Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran is a free agent this winter, and has not ruled out a possible return to the Mets, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. According to Puma, the Mets would consider bringing Beltran back, but they are concerned about his declining range in the outfield.
Beltran was traded from the Mets to the Giants in July of 2011, a trade that gave the team pitcher Zack Wheeler. Before that season, Beltran chose to undergo an arthroscopic knee surgery that surprised many members of the front office, one being GM Omar Minaya and COO Jeff Wilpon. The decision created tension between the two sides, and despite the changing GM's in 2010-2011, the tension may still exist withh the ownership.
Puma also added that Beltran and Wilpon had a chat during the All-Star game that probably patched up some old wounds.
The 36 year old outfielder hit .296 with 24 HR and 84 RBI for St. Louis in the 2013 season.
I've always been a huge Beltran supporter, and I know that Mets fans would gladly welcome him back with open arms. He was one of the more underrated players that the Mets have had in recent years, and his tenure really went unappreciated. At age 36, he still has a few years of solid baseball left before considers retirement.
I don't see his "declining range" as a valid excuse to not sign him. Lets hypothetically say that we have Juan Lagares in center field during the 2014 season. Lagares is arguably the best defensive centerfielder in the National League, and the Mets will not need some sort of defensive specialist out in right field. My point is, Beltran is probably not a Gold Glover anymore, but he still provides decent enough defense to be considered for an outfield spot. Not to mention he still has his power stroke, which is something the Mets desperately need right now.
I don't know what kind of deal he'll demand, but this will likely be his last "big deal" of his career. That said, he'll probably want a multiyear deal with about $6-10 million annually. Assuming both parties are interested in reuniting, I'd be okay with the Mets giving him a deal along the lines of 2-3 years, $15-25 million.
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