The Mets had been around the verge of trading Beltran, their star outfielder, to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for leading pitching prospect Zack Wheeler, as stated by two baseball officials briefed on the deal. The Mets may also include an undisclosed amount of money to help cover the remainder of Beltran’s $18.5 million salary this season.
Beltran, who features a full no-trade clause, cannot officially approve the trade right up until 24 hours after it had been agreed on. However excluding a last-minute snag, the offer will signify a coup for the Mets, who badly needed a high-level prospect in order to strengthen their farm system.
Wheeler, a 21-year-old right-hander, was the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft. He had been ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ second-best prospect and also the 55th best prospect in baseball heading into 2011. It had been about as much as the Mets could anticipate to receive for Beltran, who will likely be a free agent this winter.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Beltran’s jersey still placed in his locker. A card bearing his name along with a bottle of Quinta do Vesuvio wine had been left on his chair. One night previously, after Tuesday’s game, Beltran took the entire team out to an elegant steakhouse in what amounted to a goodbye dinner.
The Mets had recently been in talks with the Giants, Braves, Phillies, Rangers and Red Sox, amongst other teams, for more than a week concerning trading Beltran. There had been doubt within the industry about whether the Mets could be able to land a prospect of Wheeler’s quality. But general manager Sandy Alderson wanted Wheeler, according to a person familiar with the issue, and held out until the Giants agreed to part with him.
At 52-51, the Mets came into Wednesday 7 1/2 games out in the National League wild-card race. With their farm system thin at the higher ranges, the need to trade Beltran for a prospect was apparent. However it was also bittersweet.
“There’s going to be some people that are going to miss Carlos Beltran on this team,” manager Terry Collins stated. When asked what he might say to Beltran later on in the day, Collins mentioned, “Good luck. Sorry to see you go. Thanks for all you did. Thanks for all you are.”
Beltran signed a seven-year, $119 million deal with the Mets prior to the 2005 season. Together with Pedro Martinez, he was among the faces of the so-called New Mets, signaling their come back to popularity. He leaves as one of the best offensive and defensive players in franchise history.
His .869 on-base plus slugging percentage ranks fourth on the team’s all-time list (minimum 3,000 plate appearances). In center field, he won three Gold Glove awards.
“You’re talking about probably one of the best all-around players the Mets have ever had,” stated former general manager Omar Minaya, who signed Beltran. “The desired effect of winning championships, it didn’t work, let’s be honest. It didn’t happen. But that’s not on Carlos.”
Several fans seemed to disagree with that. Fairly or not, Beltran grew to become the embodiment of whatever ailed the Mets in any given year. When the Mets lost in the 2006 National League Championship Series, it had been Beltran’s season-ending strikeout, on a now-infamous curveball from Adam Wainwright, which was remembered.
When they collapsed late in 2007 and 2008, Beltran’s low-key conduct was viewed as typifying a team that appeared to lack the passion as well as determination of the Phillies. In 2009 and 2010, his knee injuries reflected the Mets’ overall health issues.
But in an interview earlier this week, Beltran seemed at peace together with his legacy in Flushing.
“I don’t play to be appreciated,” he stated. “I play, honestly, to do the best I can. I know my teammates appreciated the things that I did. The fans, they got their preference on players. I have some fans that like the way I played. I have some other fans that didn’t like the way I played.”
He further stated, “No regrets. Zero.”
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