First, the Jets win and now it looks like....
Report: Beltran Chooses Mets Over Astros
HOUSTON (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros (news) failed to beat an 11 p.m. CST deadline on Saturday to re-sign star centerfielder Carlos Beltran (news), and now he's reportedly finalizing a contract with the New York Mets (news).
Free agents who declined salary arbitration offers from their teams had until the completion of January 8 to re-sign with their clubs or the team would lose negotiating rights until May 1.
The Houston Chronicle reports the offer to Beltran from the Astros was believed to be worth over $105 million for seven seasons. It would have been the largest contract in team history, but in the end the newspaper reported Beltran chose to sign with the Mets.
Newsday reported the Mets and Beltran were only between $4 million and $5 million apart in negotiations. The Mets' deal to sign Beltran could be in excess of $115 million. The Yankees apparently pulled out of the sweepstakes to sign the 27-year-old Beltran, who hit .267, belted 38 home runs with 104 RBI and stole 42 bases in 2004 for Houston and Kansas City.
The Chicago Cubs (news) were reportedly a player in negotiations to sign Beltran, but apparently didn't get that far because they fell short on money and years.
The Mets were so serious about luring free agent Pedro Martinez (news) to the team that general manager Omar Minaya headed to the Dominican Republic to negotiate with the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Martinez trusted Minaya was trying to build a winner and signed with the Mets for four years at $53 million.
Minaya then led a Mets contingent that flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 3 to meet with Beltran and his agent, Scott Boras. Principal owner Fred Wilpon, senior VP of baseball operations Jim Duquette and special assistant Tony Bernazard were also in the distinguished group. The Mets had reportedly negotiated hard in the last week to ink Beltran, considered the crown jewel of the free agent market.
Beltran raised his game in the 2004 playoffs, hitting .435 with eight homers and 14 RBI over 12 games. He helped lead the Astros to their first-ever playoff series win with a victory over Atlanta in the Division Series. Beltran's eight homers tied a single postseason record, equaling the mark by Barry Bonds (news) in 2002. Houston ended the season one win shy of the World Series (news - web sites), losing to St. Louis in seven games in the NLCS.
There is a possibility that Beltran's decision could have a ripple-effect for the Astros, as seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens (news) still hasn't decided to return for a 22nd season or to retire. Clemens accepted Houston's offer of salary arbitration as a goodwill gesture so the team could possibly go hard after Beltran to solidify its status as a top competitor in the NL Central. Clemens will likely decide later this month if he'll end his career that saw him win 328 games.
HOUSTON (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros (news) failed to beat an 11 p.m. CST deadline on Saturday to re-sign star centerfielder Carlos Beltran (news), and now he's reportedly finalizing a contract with the New York Mets (news).
Free agents who declined salary arbitration offers from their teams had until the completion of January 8 to re-sign with their clubs or the team would lose negotiating rights until May 1.
The Houston Chronicle reports the offer to Beltran from the Astros was believed to be worth over $105 million for seven seasons. It would have been the largest contract in team history, but in the end the newspaper reported Beltran chose to sign with the Mets.
Newsday reported the Mets and Beltran were only between $4 million and $5 million apart in negotiations. The Mets' deal to sign Beltran could be in excess of $115 million. The Yankees apparently pulled out of the sweepstakes to sign the 27-year-old Beltran, who hit .267, belted 38 home runs with 104 RBI and stole 42 bases in 2004 for Houston and Kansas City.
The Chicago Cubs (news) were reportedly a player in negotiations to sign Beltran, but apparently didn't get that far because they fell short on money and years.
The Mets were so serious about luring free agent Pedro Martinez (news) to the team that general manager Omar Minaya headed to the Dominican Republic to negotiate with the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Martinez trusted Minaya was trying to build a winner and signed with the Mets for four years at $53 million.
Minaya then led a Mets contingent that flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 3 to meet with Beltran and his agent, Scott Boras. Principal owner Fred Wilpon, senior VP of baseball operations Jim Duquette and special assistant Tony Bernazard were also in the distinguished group. The Mets had reportedly negotiated hard in the last week to ink Beltran, considered the crown jewel of the free agent market.
Beltran raised his game in the 2004 playoffs, hitting .435 with eight homers and 14 RBI over 12 games. He helped lead the Astros to their first-ever playoff series win with a victory over Atlanta in the Division Series. Beltran's eight homers tied a single postseason record, equaling the mark by Barry Bonds (news) in 2002. Houston ended the season one win shy of the World Series (news - web sites), losing to St. Louis in seven games in the NLCS.
There is a possibility that Beltran's decision could have a ripple-effect for the Astros, as seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens (news) still hasn't decided to return for a 22nd season or to retire. Clemens accepted Houston's offer of salary arbitration as a goodwill gesture so the team could possibly go hard after Beltran to solidify its status as a top competitor in the NL Central. Clemens will likely decide later this month if he'll end his career that saw him win 328 games.
