Beltran to sign with New York

[DW Simpson]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Source: Beltran and Mets agree to try to work out $119 million contract

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
January 9, 2005

[lou]

He's pretty much killed his career now.


See:

Vaughn, Mo
Alomar, Roberto
Bonnilla, Robert
etc

[Pseudolus]

As a Met fan since birth (possibly before), I really wish the team would give up on grabbing big-name free-agent quick-fixes and would instead work on reforming a system that's just plain broken from top to bottom.

[Wannabe Actuary]

Originally Posted by lou

He's pretty much killed his career now.


See:

Vaughn, Mo
Alomar, Roberto
Bonnilla, Robert
etc

Add Pedro Martinez to that list....

[The African Queen]

Originally Posted by Pseudolus

As a Met fan since birth (possibly before), I really wish the team would give up on grabbing big-name free-agent quick-fixes and would instead work on reforming a system that's just plain broken from top to bottom.

This is their first real big-name quick-fix free agent that is in his prime. All the others were on the tail-end of their careers. If you are going to spend the big bucks, at least go for someone who has tremendous upside.

That being said, he'll probably hit .255, 19 Hrs and 77 RBIs and 13 SB. I still think they are doing it the right way. They have youth (Reyes - if he can ever stay healthy, David Wright (he should only get better). I just wish they had given Kazmir a chance.

[CaptainDingo]

Bobby Bonilla was in his prime. They killed him off. He had almost indentical #s to Beltran, and both were young (28 and 27). I saw that on ESPN this morning.

The Mets had no one hit above .300 last year. Beltran hit in the .280s. Don't see him putting them past the Braves yet. Look for Bobby Cox to win his 15th division in a row.

[Wonder Boy]

was Beltran a free agent? how did the media miss this story?

one thing i can say is that Beltran will make this a really fun team next year with Wright and Reyes. Beltran is an excellent player just hitting his prime, but i'm not sure this improves the Mets as much as you would think. for one, they already had an excellent center fielder. Cameron is probably a little better defensively than Beltran and moving him to a corner spot diminishes most of his value, as he doesn't hit quite enough for a corner OF. that is, however, not to say the Mets are done dealing. but strictly from a resource allocation stand-point, the Mets would probably have been better off spending less than half of that money on Delgado since they have a gaping hole at 1B and had center field covered at a very reasonable salary. again, they may STILL sign delgado, and if they do, they should give the Braves a good challenge.

either way, the Mets will still be very happy with Beltran b/c he will sell tickets and build a lot of excitement for their new TV network, but they would have been better off with Cameron and say, JD Drew for $16M than Beltran and Cameron for $22M. on the other hand, there are other less measurable benefits to Beltran, i.e. the instant credibility that comes with landing the biggest name FA player (and pitcher) on the market, plus the Mets can afford to overpay a little...

[Mike and Maddog]

Maybe the Mets will climb out of the basement next year.

Then again, it is the Mets.

[Tim><]

Originally Posted by Mike and Maddog

Maybe the Mets will climb out of the basement next year.

Then again, it is the Mets.

As bad a team as the Mets were next week, their outcome was far better than the Yankees. Which would you prefer:

1) Missing the playoff.
2) Making the playoffs. Allowing the biggest comeback win ever against your arch rivals who had not won a world series in a lifetime.

No one will remember #1. The 2003 Yankees will forever be a laughing stock.

Originally Posted by Tim><

As bad a team as the Mets were next week, their outcome was far better than the Yankees. Which would you prefer:

1) Missing the playoff.
2) Making the playoffs. Allowing the biggest comeback win ever against your arch rivals who had not won a world series in a lifetime.

No one will remember #1. The 2003 Yankees will forever be a laughing stock.

Especially to the Red Sox. Not because they sucked this year, but becuase they had a 86 year (give or take) track record of NOT doing it.