June 12, 200422 yr Kansas City Royals general manager Allard Baird, on the heels of a demoralizing doubleheader loss to the Montreal Expos, said Friday that he is ready to begin dismantling his team and build for 2005. "This is a change," Baird told reporters. Specifically, this means he is ready to take offers for Beltran, his switch-hitting center fielder who is one of just six players with at least three seasons of 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Beltran, 26, will be eligible for free agency after this year and the Royals are determined to get as much for him as they can. Baird said he has heard from clubs "on the East Coast and the West Coast" who might be interested in the 26-year-old Beltran, but refused to be specific. "I think it's very unfair to the ballclubs I'm talking to on any player," he said. "If they want to share it, that's fine." Teams known to have expressed interest include Anaheim, Boston and the New York Yankees.There are certain to be others. Beltran last year become the first switch-hitter to bat over .300 while hitting more than 25 home runs and stealing more than 40 bases. The AL player of the month in April, he went into Friday night's game hitting .270 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs.Two weeks ago, Baird told clubs he would not consider dealing any of his players without giving the Royals a chance to get back in the AL Central race. They responded by winning six of 10. But the doubleheader loss to Montreal made them to a league-worst 21-36. "I will listen at this point," he said. "Am I disappointed? No question I'm disappointed. I still believe that this ballclub intact at the end of the season would be better than it is right now. But time is not on our side and we are behind the 8-ball, as we've talked about numerous times. And you can't be completely off the pool table, so to speak." Who do u guys think Beltran will end up with?
June 12, 200422 yr I don't think we should go after Beltran, but if the Red Sox go after beltran, if I were Beinfest I might try to get into that with a 3-way deal. We give the Red Sox the prospects to make the Beltran deal happen and they give us Nixon, or Varitek and one of their solid bullpen pitchers.
June 13, 200422 yr I don't think we should go after Beltran, but if the Red Sox go after beltran, if I were Beinfest I might try to get into that with a 3-way deal. We give the Red Sox the prospects to make the Beltran deal happen and they give us Nixon, or Varitek and one of their solid bullpen pitchers. Uh, no. Trot just signed an extention. Varitek is negotiating a new deal right now. The only guy you might get from us is Doug Mirabelli.
June 13, 200422 yr Beltran will be a great pickup wherever he goes. I've also heard that Mags isn't returning to the Sox, so next year he may end up in the northeast area...
June 13, 200422 yr I don't think we should go after Beltran, but if the Red Sox go after beltran, if I were Beinfest I might try to get into that with a 3-way deal. We give the Red Sox the prospects to make the Beltran deal happen and they give us Nixon, or Varitek and one of their solid bullpen pitchers. Uh, no. Trot just signed an extention. Varitek is negotiating a new deal right now. The only guy you might get from us is Doug Mirabelli. Mirabelli may be worth a mid-level prospect. That's about it.
June 13, 200422 yr Not for a team that has the worst catchers in the league and is trying to make a run for a 2nd championship.
June 13, 200422 yr Not for a team that has the worst catchers in the league and is trying to make a run for a 2nd championship. Mirabelli is a good backup catcher, we already have one of those.
June 13, 200422 yr Not for a team that has the worst catchers in the league and is trying to make a run for a 2nd championship. You want it all but you don't wanna give anything up.
June 13, 200422 yr Corey Patterson and Angel Guzman for Beltran. Sounds like a good deal to me. The Cubs certainly have what it takes to make the deal. They need to quit hoarding all those arms and share the wealth.
June 13, 200422 yr Not for a team that has the worst catchers in the league and is trying to make a run for a 2nd championship. You want it all but you don't wanna give anything up. I dont wanna trade anyone actually. I am content with the team right now....
June 13, 200422 yr boy this will be interesting since the yanks are going after pitching for now, i think the red sox could make a move for him
June 13, 200422 yr I'm excited to see who he ends up with. I don't think it will be the Sox or the Yanks, but we'll see.
June 13, 200422 yr M-E-T-S There have been stories in the papers all week about how Fred Wilpon is ready to open up the check book and/or mortgage the farm system for Beltran. Jim Duquette has already had meetings with Allan Baird about the trade. It's going to happen.
June 13, 200422 yr marlins I hope not. I hope so. Ok, let me explain this to all the people that want Beltran and do not understand the consequences of making such a move. First you have to give the Royals two or three top prospects which puts the team's future in jeopardy. You can't do this every year. Add to that a player already contributing in the majors. You only get Beltran for four months because the Fish can't afford him. Your beloved JP won't be playing center anymore because Beltran is much better than him defensively. We aren't getting Beltran because it makes no sense. And before we go out and get any bat the bullpen situation needs to be solved.
June 13, 200422 yr Beltran would play right, Cabrera would play left, JP stays in center. If it happens.
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