The Astros were unable to make a deal with free agent Carlos Beltran before Saturday night's 11 p.m. deadline. The Yankees have said they won't be entering the Beltran sweepstakes now that they're paying big for Randy Johnson.

 

That leaves ...

The New York Mets.

 

According to a report in the Houston Chronicle, Beltran is in the process of finalizing a deal with the Mets. Terms of the deal are not yet known, but if it's better than Houston's offer — believed to be for seven years and more than $105 million — Beltran stands to do very well.

 

The number of bidders for Beltran's services is one fewer today. Because the Astros slugger declined salary arbitration earlier this off-season, Houston had until 11 p.m. Saturday night to re-sign him. According to the Chronicle, Beltran turned down the team's final offer (the largest in franchise history) just minutes before the deadline.

 

Beltran had 38 home runs with 104 RBIs while splitting time between Kansas City and Houston. His arrival in Houston helped turn the team's season around. After he joined the Astros, the team went 54-36 and won the National League's wild-card berth.

 

But it was during the postseason that Beltran really raised his free-agent profile. In 12 games, he hit .435 with eight home runs and 14 RBIs, while carrying the Astros within one win of the franchise's first World Series appearance.

 

If the Mets are able to close the deal with Beltran, it will be the second splashy free-agent signing for new GM Omar Minaya. Earlier this off-season, Minaya was able to steal Pedro Martinez away from other deep-pocketed bidders like the Yankees and Red Sox.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3307774

Haha, I see it to.

Robbie Alomar

Mo Vaughn

Jeromy Burnitz

 

Pedro?

Beltran?

 

All FA's the Mets sign suck.

Good news - out of the AL and NOT to the Cubs.

Personally, I don't know what Omar Minaya has done to warrant an unlimited checking account with Mets ownership. Obviously, he had his hands tied in Montreal, but he really botched the Colon trade, giving up a lot of prospects to acquire him, and getting squat back. Really, didn't do anything else spectacular. The one thing I will always remember about him was at their press conference announcing the Colon trade with the Sox, he really had no idea who Leifer was, and he just traded for him. Beltran is a great player. It will be interesting to see how he handles being the top dog on the biggest stage.

It will be interesting to see how he handles being the top dog on the biggest stage.

There were some whispers that this would be the reason he went back to Houston.

Some baseball people apparently believe that he's more comfortable in the background, and might wilt under the glare of being The Man in the largest market in baseball.

We shall see, it appears.

any1 for a lockout in 06?

Personally, I don't know what Omar Minaya has done to warrant an unlimited checking account with Mets ownership.

 

The Mets are starting their own cable channel like the Yankees have. Thus, they know they'll have the capital, and that they'll need stars if people are going to pay for this channel.

If Astros are unable to land Ordonez, add Houston owner Drayton McLane to the list of baseball executives unwilling to negotiate with Boras.

 

Astro fans are (rightfully) furious over this midnight decision from Boras. MLB boards are full of disgruntled messages towards Boras and New York. Another fanbase irked, another example of baseball economics gone awry. It must be frustrating to hear Beltran compliment every fascet of the Houston organization, yet let Boras knowingly prostitute him.

 

Now Beltran can hear the criticism following every slump, every vital strikeout in the ruthless New York media.

Good news - out of the AL and NOT to the Cubs.

Thank God

Astro fans are (rightfully) furious over this midnight decision from Boras.  MLB boards are full of disgruntled messages towards Boras and New York.  Another fanbase irked, another example of baseball economics gone awry.  It must be frustrating to hear Beltran compliment every fascet of the Houston organization, yet let Boras knowingly prostitute him.

That midnight deadline was not a measure of Boras... It's MLB rule -- as a FA who was offered arbitration, and declined, MLB rules state that both sides had to have a deal in place by last night.

Not sure if this is just fluff from the Beltran camp, but according to ESPN, had the Astros included a full no trade cluase, he would have signed with them.

 

That makes me believe the Mets did include a full no trade clause.

 

SB

I wanted him to sign with the Astros. Remain in the same division that the Cubs are in. Like many of you know, he killed the Cubs when playing at Wrigley. Oh well... Seems like the Mets want to be just as big as their neighbors: The Yankees.

At least the Cubs aren't getting him.

Beltran to the Cubs seemed to be more of a media creation. I heard a report that Boras hadn't talked to the Cubs in like a week and a half.

 

I personally think the whole "no trade clasue" thing is a Boras smoke-screen to make his client look better. that seems like something that could have been dealt with if brought up... Boras used it as a trump card so some of the blame can fall on the Astros. He got roughly what he was asking for with only 2 serious bidders. And the Beltran/Astros situation proves to me even more that Maggs won't be giving any "hometown" discount to the Cubs... that statement in my opionion was a negotiations strategy to get Orioles, Astros and other teams interested to make larger offers...

Beltran to Mets for 119 million, heard it on the radio on the way home from work on espn radio 1000 just now.

As long as he doesn't goes to the Cubs its all good with me

Now Ordonez might. :puke