague this season. But all it will take is the re-aggravation of a previous injury to make signing him a lost cause.
I’m very on the fence about possibly re-signing Beltran this offseason. First off, it’s very rare that a player will return to a team after being traded from them a season before. It’s not unheard of but still very rare.
In the meantime, who will play right field next season? The Mets young outfield prospects—Cesar Puello, Cory Vaughn, Matt den Dekker and Darrell Ceciliani—all could use some more seasoning.
Lucas Duda isn’t really an outfielder, but he’s shown he has hitting potential. Maybe it’s finally time for Fernando Martinez to step up?
Beltran seems to be too expensive an option as a stopgap in right field. However, if the Mets commit to him and he stays healthy, there aren’t too many better options than Carlos.
Like I said, I’m skeptical about this. I wouldn’t mind the Mets re-signing him to a short-term deal at a moderate price. But part of me realizes that it’s time to move on from Beltran and bring in some younger talent.
I want to hear what the fans think. Attempt to bring back Beltran this offseason? Let him go for good? The comments section is open, go for it.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 25 | 18 | .581 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 21 | .523 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/19/2013
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Forget about FMart ever “stepping up”. He’s on the DL for the second time this year. And his production, when he is playing is not very good. Although the chances of resigning Beltran are not very good, it can’t hurt to offer him a two year deal for 8 million a year. Is anyone else going to offer him more? And he absolutely refuses to DH, so he will probably want to stay in the NL.
That’s true about the NL. But if an AL club offers himself a chance to play the outfield (especially center) everyday, then those teams would certainly be in the mix.
The way I think of it is “If not Beltran, then who?” The Mets don’t really have a major league ready outfielder in their minor league system and if they were to trade Beltran in the next few days, the prospects they’d receive might not be ready to play for the Mets on Opening Day 2012. Scott Hairston, Opening Day rightfielder? No, thanks. (But I do like him for the bench.)
If there’s no less expensive, younger option, perhaps the Mets should consider a short, incentive-laden contract for Beltran, at least until Kirk Nieuwenhuis is ready for the majors, which might take longer now that he’s out for the season.
Ed, looks like great minds think alike, and even post at the same minute!
Well, a 2 part question really.
part 1 is, do they need a veteran RF on a short term deal, to bridge the gap until (hopefully) a prospect is ready to step in?
that, I think is a definite yes. But, I would not want to go more than 1 year, unless it was a younger guy that would be in his prime.
so part 2 becomes, is Beltran a good fit?
Sure, if he wants to sign for 1 year (or 1 + an option), and he doesn’t get crazy money.
Mostly I think that they need someone established for next year, though it could easily be a platoon type guy, since I don’t expect them to have one of the OF prospects ready to go by opening day.
The composition of the OF is a consideration too. I don’t believe that Beltran can be an everyday CFer at Citi so we’d have to have to carry two guys who can. Pagan and Pridie or Nuiwenhauss and Hairston (or someone like him) along with Fern or Duda. I’m sure their are many other configurations possible with off season manuvering but that one would allow for us to have two CFers and Carlos but Pridie could be a minor league career free agent or rule 5 casualty and Niuwenhauss just had surgery and again I just can’t see Carlos being the 2nd string CFer at CitiField. Other parks perhaps with a move to RF at Petco and Citi but not full time here.
I also can’t see Carlos resigning here because of the owners going out of their way to embarrass him, the fans with memories of just one AB, the media, the whole thing and I can’t see him getting less than 2/24.
I could certainly see him winding up across the River though. No compensation due, short fences and competent ownership with a great chance at a ring and plenty of other higher profile professionals in the clubhouse.
Hate to say it but that I could definitely see.
I would say yes. If they fall out and trade him then get something for him now and sign him in the off season. No one is ready to come up and play RF and we know he can handle NY. Its a win-win.
But how much would you be willing to give him Pat, knowing that we have to pay Reyes?
Well Jim, keeping in mind that Boras is his agent, if he wants to be a Met he’s going to have to meet them half way and take a pay cut. Maybe 2yrs 20-26mil with an option. But they will probably offer him something like 1yr 5mil plus incentives. I hope the money doesn’t matter to him.
reyes should be the priority, but if beltran can be had, very good.
no way.
I say yes. Lets not forget that it will not cost the Mets a draft pick to get him so that clause may end up working in their favor.
Bringing back Beltran is a good idea when you consider the altrnatives, He shoulg get no more than 8-9 million annually and no more than 2 years. I hope it happens.
People keep claiming that holding onto this guy is a bad thing because you get nothing back of value. My contention is that his value is greater than anything they’ll ever get back for him, plus his absence creates lineup and defensive holes they can’t fix with one player, not effectively in the time in which most who want to trade him think is relevant. If you don’t get either a near-term ML player plus a secondary prospect, you must fill right field or the other OF spots with a proven commodity even if you want to give Buffalo players who are brought up in September a chance to document their worth. We know what Beltran brings. The cost of development and using various players to deliver what he does can’t be measured by his contract cost alone, because the team isn’t looking to value his loss now by compensation that will return immediate results. So, if you lose immediate results, you don’t get future value, you have no chance to resign a certain commodity, you get nothing for this expiring contract.
There ought to be a way to calculate this investment as a commercial property than an old home you are trying to move in a saturated, down market. You don’t trade this guy wihtout getting value back for him, because you will never get back in return what he gives you, period.
I say no unless you could find a way to unload Jason Bay. But we know that is nearly impossible.