Is Beltre Tradeable?

[sportznutt]

Of course he technically is, but for $13 million a year and 12 HR, who the heck would want him next season? Seems as if we're stuck with him for awhile. I really want him to start producing. He hasn't hit as many homeruns in his tenure as a Mariner as he did during his final year as a Dodger.

[TyPenn613]

Never a wise move to make your big signing based on a contract year. How many times has this occurred? Beltre had always been talked about for his potential, but never could put it together. In his final season with the Dodgers, he is among the best in the league, lands a huge contract in a park that is even more pitcher friendly and fails miserably.

I know monday morning quarterbacking is easier than being a general manager, but so many people called this one out before it happened.

[TyPenn613]

Granted the Dodgers, who failed to resign Beltre managed their own blunder the same off-season by making such a move for JD Drew.

[jayscyyoung]

That's true, but there was also a greater likeyhood of success for Drew. He had put together several seasons with an OPS in excess of .850 prior to signing with Atlanta and having an MVP-calibre campaign before going to Los Angeles. Of course, one could easily say that with his extensive injury history there should have been a bit of "caveat emptor" (buyer beware) on the part of the Dodgers, but they had just lost their main offensive force from the previous season and needed to address their offence.

I think the Kent signing turned out well, don't you?

With that said, Ty is right, everyone called this before it happened. A slow, gradual progression would have been expected for Beltre, not going from mediocrity and 20 homeruns per season all the way up to 48 -- a level only seen by the likes of Mike Schmidt at third-base. That was a phenomenal season, but with no level of consistency simply awarding that much money to Beltre was horrendously foolish.

I think you could theoretically trade Beltre, but it would not net you a great return, and the M's would also have to eat a significant portion of his salary to boot.

[TyPenn613]

I agree Jays. I guess it just seems that when GMs head off to the winter meetings, they just print out the previous season's stats and wing it.

[sportznutt]

Not really worth the $13 million a year, eh?

[TyPenn613]

Well that depends, half of this site is Canadian, so maybe to them it is.

[jayscyyoung]

Hey now, we're up to 90 cents on the US dollar!

[TyPenn613]

I knew someone would call me out on that.

[sportznutt]

We're getting there......I was amazed though how expensive things are in the States, specifically groceries.

[TyPenn613]

Talking to a broke college student, unfortunately I know it all too well.

[jayscyyoung]

Getting back on-topic... does anyone know a list of teams that will be in need of a third-baseman come next season/the final trade deadline (August 31st)? I know that the White Sox no longer need one with Crede's power emergence, and I doubt that the Mariners would deal Beltre within their own division to the Angels, so who does that leave?

Cincinatti might be in need of one, but I'm not sure if they have the salary space to take on Beltre's massive contract. The Mets have arguably the best third-baseman in the game manning the position for them, and the Dodgers seem content with their situation. I honestly don't see much of a fit anywhere, so it's going to take some shrewd dealing on the part of Bavasi to make dealing Beltre possible.

[bedirthanaverage]

I don't know if the mariners should move Beltre. Since they'd have to pay 50% or so of the deal (from 2000 to the present that is true of 10M$+ deals) and they have the following candidates for Third, Brown, Bloomquist, Dobbs and Morse.

They wouldn't be a better team with those guys playing there and so should not deal him.