Beltran does not sign with Astros.

[Rock Chalk]

According to local news, Beltran doesnt sign with Astros before the deadline and the Astros can no longer negotiate with him.

That sucks. F*ck baseball.

[phillybroncosnut]

Thank the biggest scumbag agent in baseball for that. Scott Boras!

[TexanBob]

It proves one thing: Beltran is Boras' client, not the other way around.

It will be karmic justice if Beltran winds up with the Mets because he will find:
1) the extra money Boras made for him will be eaten alive by taxes and cost-of-living expenses. He would have made more net money staying in Houston but, this way, Boras makes a higher commission.
2) the Mets absolutely suck when it comes to free agent signings and Pedro and Carlos will be the next two (remember their last savior - Mo Vaughn?).
3) Carlos will get all the pressure of playing in New York without having the actual players surrounding him that he would have had as a Yankee. Welcome to Mike Piazza's world. How many good pitches will Beltran see when he has somebody like Ty Wiggington batting behind him?
4) Met fans will not be as tolerant of a "superstar" who hits .267. If he doesn't produce like he did in the playoffs, they will never let him forget about his $16+mil per season contract. And Beltran has never shown he was all that comfortable in the spotlight, of which there will be no escape in Gotham.

I predict he won't last in the Apple more than two years before the Mets feel they have to unload him but, with that huge a contract, who but George is going to take him?

And the Braves, with snake oil and a cast of nobodies, will somehow manage to win the division - again.

[Crushaholic]

That was an easy one to predict. Way back when Beltran was traded from KC, commentators around here were saying that he won't stay in Houston because of Boras. He'll sell out to the highest bidder ASAP, and that's exactly what he's doing. That was one of the motivations for trading Beltran. He stated that there wouldn't be a chance in hell of re-signing with the Royals when his contract was up, so they tried to get something of value for him.

[Darkhawk24]

I'll support Beltran where ever he goes but I was really hoping he was going to stay in Houston. I do however hope this does show the select few over here in KC that thought for some odd reason we had a chance in hell of resigning him. There was noway.

[-Slap-]

It proves one thing: Beltran is Boras' client, not the other way around.

It will be karmic justice if Beltran winds up with the Mets because he will find:
1) the extra money Boras made for him will be eaten alive by taxes and cost-of-living expenses. He would have made more net money staying in Houston but, this way, Boras makes a higher commission.
2) the Mets absolutely suck when it comes to free agent signings and Pedro and Carlos will be the next two (remember their last savior - Mo Vaughn?).
3) Carlos will get all the pressure of playing in New York without having the actual players surrounding him that he would have had as a Yankee. Welcome to Mike Piazza's world. How many good pitches will Beltran see when he has somebody like Ty Wiggington batting behind him?
4) Met fans will not be as tolerant of a "superstar" who hits .267. If he doesn't produce like he did in the playoffs, they will never let him forget about his $16+mil per season contract. And Beltran has never shown he was all that comfortable in the spotlight, of which there will be no escape in Gotham.

I predict he won't last in the Apple more than two years before the Mets feel they have to unload him but, with that huge a contract, who but George is going to take him?

And the Braves, with snake oil and a cast of nobodies, will somehow manage to win the division - again.

How do those sour grapes taste, Bob?

[NaptownChief]

As a long time Mets fan I would like to sign him but I do hold out a lot of caution as nearly every big name acquisition for the last decade of so has flopped. Piazza is the only one that came in and produced at a level equal to or better than before they got him.

[TexanBob]

How do those sour grapes taste, Bob?

Just watch and see what happens.

FWIW, I thought the Astros were overpaying for him at their last offered price, and I realize why they were doing so but, when you have a guy at the prime of his career who can't hit above .270, I'm not convinced I want to pay him that much money in spite of all the intangibles.

[-Slap-]

Just watch and see what happens.

FWIW, I thought the Astros were overpaying for him at their last offered price, and I realize why they were doing so but, when you have a guy at the prime of his career who can't hit above .270, I'm not convinced I want to pay him that much money in spite of all the intangibles.

I will watch, with great interest. Its true he's going to one of the worst hitter's parks in the League, but that's the only thing that might depress his numbers a bit.

I don't really follow the Mo Vaughn was a fat lazy ****, so Carlos Betran must fail logic.

I also can't believe you're dogging the guy about his performance in clutch situations after he looked like the best player in baseball down the stretch and in the playoffs last year.

[TexanBob]

It's because I watched him play for four months, not two weeks. In a lineup like Houston's, he didn't have to carry the team. In fact, he had a subpar September when the Astros made their big run.

He's a very good player, but is he worth Albert Pujols money?

[Play2win]

This is SWEET!! Now I know all the talk is the METS but don't be too suprised if the CUBS get him. Hendry is an excellent negotator, and Beltran tore up Wrigley field. What makes The CUBS very attractive to alot of players is we still Have some of the best starting pitching in the game. C'mon Beltran pack your bags for Chicago!!

[PatsWin2002]

ESPN Breaking News.....Mets nab Beltran:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1963185

[-Slap-]

It's because I watched him play for four months, not two weeks. In a lineup like Houston's, he didn't have to carry the team. In fact, he had a subpar September when the Astros made their big run.

He's a very good player, but is he worth Albert Pujols money?

I've watched his entire career and if you don't think he's an upper echelon talent, you're in the distinct minority.

Of course he's overpaid, like any other Scott Boras client. Was he supposed to suddenly develop undying loyalty for the Astros in half a season? Hell, Houston was actually talking about repackaging him to another contender when it looked like thay had fallen out of the race.

How many outfielders would you rather have, besides Vlad Guerrero?

[-Slap-]

ESPN Breaking News.....Mets nab Beltran:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1963185

They're going to have lots of speed on the basepaths and one of the best defensive outfields in baseball.

[Rock Chalk]

and come in dead last in their division.

[TexanBob]

It's not that he didn't sign with Houston. It's that he signed with a team that makes no sense for him. He keeps saying he wants to play for a team with a commitment to championships.

Then he signs with the Mets.

He says he'd like to be with a team where he will feel comfortable and welcome.

Then he signs with the Mets. He signs with an organization that isn't even the best baseball team in their own damn city.

If he signed with the Angels or Dodgers, I would have called it smart. If he signed with the Yankees, he would have been a greedy SOB but at least he would have some rings for all that talent.

With the Mets, he will have nothing but grief from an intrusive New York media and a lack of support from the organization he plays for. Other than Piazza (and he's on his way out), there's nobody in the lineup that scares anyone. And the minute he goes into a slump, he'll be eaten alive - another in a long line of Met free agent fiascoes.

It's the best possible deal for Scott Boras. It's the worst possible deal for Carlos Beltran. I'd wager money he will not see a World Series in a Met uniform.

[-Slap-]

It's not that he didn't sign with Houston. It's that he signed with a team that makes no sense for him. He keeps saying he wants to play for a team with a commitment to championships.

Then he signs with the Mets.

He says he'd like to be with a team where he will feel comfortable and welcome.

Then he signs with the Mets. He signs with an organization that isn't even the best baseball team in their own damn city.

If he signed with the Angels or Dodgers, I would have called it smart. If he signed with the Yankees, he would have been a greedy SOB but at least he would have some rings for all that talent.

With the Mets, he will have nothing but grief from an intrusive New York media and a lack of support from the organization he plays for. Other than Piazza (and he's on his way out), there's nobody in the lineup that scares anyone. And the minute he goes into a slump, he'll be eaten alive - another in a long line of Met free agent fiascoes.

It's the best possible deal for Scott Boras. It's the worst possible deal for Carlos Beltran. I'd wager money he will not see a World Series in a Met uniform.

People blasted Randy Johnson for signing with a second year Arizona DiamondBacks franchise and he helped turn them around and take them to a World Championship three years later.

Pudge got tons of criticism for signing with Detroit, but he helped them improve their record by 29 games in one season.

I don't understand this line of reasoning. Why is your desire to win always questioned if you don't sign with a proven winner? They play a brand new season every year, right?

[-Slap-]

I'm just glad he's not a Yankee.

[TexanBob]

I'm just glad he's not a Yankee.

Now the truth can be told.

[-Slap-]

Now the truth can be told.

Not a Yankee Hater, though. Not at all. They're playing within the rules. Steinbrenner simply wants to win more than any other owner. My fault with George isn't his intense desire to win, its the classless way he loses.

Correction: I guess I am a Yankee Hater, in that I will always root against any team employing Gary Sheffield.

[pri082853]

Beltran should sign with the Brewers. case closed. or the rockies would be nice.

[Hogan11]

The Mets will return to the glory days of Bobby Bonilla...does anyone else remember the worst team that money could buy? Ha!

Seriously, I don't see these Mets signings making much of a difference at all

[-Slap-]

The Mets will return to the glory days of Bobby Bonilla...does anyone else remember the worst team that money could buy? Ha!

Seriously, I don't see these Mets signings making much of a difference at all

Hogan, come on, comparing Carlos Beltran to a malignant malingerer like Bobby Bo?

That's pretty harsh, man.

:)

[FADERPROOF]

The Mets will return to the glory days of Bobby Bonilla...does anyone else remember the worst team that money could buy? Ha!

Seriously, I don't see these Mets signings making much of a difference at all

Now that dubious distinction is probably going to my Los Angelese Dodgers...

[-Slap-]

Now that dubious distinction is probably going to my Los Angelese Dodgers...

AKA The Los Angeles Dodgers of Elysian Park.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/photo/ballpark_snowcap_essence.jpg

:)

[Play2win]

Did he actually sign or has he just 'agree to' with the Mets. And if its ESPN thats reporting he has reached an agreement with the Mets, I'll believe it when I see it. ESPN has become one of the most untrustable resources when it comes to Baseball signings.

[Rock Chalk]

AKA The Los Angeles Dodgers of Elysian Park.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/photo/ballpark_snowcap_essence.jpg

:)

Isn't Elysian the Latin word for Heaven? Or is that Elysium?

[Hogan11]

Hogan, come on, comparing Carlos Beltran to a malignant malingerer like Bobby Bo?

That's pretty harsh, man.

:)

Well, it is the Mets afterall Ha! All these moves may make them finish ahead of FLA, but that's about it IMO. Remember those Bobby Bo Mets teams?? I wish I could remember the name of that Mets pitcher who couldn't win a game to save his life back in '93 or '94.....what was that guy's name?? I'm much too lazy to look it up right now.

[FADERPROOF]

I like Kevin Williams, GM of the Chicago White Sox, during the hot stove meetings, he went public that no matter how good a player is, he'll never do business with them as long as Scott Boras is their agent.

Great stance IMO, even if it means not getting a top player, they arent going to put up with Boras' BS and overpay for this guy, I just wish every other team had that mentality.

[Hogan11]

I found the answer to my question: Mets Pitcher Anthony Young lost 27 consecutive games in 1993.....is that great or what? He's probably selling shoes today......

[Bronco LB 59]

How many good pitches will Beltran see when he has somebody like Ty Wiggington batting behind him?

Ty Wigginton plays for Pittsburgh.

The Mets have some good young players around the veterans they have been signing. David Wright and Jose Reyes look like future All-Stars in their infield.

That being said, the Mets still make bonehead decisions. They gave a big chunk of money to Kris Benson because he's still living off his #1 pick status and he's never even had a sniff of an All-Star Game. They also traded one of the top 3-5 young pitching prospects in the game (Scott Kazmir) to Tampa Bay to get Victor Zambrano but they could have used Kaz as bait to get a front line starter.

[SoCalBronco]

I like <a href="http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396181" target="_blank">Kevin Williams</a>, GM of the Chicago White Sox, during the hot stove meetings, he went public that no matter how good a player is, he'll never do business with them as long as Scott Boras is their agent.

Great stance IMO, even if it means not getting a top player, they arent going to put up with Boras' BS and overpay for this guy, I just wish every other team had that mentality.

I hope Williams is fired soon as GM, he has been awful. I dont care if it means we have to go 60-122 this year, get Williams fired.

[Smelvin]

I hope Williams is fired soon as GM, he has been awful. I dont care if it means we have to go 60-122 this year, get Williams fired.

yeah I'm not quite sure what the Sox are doing. They signed Jermaine Dye who's a waste of space. AJ Piezynski is a complete enigma and cancer in the clubhouse. Sure he's a .300 hitting lefthanded bat behing the plate, but defensively he's a disaster. Just awful. The rotation, save El Duque, is a bunch of headcases. I do like what they've done in the penn. Dustin Hermanson is a gamer.

I don't understand the Podsednik deal at all. Sure he can steal bases, but his average and OBP are awful. Gotta get on to steal. Carlos Lee is more than solid.