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
GetBeltran!
July 23rd, 2011
9:52 pm
Prado
Beltran
Jones
McCann
Uggla
Freeman
Heyward
Gonzalez
Anybody but Lowe
You would be a fool not to. We are far to deep at the pitching position not to. I want a ring. DO IT!
henry
July 23rd, 2011
10:48 pm
do you all remember the texirea trade? we gave up three good future prospects for i year from texeira and he did not give us 100 per cent. i say look else where.
Jason
July 23rd, 2011
11:44 pm
Just got home from Cincy after the debacle of a 7th inning today! Glad I got to witness the big win last night since today did not go well… Let me just say this, 1. Alex Gonzalez HAS to hit the PINE! His bat is absolutely killing us! Prado does well @ 3rd and having a little more time on the ball @ SS will only help him… 2. We MUST keep Jordan Schafer in the lineup! The Braves in 2 games in this series have not been active on the basepaths! Case in point, we left 8 men LOB today thru 6 innings… Homer Bailey had a SUPER HIGH pitch count and we kept bailing him out time after time. 3. Finally, if we can get Carlos Beltran straight up for Mike Minor then we MUST do it! The way Dan Uggla is swinging the bat right now, Heyward is heating up, FF, and Mac are swinging fairly well… Add Beltran and his 61 RBI’s into this lineup and its mind boggling like past Yankee lineups! We NEED to win tomorrow on Sunday Night Baseball and its time for Beachy to have a good outing!
Let’s Go Braves! I was LOUD and PROUD in Cincy for our boys this weekend!
Southpaw
July 24th, 2011
1:17 am
Right-handed hitter is needed. All of the above are good depending on the deal. Minor is expendable, but bwell is right about Wainwright; however, Minor ain’t no Wainwright! I like Hunter Pence, and I remember Wainwright striking Beltran out in the 2006 NLCS. I hate rentals so I say go for Francoeur. Bring him back home. I think his attitude is better. It would be nice to see McCann, Francoeur, Heyward, Prado, Freeman, and of course Chipper, all those players raised on the Braves farm win a ring together. Trade for Francoeur, then sign him for another year and see what happens. As for Prado at short, not really a good idea. Gonzo is solid. Good to know Prado could do it, but we need defense as well as offense. Francoeur, Pence, then Beltran in that order in my opinion. One thing is right: it’s mostly about the money.
Joe
July 24th, 2011
2:08 am
Dang, if “washed up” means having a .290 batting average and 61 RBI at this point in the season, then I’m afraid that the proper word to describe the Braves’ lineup escapes me.
LongTimeFan
July 24th, 2011
4:26 am
Beltran washed up?
Those of you who say this have no idea what you’re talking about.
.913 OPS, .520 SLG, .393 OBP, 47 extra base hits, if I’m not mistaken is leading the league in it. Beltran is a great player, a great teammate. If he were playing somewhere other than Citi Field, he’d have over 20 homers. Still plays very good defense and runs quite well, is very clutch. And above all, is total class act.
As a Mets fan, I want the team to sign him to extension, not trade him especially to a division rival. There is no prospect the Braves can offer to make a trade of Beltran palpable to me.
But if Beltran approves a trade to the Braves, your team will definitely be better.
Vince
July 24th, 2011
8:59 am
No, this is exactly the kind of talk that led to Andrus-Feliz-Harrison-someone else/ for that douche rental Texeria. btw, lets bring back Mayhay.
Baseball Insider
July 24th, 2011
9:21 am
Actually, San Francisco is the favorite to acquire Beltran. Philly will get Pence or Cabrera. If the Braves want to have any chance, they better get someone. If S.F. and Philly help their offense, Atlanta will be hard pressed to advance.
abravefan
July 24th, 2011
9:55 am
Shultz, getting Beltran would be a dumb move! Give up young talent for a guy who has been on the DL for the better part of the last three years? Better off getting Frenchy who has 60 RBIS is batting .270 wiht 12 HRs and is an outstanding fielder.
Allan
July 24th, 2011
11:41 am
The Red Sox need him more, to get past the Yankees in the playoffs.
bvillebaron
July 24th, 2011
12:20 pm
LongTimeFan:
Apparently you are the only Met fan that I know who feels that Beltran is still a great player who you would want to sign to an extenstion. Admittedly, he has been healthy this year (so far) and is having a very good season. However (and unfortunately) this guy is a walking injury waiting to happen. How many games has he missed over the past several seasons? With the Braves’ luck recently with acquiring hitters (see McLouth and Uggla), if the Braves pull the trigger on this, his bone on bone knee will blow up out about 2 games afterwards. Beltran is also no longer a CF which raises the question of where does he play (please don’t tell me that you think it would be a good idea to platoon him with Heyward in right).
After what I witnessed yesterday (and for the past several weeks if not most of the year), their biggest need is some bullpen help since if they don’t send out O’Flaherty, Venters or Kimbrel, it looks like batting practice out there. Hopefully, Moylan comes back healthy next month, but they still need at least one effective middle reliever to give the big 3 a rest; otherwise, they may well be on fumes down the stretch.
P.S. Now if you want to talk about acquiring someone who is right handed and can actually play centerfield like B.J. Upton for Minor, I am all ears.
Buck Buchanan
July 24th, 2011
12:52 pm
Now it looks like the Cardinals are working to trade Colby Rasmus to the White Sox, for Edwin Jackson, a middle reliever and maybe a prospect. Rasmus would be a great fit for the Braves, and not just a short term rental. The Braves have the pitching depth and prospects to outbid the White Sox, I’d love to see them step up and try to get Rasmus…LaRussa doesn’t like him, but everyone else does.
Mike McDonald
July 24th, 2011
1:10 pm
The 2011 Braves should stand pat with the hand they have. They should not panic and trade long-term assets for short-term expedients that will jeopardize the coming years when a number of expensive, unproductive contracts will expire. Imagine having a young, affordable pitching staff of 12 to 13 stars at the top of their game, in 2012-14. And a payroll of close to $100 million (and climbing) under a new, deep-pocketed ownership and shrewd management. This is not only highly possible, but likely.
With McCann, Prado, the re-born (?) Uggla , Freeman, a better coached Hayward, a promising Shafer and back-ups like Hinske and Ross, the Braves have a great nucleus of position players for the rest of this season and going forward for several years, if properly managed. The remaining holes can be plugged with smart acquisitions of emerging, young talent paying free agency big bucks and talented, rookies from internal development and recruitment.
For the nonce, the 2011 Braves are a credible play-off team that could catch fire without any silly rentals or expensive trades. The challenge and the resulting experience of the run for the 2011 World Series will be invaluable and character-building for the young Bravos.
Perhaps, other than the perennial, free spending Yankees and Red Sox, I can’t think of another MLB team that has a brighter potential future than the Atlanta Braves
don
July 24th, 2011
2:04 pm
I don’t want to panic you boys but Buster Olney,etc. on ESPN, when discussing the possibility of Beltran going to the Braves, didn’t mention Minor. They mentioned Teheran. Now, I realize that you immediately think that no one is dumb enough to do that trade. However, I offer “Exhibit A”- Wren.
That should be enough to worry all of you.
bvillebaron
July 24th, 2011
2:59 pm
Don:
I didn’t hear Olney mention Teheran when I watched and listened to ESPN for the past several days (other than in the context of that it was a non-starter for the Braves). Your suggestion that Wren is “dumb” enough to consider trading Teheran for a 2 month Beltran rental is off base and indicates a bias against him which is not supported by his track record in Atlanta.
Sure he has made some bad trades (all GMs do), but consider (1) the Braves had the 7th worst record in MLB when he became the GM a few years ago and now have the 3rd or 4th best record in baseball (while doing so with the limited budget given him by Liberty Media and right after Scherholz traded away several of the team’s best prospects in the ill-fated Texeira fiasco); and (2) he refused to even consider trading Hanson when the Padres insisted upon him in the Peavy trade discussions a few years ago.
Wren isn’t trading Teheran and you may well be the only person who is “worried or panicked” that he might do so.
GLE
July 24th, 2011
7:34 pm
SOUNDS FAMILIAR. A DIIFFERENCE MAKER. YEAH HEARD THAT B4 TOO. THIS DEAL WOULD SOUND LIKE CHANGING A JUST ARRIVING GLAVINE FOR A TIRED AND WEARY GARRETTE ANDERSON, OR RAUL MONDESI OR FILL IN THE BLANK OTHER RELICS WE’VE BEEEN KNOWN TO GO FOR.
superiorblogman
July 25th, 2011
5:33 am
Beltran is simply the biggest name on the market. He is not the best player or best fit for the Braves. I would not give up any top young prospect for a game that is not named Hunter Pence or Adam Jones, end of discussion. The asking price for BJ Upton is said to be not much, you could probably get him for some guys not even in the top 15 prospects. He does have 15 HR’s which is just as much as Freddie Freeman who is this years do no wrong love toy. He does play CF, he does have 23 Stolen Bases which is more than anyone on the Braves by a longshot.
If you are going to give up young prospects go after someone that you would be interested in being a part of your team for years to come:
Adam Jones, Hunter Pence
If you just want a rental do not give away top 15 prospects you can get BJ Upton for less and he adds a lot to the team. 15 HR’s, 23 Steals, and plays CF.
Kelly
July 25th, 2011
7:24 am
The Braves aren’t going to win the East. Not with or without Beltran. You stay the course and hope that the hitting continues to improve and not get rid of your farm system. This is nuts. Beltran? Who made his living off of one good postseason performance and has been a little better than average the rest of the time? Beltran, who has spent a lot of time out because of injuries? Beltran, who is no fix for the long run and a long-odds bet to go to the series in a year where the Braves chances are slim? Beltran, for more of ATL’s youth, the same youth who have been traded off in years past? Take a look around at who is left from those trades and where they’re playing: Texas, Boston…contenders, producers on contending teams. Now look where Texeira is playing. This is a no-brainer. You don’t trade any talent now for Beltran. You play with who you have, the very same team, who, while underachieving at the plate is 5 games back of the best record in baseball and sitting tight in a postseason bid for the wildcard. Beltran doesn’t take you over that mythic hump.
wayn-o
July 25th, 2011
10:56 am
I’d do it if the Mets paid all 6 Mil & threw in a right-handed reliever.
braves buff
July 25th, 2011
11:47 am
I live in NY and YES we MUST get this guy
Hes having a helluva year so far, and would LENGTHEN that lineup
He will platoon with the Glass Man aka Jason Heyward (overrated , pompous fool that he is)
braves buff
July 25th, 2011
11:48 am
Why the heck would ESPN make a commercial using Jason Heyward?? a 225 hitter?? Are they serious? I fell off my chair watching that garbage
Nick
July 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
What everyone is leaving out here is that Beltran is a HUGE injury liability, last two seasons he has played a combined 155 games and as of today he is listed as Day-to-Day… better move would be for Willingham or Hunter Pence.
Phillies, Class of The NL
July 25th, 2011
12:44 pm
The Phillies are separating themselves from the lowly braves, as expected – should win the division by 12 games, easily. Obviously we have a vice grip on the division and yet the braves fans naively believe they have a chance – good stuff.
Phillies, Class of The NL
July 25th, 2011
12:47 pm
Obviously if the Phillies want Pence, or Beltran, we will get them. The bravos will be left scouring the scrap heap for some nobody (how did Derek Lee treat you last year?)
Steve
July 25th, 2011
1:36 pm
Someone explain how Fumbling Frank Wren keeps his job with the number of times the Braves have been in the playoffs (one) in his tenure. We need another bat. Everyone knows that. Fumbling Frank probably won’t do anything, and the Braves will crash and burn. They are only 4 games in front for the wild card.
ChillyMutt
July 25th, 2011
1:51 pm
“Prado at SS!!! you guys think it is a good move??”
Noooooooo. Gonzo is an excellent defensive SS and while Prado is a good athlete, he is not a SS.
And stop all the Frenchy this, Frenchy that talk. He’s not coming back – he burned those bridges before he left.
Hatfieldgeoff
July 25th, 2011
2:33 pm
I agree make the trade. The Braves as is ain’t going to win the World Series. Just not enough hitting as the Cincinnati series showed. One big game but couldn’t break open the game Saturday against a stuggling pitcher and Sunday couldn’t muster enough to win. Beltran may not be enough but he is the best most cost efficient option. Trading Minor for his two months would be a good deal. Minor may wind up being great but I think the Braves have not been that impressed with his starts and probably think he won’t be the star they had hoped.
steve
July 25th, 2011
3:02 pm
Just wondering what our outfield would look like with Beltran. He can no longer play CF very well. In fact, just as he has stated he wants to stay in the NL, he has also stated that he wants to stay in RF. Are you going to move Heyward to CF? You certainly cannot move Prado there. It would make sense to me if Prado was playing 3B and you could move Heyward to LF. I guess it is possible to move Heyward to the bench to make room for CB, but I am not sure that is the right move either.
I just don’t think this is the right move for the Braves right now.
Greg
July 25th, 2011
3:33 pm
To be completely honest. Prado anywhere in the infield. I say we really could use Beltran too. You guys should know that we have other great, and I do mean great prospects in our farm system. Giving up Minor in my belief would be a good move. Who knows, We just may have a chance to keep Beltran longer.
Steve
July 25th, 2011
4:24 pm
How about Heyward and Minor in a deal?
SK
July 25th, 2011
5:07 pm
I don’t understand where all of you guys think we’re going to put all of these “Cy Young Career” pitchers we have in AAA. Mike Minor is no significant loss if we’re correct in evaluating the other pitchers in Gwinnett. Let’s not be silly here…there’s only so many roster spots for pitchers on our ML club.
denver83
July 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
I don’t want to mortgage the future again like we did for Texeria in a rental player. Go out and make a real deal for a legit player like an Adam Jones. It would be ridiculous to give up quality pitching for an often injured platoon player, because there is no way he is playing center field at 35. Remember, pitching wins in this league. Just look at last years Giants.
George
July 26th, 2011
7:34 am
bad hitters will get you NOTHING.
Are Braves or Falcons taking bigger risk without big move? | Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
9:21 am
[...] tweaked his quadriceps in his first game back from a knee injury, it raised the level of concern. Adding Carlos Beltran to the rotation of outfielders — he can play center or right field, possibly in a platoon with the struggling Jason Heyward [...]
Spud Webb
July 26th, 2011
2:33 pm
Jeff, according to Chipper we don’t need any help. hahahahah….I love it. The guy who can’t stay on the field and doesn’t produce much when he is, saying the lineup full of .240 hitters says we don’t NEED HITTING HELP?? un freaking believable.
Spud Webb
July 26th, 2011
2:34 pm
Steve, I would move Heyward to center, he’s athletic enough to do it for 1/3 of a season.