Braves have chance to deal for Carlos Beltran? Do it now
If the Braves don't swing a trade for Carlos Beltran, he could end up in San Francisco or Philadelphia. (AP photo)
Before you shoot down the idea of the Braves trading a top pitching prospect like Mike Minor to rent Carlos Beltran for two months, consider this: He could be the difference in the them winning the National League East Division. And the pennant. And the World Series.
Beltran, who’s in the final year of his contract with the New York Mets, has been connected to seemingly every playoff contender in baseball’s rumor mill. But ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that there are only five legitimate pursuers right now: The Braves, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston and Texas. He pegs the Braves as the favorites.
There’s also a school of thought that Beltran, who has a no-trade clause, prefers to be traded to a National League team. In other words, if the Braves don’t get Beltran, one of their two biggest competitors – the Phillies or Giants — just might.
Beltran obviously isn’t the player he used to be, but he can still generate offense (entering tonight: .290, 15 homers, 61 RBI). He’s a switch hitter and can platoon in center field (Jordan Schafer) or right (Jason Heyward). He’s also a nice insurance policy should Chipper Jones struggle to return from a knee injury, or if he is reinjured (prompting Martin Prado to stay at third base and not return to the outfield).
But here’s the clincher: In four career playoff series with Houston and New York (22 games), he’s hitting .366 with a .485 on-base percentage, 11 homers and 19RBIs.
Imagine that as an option for the Braves in October.
If the Braves don’t have to mortgage their future for a rental player, general manager Frank Wren should make the deal. And since the Braves are deep in pitching, one prospect doesn’t qualify as mortgaging the future.
Do it.
By Jeff Schultz
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286 comments Add your comment
dawg4u
July 22nd, 2011
8:17 pm
Totally agree Low Country. I was checking out the Philly blogs yesterday and they were pretty consistent in wanting the Phils to get Beltran if only to keep the Braves from getting him. That move would scare them no doubt and I really believe Beltran would be a Fred McGriff type hitter plus he’s money in the post season!
dawg4u
July 22nd, 2011
8:20 pm
Also don’t think Minor has been that impressive. He is coveted because he’s a lefty but with Beachy and Medlen coming back next year we can afford to part with some pitching to get a big bat!
country boy
July 22nd, 2011
8:25 pm
I hope Frank Wren is smart enough to just be posturing about making a Minor for Beltran trade in order to make the Phils have to pay an expensive price for a trade.
Mike Minor
July 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
I completely agree. Don’t trade me for this injury prone has been! I love being a Brave!
Jim Tavegia
July 22nd, 2011
8:36 pm
The only downside would be if the Phillies take him. The braves probably have the best defensive outfield in the league and the worst offensive outfield in the league. A lot of money for a gamble on a few months rental. I don’t like trading pitching within the division either.
Oh Well
July 22nd, 2011
8:43 pm
If all they want is Minor and they’re paying Beltran’s salary do the DEAL! You would be crazy not to. It could be the difference in winning it all. If you never that a chance you will never have nothing. Minor may never turn out to be crap..Take the Chance..do the Deal!
Briley Parkway
July 22nd, 2011
8:46 pm
Schultz, do us all a favor, leave the Braves to someone who actually has a clue about baseball e.g. DOB)and stick to writing about something you understand…whatever that is
Mr.Man
July 22nd, 2011
8:47 pm
get Pence he may be worth a lot but he’s a great player and at least won’t be a rental. Lineup: Prado, Heyward, Pence, Mccann, Freeman, Jones, Uggla, Schafer, Pitcher
Oh Well
July 22nd, 2011
8:48 pm
After Beltran, go get a middle relief pitcher from Padres are Blue Jays.
Send JS back to AAA to play everyday..get his hit up to par.
Hammond B3
July 22nd, 2011
8:51 pm
I would give proctor for him and that all
Oh Well
July 22nd, 2011
8:55 pm
Parkway what a nut..Jeff is just as good are better. Only difference Jeff covers everything and DOB just does BBQ, Music and baseball.
UGAFAN13
July 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
What is it about the all star break and our starting pitching. Looks like we are coming out of the offensive funk only to have our starting pitching go into the tank!
jb
July 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
~~Hammond B3~~do you play a Hammond B3? The greatest sound in music. Love it.
extremus
July 22nd, 2011
9:04 pm
If Beltran or any other “difference maker” comes to Atlanta and immediately his numbers drop off like Dan Uggla’s did (though to be fair he’s done somewhat better lately), it would be a DEFINITE sign that something is fundamentally wrong here at the big-league level. But based on recent history it very well COULD happen; something to consider before sending off a young and promising pitcher for that “rental”.
On the flip side, just keep talking about sending Heyward back to the minors; that seems to have helped light a fire under him the past couple of days. Funny how potentially losing a lucrative job can do that for some players.
jb
July 22nd, 2011
9:08 pm
amen! ~~extremus~~ Couldn’t have said it better.
tyger
July 22nd, 2011
9:11 pm
Yes! Beltran Yes!
How many pitching prospects have come and gone around here? Minor wont make a difference, however, Beltran will.
Schafer, Heyward, Uggla, McClouth, Gonzalez all batting below .250 – you cant compete against the great teams like that.
Screw a rental, we need him next year too. Chippers done and his albatross comes off the books, plus Lowe ought to be gone as well. There’s money for this Say Hey Kid!
jb
July 22nd, 2011
9:13 pm
Chipper has another year unless he retires and “He ain’t no quitter”
Terrence Moore
July 22nd, 2011
9:14 pm
The trade will never happen. We all know the Braves aren’t going to trade a white guy for a black guy.
atlanta fans are idiots
July 22nd, 2011
9:15 pm
for a thinking man’s game, baseball sure draws a lot of stupid fans in this town. 15-60-.290 at the break is 30-120-.290 for the season. if that’s washed up, the all-star game was full of washed up guys, this one included. he’d be the most productive guy in the lineup if the braves could add him.
NumbaOneFan
July 22nd, 2011
9:20 pm
You heard it here first. The Braves will be acquiring David Wright along with a 2nd player, possibly a reliever a reliever for Mike Minor from the Mets
BK bro.
July 22nd, 2011
9:23 pm
~~T Moore~~ only one r in Terence. You have already said that over on DOB’s blog..Whats your problem? color has nothing to do with being a great ball player…BUT FACT… Beltran is from Manati, Puerto Rico and he is not black. Have a great day feeling sorry for yourself.
jb
July 22nd, 2011
9:24 pm
sorry about that…
M10
July 22nd, 2011
9:26 pm
Pluto,I understand but Beltran most certainly would increase there chance.
jb
July 22nd, 2011
9:26 pm
Beltran is married to Lugo’s sister….
RAPHAEL
July 22nd, 2011
9:31 pm
MINOR IS A PROSPECT. HE IS GOOD SO FAR, BUT HE IS JUST A PROSPECT. REMEMBER WHEN THE METS MADE A GREAT SIGNING OF O. PEREZ? HE IS JUST A PROSPECT. I WOULD TRADE TEHRAN FOR A WORLD SERIES BIRTH. COME’ ON! GREG MADDUX, TOM GLAVINE AND SMOLTZ ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST PITCHERS EVER…. = 1 WORLD SERIES….. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO ALL IN AND GAMBLE A BIT!!!
bwash11
July 22nd, 2011
9:36 pm
Prado
Beltran
Chipper
McCann
Uggla
Freeman
Heyward
Gonzalez
Now that’s a stacked lineup. Beltran gives us a great OBP in front of Chipper and McCann.
I’d rather see that than this:
Rollins
Beltran
Utley
Howard
Victorino
Ibanez
Francisco
Ruiz
bwash11
July 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
Please, not Proctor in a tie game.
The Voice of Reason
July 22nd, 2011
9:43 pm
I got two words for ya…DAN UGGLA! (Dont’ do it Frank!)
bwash11
July 22nd, 2011
9:44 pm
Uggla!!! Unreal
Wow, that'd be terrible.
July 22nd, 2011
9:50 pm
Why do we want the Mets scraps? I bet if the Mets throw in a 16 yr old pitcher in rookie ball, Wren will die to get Beltran.
JASon
July 22nd, 2011
10:04 pm
“He could be the difference in the them winning the National League East Division.”
Hey, moron, WE DON’T NEED TO WIN THE DIVISION. We are up against the best team in the majors. Lets get over this idea that we should shoot to win the division.
Sunshine Falcon
July 22nd, 2011
10:04 pm
Just say no. Maybe Upton, from Tampa, but not Beltran.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 22nd, 2011
10:07 pm
The Braves if they do not make this deal if it just takes Minor are fools if he ends up in Philly or SF. I am glad alot of you guys are not our GM or a deal would never get made b/c you are to scared to make another Tex deal.
Braves of the ’90’s made a living moving prospects for bats. Wrenn needs to step up and make the deal. If they are serious about winning it all this is the tell tell sign. This Braves fan for one is watching the outcome intently. I will be curious what it takes to get this bat and if the Braves are aggressive or stand pat. Remember 1 World Series for all those Division Titles….
Sunshine Falcon
July 22nd, 2011
10:12 pm
Oh yeah, the guy Hunter Pence from the Astros would be even better.
That dude is young and he is a baller!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
Pence is up for arbitration and will command several prosects. Upton is essentially another .250 OF with a little pop and speed. I hate it as I watched him as a Riverdog but that guy is a bust.
Scotty
July 22nd, 2011
10:18 pm
What about B.J. Upton? I have heard his name thrown around a good bit.
NowWeKnowWhyYouDontCoach
July 22nd, 2011
10:19 pm
Schultz,
Thank you for restoring my opinion of you as an idiot. You admit that Beltran isn’t what he used to be. We don’t actually need another outfielder and you’d probably only have him for a few months. AND you’d give up a great young pitcher to get him?
Do us all a favor and retire please.
Briley Parkway
July 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
Oh well, if you really think Schultz is a sportwriter you’re the nut. Jeff may “cover everything” but that doesn’t mean he knows what he’s talking about. I have never seen him write anything that demonstrates even a basic understanding of the game of baseball…or college football…or pro football…or basketball. He should be on the editorial page with Gay Bookman and Sinthia Tucker with his left-wing political crap.
J Schuerholz
July 22nd, 2011
10:22 pm
I wrote the book on renting players and I say do it. Adam Wainwright was a small price to pay for 14 months of JD Drew!
Matt the Brave
July 22nd, 2011
10:26 pm
NONONONONONONONONONONONO. Reason being: you don’t want to give one of your main opponents, one that you see 18 games a year, a leg up on competition. I understand the wanting to win a World Series now, but we’re not like the Phillies where we are seeing our window closing. If anything, we’re seeing the window for multiple banners opening up right now.
Ross
July 22nd, 2011
10:26 pm
Geez Jeff, are you CRAZY? We don’t know yet whether Beachy or Minor or both are keepers. Until then, we have plenty of pitching and offense to win. And another Old Fart on the bench will just spoil the chemistry of these kids, who are the best reason in decades to watch baseball.
Damn!
-drl
He Can What?...
July 22nd, 2011
10:39 pm
“. He’s a switch hitter and can platoon in center field (Jordan Schafer) or right (Jason Heyward)” Why would you pull the trigger on a deal like this to platoon a player for 2 months? I hope Freddie Gonzalez is not that dumb and it is only you Shultz.
Red Stick
July 22nd, 2011
10:41 pm
I wouldn’t give up a top prospect for Beltran. He’s a 2 month rental and has been a huge disappointment for the Mets, discounting this year, for the money they’ve paid him.
Native to the ATL
July 22nd, 2011
11:03 pm
Leave him alone….trade for Frenchy. this thing we have in RF atmis an overhyped sissy. Trade him,(Sleyward) out west or to the Chi Sox for their hitter.
nope
July 22nd, 2011
11:11 pm
Every year around this time, it seems the Braves are either making a big move or being encouraged to do so. Actually, this team appears to be in a much better position than in the recent past and really should just concentrate on trying to build on what they already have, rather than sending players with encouraging futures for someone who’s nothing more than an image of a messiah who may or may not be able to save them for a year. One player isn’t going to shift a team’s fortunes. Texiera didn’t do it and Derek Lee didn’t a year ago. Stop these crazy trades just because they can be made and focus on the future. This team has a good base of talent already in place. It has the second best record in the National League. Leave the team alone and just line them up and let them play and may the best team win in the end. That’s how it should be. No team is ever going to be perfect or always have all the right players in place. Teams that win often have players to play beyond their talent levels when it counts the most and never give up. Just because a player is talented, doesn’t mean he’s going to be productive with a late season change of scenery, not to mention what impact that person could have on a team’s chemistry. This team seems to play very well together and the players come across as very supportive of each other. Just look at all the positive things said about Brooks Conrad by his teammates a couple nights ago. I went to the two of the playoff games last year and couldn’t imagine anyone on the team trusting him after what I saw, but that’s what teams are supposed to do…stick together through thick and thin. Look what Philadelphia did a year ago, bringing its all-world pitchers in, only to watch the Giants win the World Series. Unless a championship is won, selling the future for a temporary, un-loyal and too expensive player is never worth it, and if there’s failure, all fingers start pointing back to management. Not worth it. Just play the games and try to stay healthy. If this is the Braves year to win the East…they’ll win it. If it’s their year to win the pennant…that’ll happen as well…same for the World Series. And keep in mind, this team has only won one World Series since being in Atlanta. Despite the success of the 90s and the early part of the last decade…the Braves not winning the World Series shouldn’t be that much of a disappointment to anyone. I would like to see it happen…but, as I said. Build the team for the future and stop rushing it with quick fixes. I’d rather see a sustained winner vs a drop in the pan and dismantled team after a few years. And, concerning Derek Lowe…the team knew what it was paying him when it brought him here and dumping him because of salary will put egg on their face. Let the man pitch and stop distracting him by sending the message that he isn’t wanted or his contributions not needed.
don
July 22nd, 2011
11:12 pm
Sure, Mr. Schultz, Beltran will lead the Braves to the WS just like “Big Tex” did. then, as we see an early October end to the season, we can wait a year or two and see Minor possibly become a quality starter in the same mold as Wainwright, Marquis, Harrison, and Morton. At that time, of course, Beltran will be playing (or be on the DL) elsewhere.
Cloudodust
July 22nd, 2011
11:12 pm
He could be the difference maker, then again, he could implode when he puts on a Braves uni…It wouldn’t be the first time Atlanta got ripped for the Pie in the Sky trade of trades. Here’s to hoping we’ll never kknow…
heartofdarkness
July 22nd, 2011
11:26 pm
Let’s face it, third base and the three outfield positions will be staffed by committee until the middle of September. At that point, one hopes players emerge at each position with enough production and good health, that the manager can think about a regular lineup, or maybe a platoon situation somewhere in the outfield. Having a righty batter hitting over .275 with some pop to throw into the mix should see the Braves deep into the playoffs, everything else being even. The optimum situation would be to get a player you could retain beyond this year, who is young enough to permit the hope his best year(s) are ahead of him.
wins-by-a-link
July 22nd, 2011
11:41 pm
Tell me one trade the Braves have made by giving up prospects for rentals that ever worked out in a positive manner, Look at all the talent we gave up for Texeira, And what did that get us, A depleated farm system,
Dawg Whisperer
July 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
I say no. No to rental players. No to the idea that we flush the old adage that you can’t have enough pitching. And no to this potential trade for Beltran. The only cavaet, ensure that Beltran can be reasonably signed for a multi-year deal. Minor will probably have a long career. No sense giving him away.