According to a Cincinnati paper, where the Mets are playing the Reds, Carlos Beltran has waived his no trade clause and is coming to San Francisco (in Philadelphia) on Thursday morning when the deal will be officially announced. Insider info has the deal done with the Mets picking up $4m of the remaining $6.5m of Beltran's contract and the Giants handing over baseballs #2 pitching pitching prospect, , the Giants #1 pick in the 2009 draft, righty Zack Wheeler and possibly one my prospect to be named later. Wheeler is significant in that the Giants will be giving up draft consideration for Beltran, who most likely will run in the open waters for a multi-year contract for the next few seasons, making this a rental of this hitting skills for the rest of the season. As the current pitching staff begins to cost the Giants considerable money to keep intact in the next two season, new blood is often injected and others are allowed to seek more money elsewhere.
I recently predicted that this deal wouldn't happen because of the cost ($6.5m remaining on Beltran's contract) and the pitching that the Giants would have to give up, with a small nod to the current platoon of outfielders, especially the recent play of Nate Schierholtz in right field and the fact that Beltran has always been #15, a number belonging to skipper Bruce Bochy.
The money has largely been taken care of by the Mets sending over all but $2.5m and the pitching, by taking a top prospect and not a starter. The outfield is still a clogged group and will become more so when DeRosa and Burrell come off of the DL. However, in the mean time it looks like Beltran will take right field (having to learn AT&T's difficult angles, while Ross and Schierholtz will probably platoon in left. Ross and Torres are less productive and both have seen their playing time reduced. As for the number 15, according to Bochy, "it's nothing that a Rolex can't cure", he said with a smile.
Beltran's offensive numbers (hitting .289 with a .904 OPS, 15 homers, league leader in doubles and 66 RBI's) will be a nice change with Huff, Ross and Torres on a long term slump and Sandoval and Schierholtz leading the team with a .806 and .768 .OPS respectively. Clearly, Beltran is going to the #3 slot in the order with Pablo moving to #4 and Huff, Ross/Schierholtz in a 5/6 slots.
Now, here comes the tricky part. How does he fit into the roster? The pitching staff is set and the outfield isn't going anywhere. Whiteside and Stewart are set as are all of the veterans (since none have been mention in trade talks). This leaves Burress, Belt and Crawford, who can be sent down to the minors. There is further complications in the 25-man roster when Jonathan Sanchez comes off of the DL, with Vogelsong pitching better than he and Zito, someone will have to go into the bullpen and either the Giants send down another fielder to carry a fat pitching staff or do something (release or designate) someone to make room. Additionally, August appears to be the month that Burrell, DeRosa, Hall, Tejada and possibly Freddie Sanchez will come off of the DL. Where are they going to go and will they stay on rehab assignments until the roster expands?
One thing is for sure, the roster has a lot of moving parts, with difficult decisions to be made about the future of several players and the production of others going into the stretch. It would be nice to see some of those rewarded with another season and some serious money, delivering in the second half. I think Beltran is a shot over the bow for Huff, Burrell and Ross. Hall, Rowand and Tejada all have short term opportunities to start helping this team out, as Beltran is expected to do for the next few months. Let's hope Bochy can continue to play the roster shuffle while working his magic. Who's in? I am.
