Yanks pass on Beltran
With the Yanks deciding not to get into the Beltran sweepstakes, it looks like the Yanks payroll really isn't limitless. It would seem $210 million or so is what it takes to field a team in pinstripes these days.
If you are a Yanks fan, you might be wondering just what the heck Cashman and Co. is thinking. You trade away Lofton, and sign a 41 year old pitcher before refusing to acquire a young center-fielder who would have locked up the position for years to come. It will be a move that will be second guessed throughout the season.
Every time the ball scoots past Bernie in CF this year, Yankee fans are going to mumble something about Beltran. However, they only have to watch Bernie for one more year before his salary drops off, allowing the team to sign whatever big-name FA is available next year.
In the meantime, what about Mike Cameron? I don't see him getting traded to the Yanks, who have nothing to give. It is also a waste to see Cameron in anything other than Center. Would Bavasi take him back? Doesn't appear to be an option.
In the big picture, other teams now have a rough idea what the Yanks upper-limit for taking on payroll appears to be. It also signals the Yanks appear to be stuck with Giambi. If the FO was confident in getting his payroll off the books, I suspect Beltran would be not be a Met.
Finally, is this a good deal for the Mets?
From a strictly baseball perspective, I think not. He is getting too much money relative to his talents. Can he lead a team? How does he perform when he is the only super-star? We know he hits well in a stacked Astros lineup in a hitter friendly park. I'm guessing he will be viewed as a good player making more money than he is worth, ala Shawn Green in a few years.
But the Mets needed to make a splash, and they did. Boras got his money, and the Astros are left feeling a little like the M's did when Alex walked away.
With the Yanks deciding not to get into the Beltran sweepstakes, it looks like the Yanks payroll really isn't limitless. It would seem $210 million or so is what it takes to field a team in pinstripes these days.
If you are a Yanks fan, you might be wondering just what the heck Cashman and Co. is thinking. You trade away Lofton, and sign a 41 year old pitcher before refusing to acquire a young center-fielder who would have locked up the position for years to come. It will be a move that will be second guessed throughout the season.
Every time the ball scoots past Bernie in CF this year, Yankee fans are going to mumble something about Beltran. However, they only have to watch Bernie for one more year before his salary drops off, allowing the team to sign whatever big-name FA is available next year.
In the meantime, what about Mike Cameron? I don't see him getting traded to the Yanks, who have nothing to give. It is also a waste to see Cameron in anything other than Center. Would Bavasi take him back? Doesn't appear to be an option.
In the big picture, other teams now have a rough idea what the Yanks upper-limit for taking on payroll appears to be. It also signals the Yanks appear to be stuck with Giambi. If the FO was confident in getting his payroll off the books, I suspect Beltran would be not be a Met.
Finally, is this a good deal for the Mets?
From a strictly baseball perspective, I think not. He is getting too much money relative to his talents. Can he lead a team? How does he perform when he is the only super-star? We know he hits well in a stacked Astros lineup in a hitter friendly park. I'm guessing he will be viewed as a good player making more money than he is worth, ala Shawn Green in a few years.
But the Mets needed to make a splash, and they did. Boras got his money, and the Astros are left feeling a little like the M's did when Alex walked away.
posted by Tom at
10:18 AM
