re: The ATL Thread: Deal With It Edition

quote:

---

Topic of the day:
Was he safe?

---

quote:

---

The Atlanta Braves are still involved in discussions with the Mets, but the Rangers and Giants are moving along in talks with New York.

When Beltran signed his seven-year, $119 million contract with the Mets in January 2005, it included a complete no-trade clause that requires him to give permission before the Mets deal him.

Sources said Wednesday that the Cleveland Indians offered to take on Beltran's entire salary for the rest of the year, but were told that the outfielder would not consider going to Cleveland. The Indians walked away from the talks convinced that Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, is in control of the process.

At least for now, the Boston Red Sox also are out of the Beltran sweepstakes, a league source told ESPNBoston.com's Joe McDonald.

---

quote:

---

Tuesday night's injury to Brian McCann paves the way for Carlos Beltran to be traded to the Braves for one of their top pitching prospects, writes ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

These days, teams are reluctant to give up their better prospects, and in the eyes of rival evaluators about Minor, the young left-hander is viewed as a middle-of-the-rotation starter -- either a No. 3 or a No. 4. He's not regarded as a No. 1-type talent, like Julio Teheran; Minor is regarded as a very good prospect. And if I were sitting in the Atlanta front office, I'd make the deal.

---