The Mets made the most significant free-agent signing of the offseason on this day in 2005. And after six-and-a-half stellar seasons, it remains the best free-agent signing in team history.
Carlos Beltrán parlayed an astounding 2004 playoff performance with Houston into a free-agency bidding war.
New Mets general manager Omar Minaya, like other team executives, was enamored with the mastery he demonstrated on the October stage, which included eight homers, 20 hits, a .435 batting average, and an on-base percentage above .500. All this came following a stellar regular season that saw him eclipse 30 home runs for the first time in his still-young career and surpass the 100-RBI barrier for the fifth time in his six years.
Who was to fault the Mets for salivating over the prospect of a 27-year-old switch-hitting, five-tool center fielder teamed with a pair of up-and-coming infielders named David Wright and José Reyes along with fellow free-agency pickup Pedro Martinez?
For fans who suffered through a third straight season well below .500, no price—not even $119 million over seven years—was too much.
Beltrán went on to average 30 homers, 108 RBIs, and 39 doubles (per 162 games). Before surgery wreaked havoc on his knee, he was among the most successful and timely baserunners, stealing around 20 bags a year at an 84 percent clip.
He did all that after a rough debut year in which he set career-lows in just about every major offensive category, like including batting average (.266), homers (16), runs driven in (78), and stolen bases (17).
But he rebounded in terrific fashion. Beltrán etched his name into franchise history when equaled the Mets’ single-season home run mark (41), which would stand for 13 years, while also driving in a career-high 116 runs as New York cruised to the 2006 NL East title. He finished fourth in NL MVP voting, but was clearly the most valuable Met with a 8.2 WAR that was easily the highest on the team.
Carlos Beltrán would make most Mets all-time starting lineups, but all most fans can remember is one pitch.
The context of when it took place makes it the moment we most associate with Beltrán. To use it as a defining moment is an oversimplification. A wide-lens view of his Mets career proves—despite the grand expectations laid upon him from the start—that while he was understated, he wasn’t an underachiever. Regardless of his NLCS-ending strikeout or the circumstances that led to his abrupt managerial career, Beltrán’s Mets legacy should be as the best center fielder this team has ever had.
