Longtime NSBB "lurker/fan" who likes to read other people's comments and threads, but rarely chimes in. So I was reading Peter Gammon's last article on the Mets and how disappointing they have been thus far. He mentioned how maybe GM Omar Minaya might try shaking things up by making a trade or releasing/benching Delgado. Anyway he mentions how trading Beltran to a smaller-market team might allow him to perform better. I've liked Beltran for a long time and remember how interested people here at NSBB were when he became a FA. Obviously, most of us agreed at the time that the Mets overpaid to get his services at 7 yrs/$119 million. Of course, none of us knew just a little while later the Cubs would sign Soriano to play LF for 8 yrs/$138 mil! I think Tim stated that $90 mil/6 yrs for Beltran was reasonable, and maybe that is in fact how far Jim Hendry went to get him that offseason. I definitely remember the Cubs were interested in signing him, but we had a lower payroll back then. Anyway, the point I raise is that maybe this is the perfect opportunity to get rid of Soriano's bloated contract. Maybe we can try a Soriano for Beltran trade or some combination of players+Soriano for Beltran+prospects. As stated countless times in angry, rambling "Get-rid-of-Soriano" trade proposals Soriano has the dreaded NTC (No-Trade-Clause). I don't know why Hendry had to offer it considering it didn't seem like we got much of a discount to get his services. Seriously, A. Ramirez has one and D. Lee, Zambrano has one in his contract, but I digress. Soriano's contract will be a horrible albatross on this team within 2 yrs IMO. I really dislike him as a player, his outfield defense, his approach at the plate, lack of plate discipline, batting leadoff, and any number of other reasons already stated here on this message board. I think what I hate the most about him, by far, is his contract. So, thinking aloud the only way to trade him is to get him to want to leave the team, or talk to his agent and claim the Cubs want to go in a different direction. I know Minaya likes Latino players and he was very fond of Sosa when we were trying to move him. I don't think Minaya is a part of the "new school" wave of GMs that looks at OPS, VORP, OBP% and defensive efficiency similar to Hendry. He'll look at Soriano's HRs and extra-base hits, batting avg. and maybe SBs this year. In the clubhouse they have J. Reyes, Delgado, Alou and other hispanic players which might appeal to Soriano. Maybe O. Minaya can convince Soriano to come back to NY as a Met and stick it to the Yankees. I don't know how feasible this trade scenario is in reality. However, I like most people here I think, agree that Soriano needs to be moved. I know trading him just for the sake of trading him is stupid. You have to replace his offensive contributions, and no, Murton can't do that. Maybe Beltran in CF with a Hoffpauir/R. Johnson platoon in LF would do the trick. We will get rid of Edmonds no doubt about it, but I fear they don't trust Pie's bat. Beltran is in the fourth year of a seven year contract I believe earning $18+ million this year. His line this year is disappointing so far: .264/.367/.435/.802 Sorry for the long post, and maybe my logic is incredibly stupid. Let me know what you think...
