HOUSTON -- The Astros have offered free agent center fielder Carlos Beltran $70 million over five years to re-sign with the team, a Houston television station reported Monday night.

 

KRIV-TV, citing unidentified sources, reported that the Astros have submitted a contract offer guaranteeing the switch-hitter an average annual base salary of $14 million through the 2009 season. The contract, which also includes additional bonuses for performance-based achievements, would make Beltran the second-highest player in franchise history behind four-time All-Star first baseman Jeff Bagwell.

 

Astros general manager Tim Purpura does not discuss or confirm offers or reported offers.

 

Purpura, however, has made clear his intention to attempt to re-sign Beltran, as well as free agents Roger Clemens and Jeff Kent.

 

"We've had a number of discussions with Scott Boras about Carlos Beltran," said Purpura. "We've had a number of discussions with Jeff Klein about Jeff Kent. We've had a number of discussions with the Hendricks [brothers, Randy and Alan] about Roger Clemens. We're also talking with (the agents for) Orlando Palmeiro and Russ Springer.

 

"But we're not going to comment on whether an offer has or has not been made to Carlos or any of the free agents we're talking to."

 

If the Astros do not re-sign or offer arbitration to Clemens, Beltran or Kent by midnight ET on Tuesday, they would lose the rights to negotiate or sign them until May 1.

 

Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, could not be reached for comment. Boras had previously said he was seeking a 10-year deal for his client.

 

Beltran told MLB.com over the weekend that he was considering his options and confirmed hearing from eight teams: the Astros, Phillies, Mariners, Yankees, Mets, Angels, Orioles and Cubs.

 

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Beltran, 27, hit a combined .267 with 38 home runs and 104 RBIs for Kansas City and the Astros in 2004. He also stole 42 bases in 45 attempts, including 28 in as many attempts for the Astros.

 

Beltran made the All-Star team and turned in one of the greatest individual playoff efforts in history, hitting .435 with eight homers and 14 RBIs in 12 games to help the Astros reach the National League Championship Series. The slugger was paid $9 million for 2004, a $3 million raise over what the Royals paid him in 2003.

 

Bagwell, who holds several franchise records including 446 home runs and 1,510 RBIs, signed the most lucrative contract in franchise history when he inked a five-year, $85 million ($70 million plus a $15 million signing bonus) extension in 2001. Bagwell will be paid $15 million next season and $17 million in 2006.

 

Jim Molony is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Less than $20 million per year, I see Boras putting the offer through a paper shredder as we speak

 

Did the Astros get permission to offer him a contract ?

Like I posted from the Houston Chronicle a few weeks ago

 

If they go for seven years, the total value would be around $94.5 million.

 

That's going to get them laughed out of the room.

 

I hear a lot of laughter coming.

 

And yeah, did Boras give them permission to make an offer, or are they being rebels?

That deal probably destroyed all chances of the Astros resigning him.

Wow.

 

 

Drayton not being cheap for a change. I like it.

If anything, I hope this starts a chain of "under par" contracts offered to Beltran. And I mean under par in Boras' mind.... If the Astros offered him this much, maybe the other teams realize they don't have to go the 10 year route.

 

I think the A-Rod contract taught a few owners some things.

I think the A-Rod contract taught a few owners some things.

 

One would hope. Unfortunately, contractually speaking, baseball people never learn.

Boras would be doing his client a disservice if he told him that he stands to get a substantially better offer from anywhere else.

 

If Guerrero (who, for my money, is the best all around player in baseball) only gets $15 mil a season, the only reason Beltran should reject this offer is if he doesn't want to stay in Houston. Other than that, this money is about as good as he's going to get, and if he doesn't like it, a 4 year deal may be better for him so he can test free agency again in his prime, and find a possibly more bullish market.

Boras would be doing his client a disservice if he told him that he stands to get a substantially better offer from anywhere else.

 

If Guerrero (who, for my money, is the best all around player in baseball) only gets $15 mil a season, the only reason Beltran should reject this offer is if he doesn't want to stay in Houston. Other than that, this money is about as good as he's going to get, and if he doesn't like it, a 4 year deal may be better for him so he can test free agency again in his prime, and find a possibly more bullish market.

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If the Yanks dont get Randy, they will offer him the 10 year deal.

Boras would be doing his client a disservice if he told him that he stands to get a substantially better offer from anywhere else.

 

If Guerrero (who, for my money, is the best all around player in baseball) only gets $15 mil a season, the only reason Beltran should reject this offer is if he doesn't want to stay in Houston. Other than that, this money is about as good as he's going to get, and if he doesn't like it, a 4 year deal may be better for him so he can test free agency again in his prime, and find a possibly more bullish market.

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There are several reasons why he rejects this offer; the money is ridiculous, he probably thinks he can get a few more years, and most of all the Yankees are going to pay out of the ass to get him. Guerrero also played in a small market, had a serious back injury, and is a big hacker; Beltran is a much safer signing IMO. He'll probably get around 16-17 mil a season from the Yanks or Cubs.

no player should ever get offered a 10 yr deal, too much can happen in that span of time

no player should ever get offered a 10 yr deal, too much can happen in that span of time

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I agree. Those things never work.

no player should ever get offered a 10 yr deal, too much can happen in that span of time

 

No player should be offered a FIVE year deal - but I digress...