Joel Sherman
Blog: Hardball
There is no pretense around the Mets now about playing out the season with Carlos Beltran.
The adults in the organization know there is no baseball miracle coming with the Mets just 11⁄2 games out of last place. Instead, team officials speak in the same tones and codes now about Beltran that they did in the recent past about Francisco Rodriguez.
Which is to say resigned to his departure. The key decision-makers have been informed to brace for life without their third-place hitter in the same way they were told — just before K-Rod’s exit — to get ready to live without their closer. The intensity of interest is such, in fact, that some Mets officials are feeling a trade could get done well before the July 31 deadline.
The Phillies and Red Sox were described as the most aggressive pursuers, a person involved in the talks told The Post. That confirmed what Foxsports.com first reported. The Braves, Giants, Indians and Pirates were portrayed as the next strongest suitors. The Rangers had limited interest and outside executives anticipate the Reds making a big move before the July 31 deadline, but two AL executives said they see Cincinnati as the main player for Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
The Mets have been somewhat surprised by Detroit’s disinterest. The Yanks and Mets last talked about Beltran just before the Mets traded K-Rod to the Brewers, so unless there are drastic changes, the Yanks are not suitors.
The Mets sense such strong interest that they have begun to believe they will not have to pay a significant amount of the roughly $6 million Beltran is still owed to get a good return. And Beltran did nothing but enhance his value last night. He returned from three games missed to the flu to go 3-for-3 with two doubles and two walks in a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals.
He showed with his impact and the respect he got by being pitched around in a couple of at-bats what an acquiring team could expect — but also what the Mets will lose for the rest of the season.
Mets GM Sandy Alderson would not directly discuss Beltran, but did say about his overall philosophy these days, “The next three or four years are more important than the next three or four months.”
If you need that translated, it means Alderson knows that even with Beltran and Jose Reyes back last night and David Wright due Friday that is not enough to change the trajectory of the 2011 Mets from .500-ish wannabes to October threats.
Thus, the Mets rightfully are looking to maximize Beltran. For example, Alderson said, “it is another consideration to take into account” when asked if he would deal a top player within his own division. “But,” he added, “it is not a prohibition.” So the Phillies and Braves definitely are being considered.
Alderson wants to speed up the restocking of a very mundane farm system by selling high on the best hitter available in an offensively challenged season. So he simply will not put up restrictions such as refusing to trade within the division or prioritizing the Mets’ 2011 won-lost record.
But that does not make the team’s record inconsequential. The Mets have tried hard to rebuild collateral with a disillusioned fan base by playing better than anticipated, especially through a few debilitating injuries. Although trading K-Rod and Beltran is necessary, the Mets do not want to tank the final two months; limping into the offseason as a last-place, 74-win team that refunds a chunk of the goodwill earned to this point.
“I do worry about that,” Terry Collins conceded.
Alderson said playing well the rest of the way — regardless of who is traded — is vital to continue to “change the perception” of the Mets from a lost franchise to one heading in the right direction in both strategy in the front office and energy on the field.
However, with K-Rod already gone and Beltran on the launching pad to a contender, the degree of difficulty is about to magnify on even a dignified 81-81-type season.
“No matter who is on the roster,” Collins said, “I want the fans on Oct. 1 to say they can’t wait until next year.”
joel.sherman@nypost.com
ubaldo jimenez, rsquo, francisco rodriguez, carlos beltran, drastic changes, disinterest, team officials, suitors, yanks, three games, pretense, decision makers, brewers, phillies, braves, bats, cardinals, red sox, reds, intensity
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário