Does Beltran Want To Play For The Yankees?

[Don Mack]

I really want to see the Yankees sign Carlos Beltran but now I'm hearing the same stuff about him that we heard about Vlad last season: that he doesn't want to play in the Big Apple. Is there any truth to this or do you think it's just anti-Yankee media folks like Peter Boston-Gammons who hope they don't get him?

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/baseball/10173142.htm

Hot rumor of the day

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he did not have any conversation, beyond a casual greeting, with agent Scott Boras during the week's meetings. Boras represents many of the top players on the free-agent market, including center fielder Carlos Beltran. Although many have presumed Beltran -- perhaps the top free agent available -- already has been fitted for Yankees pinstripes, talk is that he does not want to end up in New York. He supposedly likes a quieter lifestyle and is not a big fan of the Big Apple.

-- Kathleen O'Brien

"Talk." But none of these people name any sources. Just "talk."

[Yankeeah]

I won't believe anything until I read a direct quote from Beltran or Cashman

[StaceyRosie]

Carlos was supposed to call me last night that bastard. If the lameass decides to pick up a friggin phone today I'll let you know what he says.

[NDBoston]

Originally posted by StaceyRosie
Carlos was supposed to call me last night that bastard. If the lameass decides to pick up a friggin phone today I'll let you know what he says.

Does Jason know about this?

[StaceyRosie]

Originally posted by NDBoston


Does Jason know about this?

Shhhhhhhhhh!

[DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK]

First of all, I discount anything Gammons has to say because he's just a Boston fan who gets paid to root for the Red Sox on the air. I did hear something a while back that Beltran's wife liked Houston. I also read where Beltran had a conversation with Bernie Williams saying how great it would be to play in New York, etc.

It's going to be a while before he signs, but with his agent being Scott Boras, I imagine he'll try to get him the most money and that would come from the Yankees.

It might sound strange but I've been wondering if ARod, who is Boras' highest paid player has any info on what it would take to sign Beltran that he could pass on to Cashman?

If everyone we currently have had a decent year, the addition of Beltran would make us one of the strongest hitting clubs in history.

[Soriambi]

Beltran has said before (in the last year) that he would like to be a Yankee and would love to be Bernie William's teammate, as Bernie is his idol. He's said

"I think I can do well playing in the big city. It feels good because I think every kid dreams about being a Yankee. If I get an opportunity to come here next year, it will be great."

http://www.nynewsday.com/sports/base...ball-headlines

and

"And at the same time, I say that I wish I could have the opportunity to play with Bernie on the same ballclub. I think it would be great for me. He's always been the guy that I've looked up to since before I signed. I think it would be great if I got the opportunity to play with him."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/v-...p-190038c.html

I think Bernie being his idol is legitimate-how much of wanting to come to NY is and how much is driving up his price is the question.

[Don Mack]

Thanks for those articles, Soriambi. I read both of them. The first one is fairly recent, October 30th, I think. I needed to read those to get that anti-Yankee Gammons out of my head. I still think if the Yankees do sign Beltran, they might be better served with Bernie in left at times while letting Matsui try his hand at first base.

Matsui is good coming in for balls hit to him but not too good going back. This leads me to believe he might be better suited to learn 1st base than Bernie.

[Michaels07]

Beltran will be the next great Yankee Centerfielder.

[MatsuiFan55]

Well if Boras wants what he says he wants then we're the only team that will be able to afford him. The Cubs would have to trade Sosa and the Astros couldn't afford that kind of deal so that only leaves the Yankees.

[RhodeyYankee2638]

I can imagine exactly what Boras said

"My client Carlos really does not want to play in the big apple, that is, unless its for about $200 mm over 10 years"