!@@@ BELTRAN BROU-HA-HA; WOULD THAT BE WISE? [POST 7/20/11]

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BRINGING IN BELTRAN SOUNDS VERY ENTICING AND YET ………………….

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Realistically we all love the sound of this simply because we have heard the “right handed bat” cry for months now. Frankly I don’t know just how vital that is compared to how cliche that is.

Clearly the offense could use some help. Whether it is the lack of Werth or the decline of the abilities of the key players that provided monster offense in the past is hard to say conclusively. Although both obviously are factors. Add the injury factor and the learning curve of guys like Dom Brown and this is what you get. Of course the Werth exodus leads to the finding a reliable replacement. And frankly Ben “E Swing” Francisco not living up to expectations did not help meaning Brown is more of  factor. So Beltran makes sense in that sense. He can play any outfield position and would likely take right field.

First of all however let’s make one thing clear. The right handed/left handed thing is vastly overrated but it is not irrelevant. Honestly if you can hit it would not matter. I mean if you had 8 Ted Williams or Tony Gwynns in a line up the fact that you would have all left handers would mean absolutely nothing. But we all know it is not that simple.

My point though is Ruben and the Phillies need to find the best possible bat available regardless of what side of the plate he hits from. Now here is the tricky part. For a percentage of pitchers it does matter what side of the plate you hit from so there is a competitive angle on this. But again if a left handed bat is available that can flat out hit or a right handed at bat that is mediocre to solid you take the better hitter, period!

However we all know that there is much more involved. NAMELY: MONEY AND TRADE COST!

So this is where Beltran makes no sense:

1. He makes $17,000,000 a year!: Now granted if you get him in July the salary is pro-rated but consider this. The Phillies are only $3,000,000 from paying a hefty luxury tax which they want to avoid like the plague. Now allegedly the Mets are so desperate that they would be willing to do what Houston did last season with Oswalt and pay a large percentage of his salary for a worthy trade ………….

2. Worthy Trade?: Not only does Beltran bring some trade value but if the Mets are going to fund the trade they will want some good to great stuff in return!

3. Why would the Mets want to help the Phillies?

4. If the Phillies were willing to unload some gems, what do they even have to offer?

THE RUMORS:

1. The Mets may be willing to eat the cash since they were already committed to it and basically half is already paid. They could at least turn his salary into young prospects for a guy that is not in their future.

2. The Mets would probably want prospects and at least one semi proven guy. Perhaps Worley or Brown.

3. Among the prospects the Phillies most valuable guys are very young like Jarred Cosart a right handed pitcher in Clearwater. You also have Jon Singleton a young 1B trying to play outfield, very young pitcher Brady Colvin, young pitchers Trevor May and Jess Biddle, Catcher Sebastian Valle, and any number of mid level prospects that probably aren’t that enticing.

OPINION?

Is Worley or Brown worth Beltran?:

• Brown? – I would have said absolutely not a year ago but now I might do it. I still believe in my heart that Brown has a high ceiling. However he has struggled a little too much for my taste. Yes it is way to early to say he is a bust or not so good but he has more flaws than I thought. His defense is further behind than I used to believe and his bat is yet to hit a groove. He has the tools to overcome all of that but Beltran can help you right now and make an impact in the line up!

• Worley? – That is a tough one. I like Vance a lot but he is not a diamond in the ruff. I mean he is likely never going to be a #2 and definitely not a #1 starter so it’s not like your giving up Kyle Drabek. It’s more like  J A Happ type. Although I like Worley much more than Happ. That said Worley is worth keeping also. All things considered if the Mets wanted him and valued him enought to take Worley and a couple mediocre prospects I would drive Vance to NY personally. I mean at this point your pitching staff is not a major issue. Finding a 5th starter and another guy for injury replacement is not that difficult.

• Mayberry? – Something tells me that for whatever reason Big John is not coveted that much. But that would be a smaller price to pay and I would do that deal in a NY minute! Nothing personal John. I am a believer in you also but Beltran is way ahead of you at this point.

• BELTRAN’S HEALTH? – This is my biggest problem. I think Beltran has been living off of one monster playoff run and flashes of greatness. The guy seems to be out a lot.

IN THE END? I would not trade for Carlos Beltran all things considered.