At the beginning of the off-season, I was poring over the list of free agents when I came across the name Carlos Beltran.
I immediately sent a buddy a text asking him what he thinks the former Gold Glove centre-fielder might produce in 2012.
His reply: “He’s got two, maybe three really good years left. Good fit for Jays.”
And if the report late Wednesday night from Scott Miller of CBSSports is true, Alex Anthopoulos apparently agrees.
The Jays’ rumoured interest in Beltran has been floating around for almost a week now, but on Wednesday Miller described the Beltran talks as “hot,” with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Rays and Indians — yes, the Indians — in serious play for the slugger.
And with no shortage of in-house candidates to play the outfield and DH in 2012, Darvish-withdrawal suffering Toronto fans should view the Jays’ pursuit of the switch-hitting Puerto Rican as further evidence they are close to entering a win-now mentality.
Travis Snider, Eric Thames, Ben Francisco and possibly even Kelly Johnson could see time in left field next season and with Edwin Encarnacion and Mark Teahen as the two most likely candidates to split DH duties, the Jays clearly don’t need Beltran.
But they want him, and it’s easy to understand why.
Beltran is coming off a terrific 2011 season split between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants in which he posted a line of .300/.385./.525/.910 with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs, almost all it in right field, save for a few games at DH during interleague. And for those of you sabermetrically inclined, Beltran ranked an impressive ninth amongst NL position players in 2011 with a WAR of 5.7.
Sportsnet Radio 590 the Fan Audio:
Thursday: Rob Neyer talks Beltran on Jeff Blair Show
At left field or DH, where Ken Rosenthal writes Thursday morning the Indians would play him, Beltran would be a significant upgrade over the Jays current options at those positions, while also providing much-needed protection for Jose Bautista in the cleanup spot.
And given how frequently John Farrell has talked about wanting to field a lineup of “relentless” hitters who work pitchers deep into counts, the Jays must also be smitten with Beltran’s career .361 OBP.
But at 34, Beltran is no spring chicken and between 2009 and 2010 he missed 179 games due to knee trouble.
His age and health are natural concerns, but if the cost to acquire a player with his pedigree is no more than a two- or three-year deal at an average annual salary in the neighbourhood of $10 to $14 million, the price might be right.
Too steep, you say? After offering arbitration to David Ortiz, the Boston Red Sox will likely pay between $14 and $17 million in 2012 for the services of their (cough) 36-year-old DH.
As for the other potential suitors, the Cardinals could use Beltran to add some punch to their lineup with the loss of Albert Pujols, while the Red Sox can offer him their right-field job. The Rays seem a long-shot given their own payroll “parameters,” and it remains unclear how much the Indians are prepared to offer.
Meanwhile, Rob Neyer of SB Nation thinks Beltran’s choice will come down to one of Toronto or St. Louis, but argues the Cardinals money would be better spent on improving their rotation.
Derrick Goold of St. Louis Post-Dispatch is hearing Beltran will select his new team this week.
And just for kicks, according to Baseball Reference, the two players most similar to Beltran through age 34 are Dave Winfield and Andre Dawson.
And in case you’ve forgotten, take a look. Both players remained quite productive through their mid-to late thirties.
For what that’s worth.