Carlos Beltrán. USA Today
Carlos Beltrán is a controversial figure around baseball due to his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, but the Mets clearly believe the pros of bringing him onboard outweigh the cons. It was reported earlier this week that Beltrán will be joining the Mets front office as a special assistant to Billy Eppler. This comes three years after Beltrán’s short stint as Mets manager ended before he ever managed a game.
According to SNY’s Andy Martino, Mets stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Díaz were among those hoping Beltrán would get another chance in the organization. Lindor reportedly told Martino to “push” the idea of Beltrán being brought in, hoping to use the media to help move the process along.
Lindor also noted that it was Beltrán who helped him get adjusted to moving to and playing in New York after he was acquired by the team in 2021.
“He was the one that helped me find realtors and doctors around here when I first came here,” Lindor told Martino. “Where to live, you know, things like that. When I was struggling a lot last year I talked to him a lot. He’s amazing.”
Martino reported that Beltrán was nervous about hearing boos from the Citi Field crowd last September when he returned for a gathering of previous Roberto Clemente Award winners, but was relieved by the fans reception and also spoke during his visit with Steve and Alex Cohen.
Beltrán’s presence will add some much-needed MLB experience to Eppler’s front office. He is a borderline Hall of Famer and one of the best players in franchise history, and the team previously lacked anyone with a significant playing career working with Eppler. Edwin Díaz noted that Beltrán “knows so much about baseball,” and can help younger player develop.
Mets manager Buck Showalter also appears to be a big fan of the move.
Buck Showalter on the Mets hiring Carlos Beltran as a special assistant to the GM: "That’s a great addition for us. … As much as Carlos is willing to do (regarding on-field instruction), I’ll take him."
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) February 8, 2023
Although there is bound to be some that are still uneasy about Beltrán due to his role in the sign-stealing scandal, it seems like his return is a popular one overall within the organization. Beltrán’s credentials speak for themselves, and it’s clear the Mets believe he can help them reach their ultimate goal of a World Series title.
