Astros’ chase for Beltran comes down to final hour
NEW YORK (AP) – Carlos Beltran waited until the final hour Saturday night before telling the Houston Astros whether he would re-sign. New York Mets officials also awaited an indication from the 27-year-old center fielder. While he faced a midnight EST deadline to re-sign with Houston because he finished the season with the Astros and became a free agent, the deadline doesn’t apply to any talks he might have with the other 29 major league teams.
Astros owner Drayton McLane spoke with Beltran’s agent, Scott Boras, on Saturday. Beltran has been seeking a contract in excess of $100 million.
After midnight, the Astros would not be able to re-sign Beltran until May 1.
“We’re still waiting to hear,” McLane said at 11 p.m. EST.
Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said a few hours earlier that he couldn’t discuss the situation.
Ruben Sierra, also facing the deadline, decided to remain with the New York Yankees, agreeing to a $1.5 million, one-year contract. Backup first baseman Dave McCarty agreed to stay with the Boston Red Sox, agreeing to a minor league deal that would pay him $550,000 if he is added to the major league roster.
Pedro Astacio and the Red Sox didn’t plan to continue negotiations Saturday night. Catcher Brent Mayne and the Los Angeles Dodgers also faced the deadline.
In other free-agent news, the Cleveland Indians finalized their $7 million, one-year contract with Kevin Millwood. The 30-year-old right-hander has three seasons with at least 17 wins and has pitched more than 200 innings four times but was slowed last year by elbow problems.
“I’m not real worried about it,” Millwood said of the injury. “If I was at a point right now that I felt I wouldn’t be able to pitch all year, I probably wouldn’t have signed.”
While talking with Beltran, the Mets agreed to a one-year contract with South Korean left-hander Dae Sung Koo, who pitched in the 2000 Olympics and spent the last four years with the Orix BlueWave in Japan’s Pacific League.
Among players eligible for salary arbitration, Texas catcher Rod Barajas agreed to a $1.85 million, one-year deal.