Trading for Carlos Beltran or another Outfielder?

[TheCrew07]

Again, no way am I trading any kind of prospect for an expensive bench player, especially with a divisional opponent.

[Bnowell4evr]

I never knew Kosuke was such a diva.

[DannoMac21]

Another report on Beltran today.

The Mets have given Carlos Beltran a short list of teams to consider as they attempt to trade him prior to the July 31 non-trade deadline.

The Phillies are believed to be one of the teams on the list, which was submitted to the outfielder on Tuesday.

Beltran has no-trade protection, so he will have to approve any trade New York attempts to make.

The Red Sox, Giants, Yankees and Brewers are also believed to be interested in Beltran.

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/26139/20110720/mets_give_beltran_short_list_of_teams/

[jmeks23]

I'm still not entirely sure why we're interested? The only thing I can deduce is that they're looking to move Hart.

 

Braun is injured right now, but he seems relatively close to returning so that would make Beltran a bench player which makes no sense considering his production.

 

They need a SS, and possibly a third basemen.

[The Truth]

I'm still not entirely sure why we're interested?

1) They probably want to put Beltran in CF, at the very least replacing Gomez in the platoon as well as allowing them to start Morgan in right vs the tougher right-handers

 

2) As extra insurance in case Braun's injury lingers for a long time

[The Truth]

Or, to put it another way: Beltran is a better player than every Outfielder on the Brewers not named Ryan Braun. Why wouldn't we need him?

 

Ideally you get Beltran, start him in Center and Kotsay gets DFA'd.

[nate82]

Beltran in CF would be a nightmare. Defensively in CF he would make Betancourt look good defensively at SS right now.

[The Truth]

Beltran in CF would be a nightmare. Defensively in CF he would make Betancourt look good defensively at SS right now.

I agree. However, this is a franchise that has started Mark Kotsay in CF multiple times. Nothing would shock me anymore

[chadomac]

No way that they move Hart. It's insurance for Braun and if Gomez misses time I bet they pursue this further.

[The Truth]

With Gomez out for extended time, a trade for an OF is starting to make more sense

[endaround]

Not for Beltran.

[The Truth]

Not for Beltran.

True, a right hand hitting real CF would make the most sense, moreso than Beltran

[Bnowell4evr]

Reed Johnson?

[nate82]

David DeJesus trade speculations again.

[HiAndTight]

Just so I understand, you want us to pay what's left of Fukudome's contract to be a bench player? Or you expect the Cubs to kick in some cash and help a division rival just to get an already expiring contract off their books? This isn't close to the same situation as K-Rod, and there's no way I'm helping anyone in the division even by sending them a marginal prospect so we can upgrade our bench. Look at the contract details below, especially the 2 lines I bolded.

 

Kosuke Fukudome of

4 years/$48M (2008-11)

 

4 years/$48M (2008-11)

• 
  [li]

signed by Cubs as a free agent from Japan 12/12/07
$4M signing bonus
08:$6M, 09:$11.5M, 10:$13M, 11:$13.5M
no-trade protection
club must sign Fukudome to an extension by 11/15/2011 or release him, allowing him to become a free agent
award bonuses: $0.3M each for MVP, WS MVP, $0.2M for LCS MVP, $0.1M Silver Slugger, $75,000 each for Gold Glove, All Star

perks: 8 first-class round-trip air tickets between Japan and Chicago for family each year, personal trainer, masseuse, interpreter, visa expenses, $25,000 annually in moving expenses, vehicle during spring training and regular season
Fukudome to make annual donation to club charity

[/li]

agent: Joe Urbon

ML service: 3.000

Well, as he already clarified, he never said anything about paying all of his salary. That was a little slant put on it by you in an attempt to try and mock the suggestion.

 

I guess I don't see the mere suggestion of adding a guy who walks 14.5 pct of the time on a team that could sorely use such an attribute, AS WELL as a team that could desperately use a bat off the bench, as being that egregious.

 

 

I also must say I find your position to be dumbfounding. Your outright refusal to trade any prospect of any kind to a team within the division regardless of the fact that the player coming back to us could provide a very nice boost seems to be focused on the wrong things.

 

I'm not so worried about a fringe prospect turning into Cliff Lee several years down the road as I am with adding a guy with a .375 OBP from the left side to our bench. Fukudome is a very nice player who signed a very bad contract.

 

 

 

 

Also, if I might ask, why did you highlight the fact that he has to be signed by 11/15 or become a FA? That's no different than any other player, and is the case for Japanese players who come over here and play. So it's basically just saying he's due to be a FA at the end of the year. Though, he is in line to return us a 1st round supplemental pick, so maybe that was your reasoning. Not to mock, but to point out that we'd actually be picking up another pick potentially.

[endaround]

Actually the clause prevents offering him arby.

[Invader3K]

Buster Olney kicking up some more speculation on Beltran.

[endaround]

Because making the Brewers bad at their only positive defensive position is a good idea!

[Invader3K]

Because making the Brewers bad at their only positive defensive position is a good idea!

You really think they would play him in CF at this point?

[endaround]

Yep, my guess he would be headed to CF. Though I just don't see the Brewers willing to part with the prospects it will take, and they really shouldn't.

[NievesNoNO]

I'm all for being buyers at this point, but I don't understand their pursuit of Beltran if the reports are true. I don't see how he really fits and makes the Brewers a better team. If they get him, he's going to play and the only logical choice would seem to be in center. Why remove Morgan from a starting role? Maybe they're considering moving Braun to third?? Seems like a horrible idea, but i don't see why you remove Nyjer or Hart from everyday duty. Braun back to third might take some stress off his sore leg as well. I don't know but the speculation is at least entertaining.

[fondybrewfan]

Melvin shouldn't waste his time on Beltran. Unless you plan on giving up Thornburg there is no way we could ever get a deal done. Considering our lack of top end pitching prospects and the potential for Grienke and Marcum to leave after 2012; Thornburg better not be going anywhere

[JohnBriggs12]

Yep, my guess he would be headed to CF. Though I just don't see the Brewers willing to part with the prospects it will take, and they really shouldn't.

I think they'd play him in CF against lefties, and in RF against righthanders. Corey Hart is the guy who'd see his playing time reduced. Beltran is hitting .293/.389/.528. Hart is at .256/.339/.465. Hart's OPS vs. RH pitching is .763, Beltran's is .952 and Morgan's is .876. It's a no-brainer. Hart may not be happy about it but he's under contract through 2013 so what can he do about it? Nothing.

 

Two months of Beltran isn't worth the very top of the line type prospects (1-3) and I don't think the Mets will get that. The problem is the tier just below that say from 4-8 is the one where the Brewers guys aren't as highly regarded as most teams have in those spots. I could see maybe a Scarpetta, Gindl, Bucci types as something the Brewers might offer. The Mets would probably want Peralta and Gindl package.

[Invader3K]

The other problem with Beltran is that his contract specifically states he won't be offered arbitration after this season, so you don't get any comp picks when he leaves in free agency.

[Warning Track Power]

So many reasons this makes no sense to me...

 

1. Any acquisition of Beltran would likely require us to part with Peralta, Thornburg or Gamel. No thanks for a 2 month rental without arbitration picks

2. He's blocked by Braun and Hart at the corner OF and he's not a CF. I have no interest in dealing Hart for a guy who will leave in 2 months. If we deal Hart it shouldn't be for his 2 month replacement.

3. If DM is deadset on using trade chips like a Thornburg, use them to upgrade a true need position like 3B or SS. If he's going to create a Gamel, Thornburg and Peralta package I'd much rather see David Wright at 3B or Hanley Ramirez at SS (or someone of their talent level) then Carlos Beltran in the OF. He isn't the difference maker that those other two or their equivalents are.

 

A Beltran deal will frustrate me to no end.