Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports is reporting that right fielder Carlos Beltran is looking for a three or four year contract and is expected to reject Cardinals’ one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer. That’s probably what the cards were hoping he does as they get ready to usher in the Oscar Taveras era.
Beltran, 36, is looking for a deal that will carry him to retirement and with a 3-4 year demand, it’s safe to say he likely ensures that no National League team will be in the mix for his services.
The Yankees, Phillies, Rangers and Orioles have already been linked to Beltran this offseason. But the likely favorites to land him are the World Champion Boston Red Sox who have shown the strongest interest in the eight-time All-Star, according to George King of the New York Post.
King cites a source who told him the the Red Sox would look to Beltran to replace the loss of Jacoby Ellsbury.
The former Met is coming off another solid season that saw him bat .296 with 24 homers, 84 RBI and an .830 OPS as he completed the final year of the two-year, $26 million deal he signed with the Cards before the 2012 season.
The Red Sox have already made contact Beltran, according to a team source, and quite frankly they’re the perfect fit for him. Boston would lose a first round pick, but considering they pick 29th it’s not that drastic for them. I predict he’ll get a three-year deal for $36 million.
