As the Yankees continue to chart a unique deadline course, the team is entertaining dialogue regarding outfielder Carlos Beltran with several interested competitors, per ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (via Twitter). Among the teams in discussions are not only the Indians and Rangers, who have frequently been mentioned in the past, but also the Astros and even the rival Red Sox.
Though it sounds as if there’s a fair bit of action on the 39-year-old slugger, that doesn’t mean that anything is close. Indeed, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter), no scenarios have been put in front of Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner — which would be the case if there were real “momentum” toward a deal.
New York doesn’t appear to be simply looking to get whatever it can for Beltran, given the team’s attempt to straddle the line between a full sell-off and continued pursuit of the playoffs. Last we heard, there’s a pretty high price tag on his services. That being said, it’s hard to imagine that he’s not an achievable target given that the club has already dealt top-quality late-inning arms Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller.
Unsurprisingly, all the clubs listed above are in the American League. While Beltran’s bat has been sensational even as he approaches forty years of age, he’s no longer the quality center fielder he once was. Instead, Beltran is now limited to playing right field — which he has done passably, though not terribly well, this year. And the wise move will likely remain to slot him in as a DH rather liberally; the Yankees have given him about a third of his overall action there.
Though he has limits as a player, Beltran is quite appealing as a rental bat. He owns a stellar .301/.342/.538 batting line and has already popped 21 long balls in his 383 plate appearances in 2016. Questions of health and age won’t be as pressing given his high-quality current performance, and the same holds of his fairly lofty salary. Beltran is earning $15MM this year before hitting the open market, with about $5.34MM left to go on the season.
It’s worth noting, too, that Beltran has been nothing less than a monster in the postseason. Over his 223 plate appearances, he owns a robust .332/.441/.674 slash with 16 home runs. And Beltran is obviously a highly respected veteran who’d add to any clubhouse, increasing his appeal to teams with designs on a deep run.
I’m a Sox fan and its highly unlikely that he gets traded to us but I wouldn’t trade more than Sam Travis or Trey Ball
Why is it highly unlikely to you? Because it’s Sox Yanks? Dombroski has already said he’d make a trade with the Yankees according to Abraham and he and Cashman have made previously deals. Sox Yanks fans put more hatred into the rivalry than the GMs do
Doesn’t seem like he would be a fit with the Sox. He won’t be able to DH and I doubt he could play left so you would have to move Betts over there and put Beltran in right.
You do know that Boston would have to pay a premium for him, right? Travis or Ball isn’t going to cut it.
Of course the Red Sox won’t trade Sam Travis. He is the next Goldschmidt!!
twitter.com/jonheyman/status/713911991316967424
Oh Jesus Christ what is he there 5th rated prospect? I get that they have top players who turn out to be great (ala bogey, betts), but some fans honestly expect their 10-20 prospects to be the next world beaters
He didn’t say that. You’re usually one of the better comments on here, surprised you’d go there.
Sox aren’t going to give NYY (and vice versa) any prospect that might has a remote chance of nipping them in the bud. It’s just not happening, which is why this deal probably doesn’t go past this point.
Read the tweet from the verified account. I suppose it’s fair to say Heyman didn’t say it. But a scout did to Heyman.
I do agree with the latter of your comment though. Unless DD gets desperate which he shouldn’t be for someone like Beltran. Tanaka maybe but there’s probably zero chance he gets traded.
Travis is nowhere need the power of Goldschmidt. Single double hitter.
Why not? Trade him while he has value to bolster an already greatly improved minor league system.
No reason the Yanks should keep him, even if for just a mid level prospect or two. He’s not part of the future, and the Yankees must know they are a far cry from a playoff team
How about don’t trade him for a lame package so that teams don’t start coming to you making lame offers for your good players…
Thats absurd. The guy only has two months left on his contract, and is 39 years old on a 4th place team. What do you think he is gonna bring back
He’s also having a great season. He could be a big difference maker for a team in the playoffs based on the year he’s having, and his legendary postseason success. Why does it matter that he’s on a fourth place team?
I was hoping he would be dealt with McCann to Texas who needs a catcher but now it appears they are getting Lucroy and McCann has no trade. I thought Gallo would be a good return since it’s obvious Texas willing to deal him and his contact rate is abysmal.
Would hate to think the yanks would help the sox. George would roll over in his grave.
Beltran is exactly the type of impact player that the Yanks would go out and get in the early 00’s in their many post series runs. They always would pick someone up like this for that final stretch. Even Cespedes last season was that type of pick up (I’m not comparing the two being similar players – I’m talking about the baseball strategy). I’ve always felt these are the best types of moves for teams with limited contract obligations.
I’ve thought that the Rangers match up well for both Eovaldi or Pineda and Beltran, which would be the most efficient route for them. They get the DH/Part time OF they need, and Eovaldi who has pitched well in Texas and he has 1.5 years under contract.
How about a nice package for Tanaka, they seem to like star players. Something around Gallo.
Tanaka is a TJ time bomb.
We have heard that for the last 1.5 years. He could very well go through what Adam Wainwright did from high school through age 30 or 31 (and what Ervin Santana currently is doing from 2009-present) , pitching with a partially torn UCL.
Please not to the Astros..
Even if it’s Boston, he should go.
I am a Sox fan too but I would never trade Travis for him since he is a year or two away from stepping into the full time 1st base or DH role and Ball is good as well I would think it would take a guy lower down in the farm system to acquire a guy like Beltran.
Yea I’d probably say 1-2 top 30 guys and maybe a wild card. I can’t see the Red Sox making a trade with the Yankees.
Beltran can be acquired for 2 low level non ranked players. Chris Coghlan and PTBNL. the cubs don’t need an OFer but soler isn’t back yet. He went down a week after Fowler.
Not going to happen, dude. Yanks will just keep him then.
Lmao at this an OF with almost a .900 ops nets you Chris coghlan haha
Lol. Zero chance the Yankees do that.
I wonder if the Yanks would give Beltran a qualifying offer. If not, then they should take what they can get, the trade of Miller signals that they are done.
If they keep him I think they will. Assuming he puts up these numbers the rest of the year.
A return to Houston (this time in the AL) would be interesting. They need help at DH.
As a life long Yankee fan, I am quite happy with how things turned out so far. We all knew that when A-rod, CC, and Tex signed those big money, long term contracts, the latter years of those deals would be awful. With those contracts ending, but more importantly the roster spots opening a new era of Yankee baseball can begin
All Boston minor leaguers are destined for the HOF.
I honestly never thought that the Yankees would trade Miller. Now that he’s gone, Beltran and Nova should be out the door minimum tomorrow.
Sam Travis would look good in pinstripes…
I wouldn’t mind Beltran going to the Red Sox at all as a Yankees fan. They’re getting just a couple months out of him and the yanks are selling this year. It’s not like he’s gonna be helping the Red Sox take away a playoff birth from them. But most importantly, him going to the Red Sox absolutely means a higher premium for them to get him. Better for the Yankees long term.
A return to Houston would be nice. He is needed as a veteran presence and would help at the DH and possibly OF for them on occasions. And everyone knows his postseason success. Will be interesting to see how tomorrow plays out… Or later tonight
MCCULLERS JR??? I WISH
Lol you’re joking?
Of course. McCullers made the yanks look like little leaguers last time out. He’s going to be a fantastic pitcher for the stros
As a sox fan, I’d love to see him on the sox. However, what they would have to give up to get him would be too much, and he can’t DH because the Red Sox have the best DH in MLB history, betts would have to play LF, which would be foolish considering how good his defense is in RF. Maybe he could play LF, or even try first base. The bat is a good fit, but not the glove
Papi is a great DH, but I have to say that with the PED history tied to him the best DH should be and is Edgar Martinez, the guy was awesome, sure he didn’t hit as many homers but his OBP was off the charts, he hit for a far better average, his OPS is better. If we go category by category it’s close but a DH is supposed to be a great hitter, and the way you measure how great a hitter is is by OPS. Martinez gets my vote over Papi mostly due to the PED’s.
Yankeesfan beat me to the Edgar comment. If you don’t remember how good of a hitter he was, you are probably too young. Chased the batting title every year (when that meant something) and was a sabermetric stud before that was a thing. I don’t know about Ortiz and PEDs. After what the Twins did to him I wouldn’t blame him for trying to gain an edge in a time when a large number of players were doing it. Besides, is it really an advantage if everyone has the same advantage? Now, if he tested dirty today, that is a different story. As far as my feeble brain can remember his “alleged” dirty test was way back around the Mitchell report sometime. If I am wrong feel free to correct me.
To address your concerns about Beltran playing LF in Fenway, all I can say is, if Manny Ramirez was able to pull it off, Beltran won’t have a problem. He can rotate with Betts for the more difficult stadiums. For instance, Betts should always be in Left in Yankee stadium. LF requires an above average glove there. In Fenway you can just park yourself about 30 feet from the monster and catch them as they ricochet off.
Horrible comment. You’re making an excuse for cheaters. Everyone was NOT cheating. Only some were. By saying everyone was doing it, you’re making it seem like it was okay to cheat, and marginalizing the players who played the right way.
Red Sox need pitching pitching and more pitching not a rental outfielder
Well said
I have no idea why the NL teams aren’t chasing him as an alternative to Jay Bruce. If you can stomach Bruce’s defense, then Beltran should be just fine.
I’m not sure why the Indians are on this list.
They don’t need a DH and Beltran is worse than the OF they currently have…
It will probably take an 80-100 prospect for Beltran. Either Paulino, Whitley, or Musgrove from Houston, or Kopech from Boston. I know, seems like an overpay… but that’s how Cashman rolls nowadays.
Freddie Freeman is the player that Houston needs to get them to the Division lead. Braves do not want to trade him as he is the team leader and top producer. Freeman hits for average and power and is excellent on defense and very astute as an infield leader. It would take a team’s three top prospects to get him at least. Nevertheless, Alex Bregman, AJ Reed and Kyle Tucker or Daz Cameron might pry him loose from the Braves. If the Astros want icing on the cake they can add Julio Teheran to the deal for Lance McCullers, Frances Martes and Joe Musgrove or David Paulino. That is adding 8.0 WAR for four years for basically prospects.