on the radio in Austin this morning, they were saying that radio and newspaper reports out of NY are saying the Yanks are out of the running for Beltran....so it could happen soon if this is true.
Bora's clients include pretty much half of the superstars in MLB right now. The guy's really good at getting ridiculous contracts, such as Kevin Brown for 7/105, then A-Rod for 10/220(?). And any top 10 baseball talent that falls in the draft is a Boras client. But recently GMs are starting to not fall for his tricks. Boras last year kept telling everyone that a team has made a 5/75 offer to Kevin Millwood. The Phillies called his bluff and Millwood had to settle for arbitration.
These superstars choose Boras, so that tells you ALOT about the players. All about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ folks.
I think Boras is coming out and saying this now becuase of the reports that ESPN came out with saying the Yankees are out of the running for Beltran. He no longer has the leverage he wants to get more money out of us and now has to figure out a way to do it. More and more he is loosing negotiating power thanks to media reports and stuff and Beltran wanting to play for a smaller market. So what does he do? He comes out and says you better pay this much as a minimum if you expect us to sign. Pretty ironic that he came out with these comments after everyone reports that Yankees are out of the running.
Actually, I remembered reading about the revised $119 million minimum offer 'demand' by Boras some time after the winter meetings. I don't know if this article is refferring to back then, or if Scott re-hashed this statement... but this is definitely not a "new" occurence due to the Yankees supposedly dropping out of the race. Actually, I'm worried that the Yankees really haven't dropped out of the race, and are really complying with Beltran/Boras' wishes to keep things quiet, as Tim and Drayton were told to do by Beltran himself. I thought it would be in our favor if the NY media made a big deal every time Beltran sneezed... it could have been enough to turn him off the city for good.
It's hard to know exactly what's going on, but at the outset Boras said teams better be thinking in terms of a 10 year, 200 million dollar contract, since that is what his client is worth. Now he is saying 119 million. That's a steep drop off. I anticipate he will continue coming down as he realizes the market for his client isn't as hot as he once predicted. Actually, I wonder if so many teams dropped out of contention BECAUSE his initial media reported demands were so unrealistic. Oh well, if he signs with us, his stupidity could be our gain.
NY Times ( I think you need to register) Now It's Beltran's Turn: Let the Bidding Games Begin By LEE JENKINS Published: January 1, 2005 Now batting: the center fielder, No. 15, Carlos Beltran, in the cleanup spot. Leading off was Carl Pavano, who signed with the Yankees. Next up was Pedro Martínez, who went to the Mets. Then came Randy Johnson, who is joining the Yankees. But for all the high-profile pitchers in demand this off-season, the winter of 2004-5 may be remembered for one powerful hitter. Starting Monday, most of Major League Baseball will turn its attention to Beltran, and to the big-market metropolis of New York. The Yankees and the Mets, fresh off their holiday shopping sprees, could be gearing up for a bidding war over Beltran. Other high-profile free agents are still available - Carlos Delgado, Magglio Ordóñez and Derek Lowe among them - but none is as captivating as the 27-year-old Beltran. He is an elite defensive center fielder who is a threat on the bases and hits for average and power. During the season, he was being talked about as the marquee free agent for this winter, even before he put together one of the best playoff performances in baseball history. A career .284 hitter, Beltran batted .267 in the regular season, split between Kansas City and Houston, but came alive in the playoffs. He hit .435 in 12 postseason games, with 6 stolen bases, 8 home runs and 14 runs batted in. Next week is shaping up as a sort of dream sequence for Scott Boras, the agent for Beltran who is known for playing franchises off each other to drive up the price for his clients. With a potential New York versus New York matchup in the making, he need only stand on the sideline, gleefully punching his calculator. All that separates this from a standard Boras negotiation is the apparent deadline he is operating under. Boras usually likes to take his time at auction, waiting for every mystery team to reveal itself and every side to submit one last counteroffer, but this time, he and Beltran may find themselves in somewhat of a hurry. The Houston Astros, who traded for Beltran last summer, must sign him by Jan. 8 or lose negotiating rights with him until May 1. As a result, next week could decide where Beltran spends the next decade; he has said he enjoyed his experience in Houston, and the Astros have already been pitching him lucrative contract proposals.. Boras may not get Beltran the 10-year, $200 million contract that he initially suggested, but he could come close. Teams have spoken with him about seven-year deals worth more than $15 million a year, and considering that Boras recently negotiated a five-year, $64 million deal for Adrian Beltre after only one impressive season, the market appears ripe for more. "When you're talking about a player like this, you're talking about something nobody else in the game really has, and those players are hard to find," Boras said in a telephone interview earlier this week. "Carlos Beltran makes baseball business sense for all parties involved. Money is way up in the game. The ability of franchises to make these decisions is there." Boras compares Beltran with only Alex Rodriguez, another of his clients, who signed a 10-year $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2000. At the time, the Mets were viewed as front-runners for Rodriguez, but they bowed out of the bidding when Steve Phillips, the Mets' general manager at the time, declared that Rodriguez's requests for preferential treatment would create an uneven atmosphere in the clubhouse. It was unclear whether Phillips really thought Boras and Rodriguez wanted such treatment, or whether he was looking for an excuse to keep the Mets from spending a fortune on one player. This time around, the Mets are trying another tack, keeping a low profile and hoping to snag Beltran with a late surge. The Yankees and the Astros have met with Beltran, and the Mets plan to meet with him early next week. The New York teams are trying to hide their hands for the moment. When Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman was asked this week about the Beltran competition, he said, "We have to decide if we're going to be a player in this." The Yankees could use Beltran because Bernie Williams, 36 and going into the last year of his contact, is slowing in center field and posted a .262 batting average last season. The Mets could use Beltran to increase their credibility, boost season-ticket sales and strengthen the audience for their new cable television network. The Yankees could sell him on the opportunity to contend for the World Series every season as part of a roster full of superstars. The Mets could sell him on being the only superstar in their everyday lineup. "Every player, when they consider the Yankees and another team, they have to make that decision," Boras said. "Do you want to be part of a continuing legend, or do you want to be on a team where you are the legend? Just as long as players are aware of that, how they view it is a personal decision. I think Carlos will listen to all people who are interested in him and evaluate each situation independently." Those who know Beltran describe him as smooth yet modest, a sweet-natured superstar still coming of age. After spending six seasons in Kansas City, he is eager for attention. He may have sentimental reasons for returning to Houston, but Boras shoots down the notion that Beltran is apprehensive about playing in New York. "He is a tremendously disciplined athlete, a very focused athlete, humble with his teammates and respectful of his skills," Boras said. "I really think he's about getting up in the morning prepared to improve and make himself a better player. He's a very driven man and very serious about his performance." Beltran has shown he can climb fences on the dead sprint, hit homers under playoff pressure and go to the opposite field when a pitcher wants nothing to do with him. Now, he must bat cleanup for baseball's off-season, which has trudged through two months in anticipation of one week. Hey and maybe eventually we could just have the Yankees play the Yankees all season long and we wouldn't have to worry about all those silly teams who's star players aren't part of a continuing legend. Thanks Scott.
So...does this mean DO WHAT was BSing us, or did something change? Cause I ain't heard nothing about a Beltran signing and looking at the calendar, there's a little 5 at the end of the year.
He made that up. If Beltran signs with us, Boras will put it off until the last minute. The only leverage he has left is time.
I've been right before. I know the clock is ticking, but have some faith on this one. If I'm wrong, I'll pipe it for awhile.
Beltran will sign here now! I'm more comfortable since the Yankees are getting RJ with a 2 year extension. That was music to my ears! With the luxary tax, the Yanks will be spending $1.40 on every dollar of Beltrans's salary. I heard on sports 790 yesterday that for Beltran to recieve a compatable salary to ours, which includes a 30% spike in living and state income tax, he will have to earn a little more then $25 million dollars per year to play for them. I just can't see even the Boss himself spending that type of money on Beltran, when pitching is still what they really need more of. I used to think Mussina was one of the best in the game, but he is no #2 starter nowadays. Now, if Boras would just quit reporting false rumors about the guy's salary offers, we could just hurry up and sign him. Then try and work on the bullpen. Sorry Scott, it's just a bad year to be representing big name free agent sluggers. Medicore pitchers are getting all the money this off season.
http://nypost.com/sports/yankees/37554.htm January 1, 2005 -- When it came to Randy Johnson, the Yankees never really played coy. They wanted him and were willing to move heaven, earth and certainly top prospects and a few million dollars to secure the 6-foot-10 ace. They are not being so cavalier when it comes to Carlos Beltran. Is this reality or strategy? Can George Steinbrenner really shun the best free agent available, especially if the Mets are involved? Those questions should be answered quickly in the new year as the Yanks turn from Johnson to Beltran. The Yanks and Diamondbacks yesterday put their deal in writing, sending Johnson to New York and Javier Vazquez, $9 million and prospects Dioner Navarro and Brad Halsey to Arizona. The teams agreed to wait until Monday to submit the trade to commissioner Bud Selig, who must approve it because the deal involves the transfer of more than $1 million. Selig, despite being disturbed about financial matters involving both clubs, is expected to validate the swap. Arizona then might move Vazquez, Navarro and Halsey in various trades, with Dodgers Shawn Green and Brad Penny of particular interest. After Selig gives his blessing, the Yankees will receive a window to negotiate what is expected to be a two-year, $32 million extension with Johnson. Then Johnson and the other players involved will have to pass physicals. At that point, this trade will finally be complete. But will the Yanks' big-game offseason? Within the industry, they are trying to give off the aroma of indifference about Beltran. Recently agent Scott Boras has let the final contenders — the Yankees, Mets, Astros, Cubs and perhaps the Tigers and Orioles — know not to even come to the table without a starting bid of seven years at $112 million. The Yanks are privately indicating even that might be too rich for them, that their payroll and, thus, luxury-tax dollars now and into the foreseeable future have swollen too greatly. There clearly is a dichotomy within the Yankee organization. There are those who believe the Yanks would be better off with the future financial and roster flexibility than to enlist Beltran. Others see Beltran joining Jeter and A-Rod as prime-time cornerstones well into the future. Astro owner Drayton McLane has not played coy like the Yankees about his desires. But he also does not have a bottomless pit. There are team officials who believe Beltran liked Houston so much he wants to return, and that Boras is simply using the New York teams to get McLane to extend to seven years and perhaps as much as $17 million annually. If Beltran is about the final dollar and doesn't care where he goes — like Boras client Alex Rodriguez was in ending up in Texas — a few major-league officials think Tiger owner Mike Illitch is so hungry to sign a marquee player that he might approach the 10-year, $200 million level Boras has said is his target. Meanwhile, Met GM Omar Minaya is working hard to convince Fred and Jeff Wilpon that Beltran is the kind of player to extend financially. It was unclear if the Mets were really ready to distinguish themselves, but Minaya is expected to lead a contingent, probably to Puerto Rico, next week to talk to Beltran/Boras. Still, the primary view in the majors is that Boras is using the Mets to instigate Steinbrenner to more aggressive action. "He's got a sucker player in Omar," a veteran agent said. "Whatever he has convinced Omar of — that the new [Mets'] TV network needs someone like Beltran or that in a weak NL East Beltran immediately makes the Mets contenders — Boras seems to clearly have Omar on the line." The part about the Yankees future financial concerns is interesting. I heard the same thing on WFAN the other day...bottom line is that while Steinbrenner does seem to have that bottomless pit, he doesn't own the ship building company anymore so his main source of income is the Yankees...and the YES Network so maybe there is some truth to it and his advisors are telling him to stop writing checks this year...especially after the Giambi blunder. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/267094p-228811c.html Beltran next on shopping list The final week of 2004 was all about Randy Johnson for the Yankees. The first week of 2005 will be primarily about Carlos Beltran for both local teams. As the Yankees brought back Tino Martinez yesterday and continued the process of finally bringing in Randy Johnson, the Beltran sweepstakes were set to jump to the forefront in the New Year. The market for the prize of this winter's free-agent class is expected to explode next week, with the Mets and Yankees both expected to make their initial offers for the star center fielder. Beltran, who likely will command $16 million to $17 million per season over six or seven years, widely is expected to make a decision before the Jan. 8 deadline for him to re-sign or not with Houston. "We have not advanced the ball on that issue since (meeting with Beltran last week in Tampa)," Yanks GM Brian Cashman said yesterday. "We have had no contact since." The Yanks had put out subtle indications last week that they might proceed cautiously in the Beltran bidding. Still, they opted to sign Martinez as a hedge against Jason Giambi's questionable status rather than pursue a larger expenditure such as Carlos Delgado, a strong indication they fully expect to be involved in the Beltran mix. The Mets also are planning to meet with Beltran and agent Scott Boras Monday or Tuesday, with the selling point that Beltran would be the centerpiece of their future rather than just another star in the Yankees' crowded galaxy. The Astros, who reportedly offered a six-year deal worth $96 million to retain Beltran, the Cubs, especially if they can move Sammy Sosa, and the Tigers also are among the interested teams. According to the Houston Chronicle, Astros owner Drayton McLane resumed negotiations with Boras Wednesday following a Christmas respite. If the Mets' pursuit of Beltran falls short, Martinez's signing with the Yanks also eliminates one stated competitor in the running for Delgado. The Mets, Orioles and Red Sox also have been involved in slow-moving talks with Delgado's agent, David Sloane. PAYROLL ROLLING: The acquisition of Johnson will boost the Yankees' payroll to about $205 million, easily topping the major league record of $187.9 million they set in 2004. The Yankees must pay a $25 million luxury tax for last season - about $600,000 more than Tampa Bay's entire payroll
If Beltran is about the final dollar and doesn't care where he goes — like Boras client Alex Rodriguez was in ending up in Texas — a few major-league officials think Tiger owner Mike Illitch is so hungry to sign a marquee player that he might approach the 10-year, $200 million level Boras has said is his target. This actually scares me more than the Yankees
If CB goes to Detroit it will serve him right. His stats will stink, and his happiness near non-existent. He'll be a 'stro. Or no...
i wonder what the backup plan is IF Beltran does not resign with us.... 1. extend Lance's contract? 2. Sign Derek Lowe? 3. Look at Mags and/or Delgado as replacement bats?
The only team I would actually feel bad losing Beltran to would be the Cubs... we'd have to face him 19 times a year, and I actually think he could make them the BEST team in the NL if everyone is healthy. Other than that, I'll be fine.... if he joins the Yankees, he'll be just another great player that went there and seemingly turned out to be not as great (Giambi, K. Brown, A-Rod so far...), or he could simply add to the legend of the franchise (Clemens, R. Jackson). Any other team that gets him will be a BAD team... I don't care what the Mets rotation will look like. For that, I won't feel bad whatsoever.
