Carlos Beltran to Houston
In a move that really snuck up on me, the Astros acquired centerfielder Carlos Beltran from the Kansas City Royals yesterday. The Houston Chronicle had an article on the deal yesterday morning, but it sounded pretty speculative and also that talks were dead. They were far from it I guess. In a three team deal the Astros sent closer Octavio Dotel to Oakland and catching prospect John Buck to the Royals. The A's sent prospects Mark Teahen and Mike Wood to KC.
This is a deal Houston desperately needed to make. They've been in need of a true CF for at least five years. The likes of Roger Cedeno have been patrolling the outfield in Minute Maid far too long. Craig Biggio has had a great season, but he's too slow and too old to be a good defensive outfielder. Moving him from center to left, Berkman from left to right, and putting the speedy Beltran in the middle shores up a pretty big liability.
The Astros had given up on Dotel being the dominating closer he once appeared destined to be and a good (but not outstanding) catcher to get one of the best players in the game at one of their main spots of weakness. It doesn't look like Beltran will sign with anyone till after this season (he's a Scott Boras client), but I think the organization should make resigning him priority number one. The costs to keep him may be high, but I think it's worth the money.
Posted in Sports
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