Carlos Beltran Trade Talks Taking Shape
By Editorial Staff
We’re a week away from the July 31st trade deadline and the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes appear to be taking shape. The Mets have recently come out and said they are not trading several players, but continue to actively shop Beltran who has emerged as the best bat on the market.
General manager Sandy Alderson realizes the size of the trade chip he holds, and is trying to pry top prospects away from other clubs as return for his slugger. While nothing is definite this time of year, the Braves, Phillies and Giants appear to be the favorites to land the 34 year old.
In the last year of his megadeal with the Mets, Beltran has put up solid numbers. Over his 95 games played this season, Beltran has posted an OPS of .913 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI’s. The rumors surrounding him haven’t affected the 34 year old’s play, as Beltran has produced a line of .339/.493/.661 in July.
The big concern surrounding Beltran has nothing to do with his on field production, but the money he’s owed. Beltran is making $18.5 million this season, a large number for teams to swallow. To increase interest, New York seems to be willing to eat a majority of the money remaining in order to receive better pieces in return for Beltran.
New York has its eye on several of the game’s best young players, and hopes to cash in their slugger for a top prospect. New York covets players from each of the contenders interested in Beltran, but they are likely holding out for the best package as the deadline approaches.
It was reported Saturday that San Francisco is the front runner for Beltran. New York has been scouting Giants’ minor leaguers Gary Brown, Zach Wheeler and Brandon Belt.
Brown is a 22 year old center fielder who was selected in the first round of last year’s draft and has broken out in 2011. In 92 games with the Giants’ High-A affiliate Brown has posted an OPS of .851 with 38 extra base hits and 39 stolen bases.
Wheeler, another former first round pick by the Giants, entered the year as San Fran’s top ranked pitching prospect. He’s had a solid season as a teammate of Brown in High-A, striking out 98 batters over his 88 innings of work while maintaining a 3.99 ERA.
Belt is much more major league ready than the others, and is currently with the Giants. Belt started the year with San Francisco but struggled and was sent back to the minors. The 23 year old was recently recalled after destroying Triple-A pitching to the tune of .324/.462/.549.
New York is also reportedly asking for Domonic Brown, Vance Worley or Jonathan Singleton from the Phillies and has interest in the bevy of Atlanta’s young arms, specifically Mike Minor, Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino and Randall Delgado.
If any of the names mentioned above were currently on the table, you would assume that the Mets would have pulled the trigger on a deal by now.
As we get closer to the deadline and teams become more desperate for offense, these top players may find their way into the trade conversation. This is certainly what the Mets are hoping for and they figure to hold onto Beltran up until the deadline to increase their return.
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