Beltran an Astro

[TxFootballFan]

I guess they revived it on the operating table, because it didn't die.

Beltran to Houston from KC for Dotel and an Astro minor leaguer John Buck. KC then shipped Dotel to Oakland for prospects and cash.

[Outshined_One]

The official deal:

The Astros receive Beltran from the Royals

The A's receive Octavio Dotel and cash from the Astros

The Royals receive Mark Teahen and Mike Wood from the A's and John Buck from the Astros

[JETDIEHARD]

good deal for stros and A's dont know how good the prospects Kc got are but they look like the losers in this deal. Stros dealt from depth ,great move for them now that lidge jumps into the closer role(just got him in my fantasy leaugue before other pissed owners!). Beltran should put up some nice numbers in that stadium!!

[vikingfan]

Great short-term move for the 'Stros, but I don't think anyone seriously expects them to keep Beltran after October-although if they do, it's a TREMENDOUS move.

This should be enough to at least get them the wild-card, IMO. And I think Oakland may have vaulted past Boston for the wild-card with this move(I think Anaheim will ultimately take that division). But it's still wide open though.

KC's dealing for prospects won't help them because IMO they won't be able to hang onto prospects long enough for them to help them do anything-see what's happening with Beltran now.

[dasher]

No clue why the Royals wouldn't just straight up take Dotel for this...
Any hardcore Astro/A fans know about Buck or Teahan? Guess this is better than getting Neiffi Perez and Brett Mayne though, ;)

[Draft Crazy]

Im really surprised the Royals couldn't get a better deal for Beltran.

[Outshined_One]

The Royals got some very good prospects out of this. They're basically out of it...so they might as well get some long-term return out of it. Dotel for Beltran straight up would have been stupid and this deal likely wouldn't have gone down without the A's being involved. In the end, the Royals might come out of this deal better than the Astros and A's...

RHP Mike Wood is the most ML-ready of the three, seeing as how he spent some time in the majors last year. He's posting excellent numbers down at the As AAA affiliate in Sacramento and could end up on the Royals in the really near future. I believe he projects as a 2/3 starter, but I'm not 100% on that.

3B Mark Teahen is one of the bigger Moneyball-type of prospects that the A's have taken to drafting lately. He's down in AAA and could potentially be a September callup if he can keep his numbers up. He has some very nice power and average potential and the A's supposedly loved him. However, with Chavez at 3B for the foreseeable future, Teahen became expendable. He's likely the crown jewel of this deal.

C John Buck was the Astros' catcher of the future and one of the best prospects in their system...which isn't very strong. Like Teahen and Wood, he's currently in the Astros' AAA affiliate. However, he projects to be a .275 hitter with 20 HRs. His best strength is his arm, as he gunned down 36% of basestealers in 2002. He needs to lose some weight, shorten his swing, and improve his plate discipline. Should be ready by next year.

[Boltergeist]

Scott Boras killed Beltran's value for the Royals. They were asking for too much at the outset which also caused a few teams (like the Padres) to drop out early for the 1/2 season rental. San Diego was not about to deal Sean Burroughs and 2 top flight minor league prospects for Beltran and Randa....only to watch Carlos play CF in NY next year. For the Dodgers it was the same scenario as Mota has Mariano Rivera type stuff and is lethal out of their bullpen. That guy would be a closer on most teams in baseball. There is no way they give him up knowing Beltran is going to ask for A-Rod money and they need starting pitching more anyway. Dotel was not a heck of a lot to give up considering that he was failing anyway as a closer. Everybody else dropped out and the Astros wisely stepped in seeing that this was their chance at a pennant. Kudos to the Stros for showing some patience and seeing an opportunity as KC got desperate. They are going to be in the drivers seat in the super competitive Central very soon.

[vikingfan]

It all comes down to the prospects for KC-though if any of them succeed, I see them going the same way as Beltran very soon.

Besides, it seems like 60% of the time, these prospects fail. Maybe I'm just cynical, but it seemed like most of the time for the Twins, these deals never worked out until the last 4 years or so when we acquired guys like Milton, etc.

[El Paso]

I'm so glad he didn't go to the f'n Sox.

[Outshined_One]

Word is that if the Astros are still out of contention by July 31st, Beltran will end up being re-dealt.

[Boltergeist]

Out of contention? They're 5 games back and sitting just 2 games behind the fading Cubs and Reds. Getting Beltran was an enormous boost to that team and I think they'll take off. He is going to love hitting in that power hitter's paradise.

Besides, re-trading Beltran isn't an option. No one is going to give up any prospects for a guy who is going to try to get top dollar in the offseason. They've made their gamble and cashed in their chips. He was brought it to be the X factor to try and win a pennant for Houston this year.

[TxFootballFan]

Any hardcore Astro/A fans know about Buck or Teahan? Guess this is better than getting Neiffi Perez and Brett Mayne though, ;)



I bet Buck will probably go straight to KC and catch and not go to the minors for them. If not for Brad Ausmus he would have been in Houston for the past two seasons.

Also, not sure what KC will do with him, but he has played first in AA and AAA and a lot of theories was he might take over firstbase once Bagwell is gone, because Houston has another good catching prospect in AA now.

Teahan was actually a A's prospect.

[TxFootballFan]

Word is that if the Astros are still out of contention by July 31st, Beltran will end up being re-dealt.


Dude, not gonna happen.

They just pushed all their chips into the middle of the table with this one. They are going for broke with this season.

Next year this team will look totally different and will be a lot cheaper, so I doubt they move Betran if they don't pick up the pace in the next month.

[BoSox Fan]

Great pick up FOR THIS year for the A's. They needed help in the pen and got it. Sox better start to wake up or else.


Where does Beltran play? Does Biggio go back to 2nd? Does Kent go to 3rd?

[TxFootballFan]

Biggio probably moves to Left, Beltran will be in Center. Berkman will go to Right.

[Draft Crazy]

Biggio probably moves to Left, Beltran will be in Center. Berkman will go to Right.

Yup, that makes the most sense.

[Iceblink]

Nice deal all around.

KC got as good a package of prospects as they were going to get - and covered the two positions (3B & C) that they wanted plus a pitcher. There are a few 3B prospects that would rate around Teahan's neighborhood, but only David Wright and Andy Marte are clearly above him. And Buck has been on the radar for a couple seasons. Supposed to be solid defensively with a strong arm (but not a great release) and a good bat.

And don't forget, Buck is about to start working with Tony Pena everyday.

Oakland has Chavez at third, so they get bullpen help for a 3B prospect. Dotel can be dominant at times - especially as a setup guy.

Stros might've been better off finding a closer and moving Dotel back to setup. Seems this deal hinges for them on Brad Lidge being able to close...and if he can't, trying to find a closer.

[TxFootballFan]

And don't forget, Buck is about to start working with Tony Pena everyday.


Stros might've been better off finding a closer and moving Dotel back to setup. Seems this deal hinges for them on Brad Lidge being able to close...and if he can't, trying to find a closer.


Don't forget, Pena managed Buck in AAA New Orleans.


And Dotel would have fallen apart if would have been demoted to a setup role. That would have been has good as releasing him without gaining a roster spot. He would have been a weight around their necks.

Lidge has great stuff, they just have to hope he has the stones to do the job.

[bb1]

It all comes down to the prospects for KC-though if any of them succeed, I see them going the same way as Beltran very soon.

Besides, it seems like 60% of the time, these prospects fail. Maybe I'm just cynical, but it seemed like most of the time for the Twins, these deals never worked out until the last 4 years or so when we acquired guys like Milton, etc.

prospects are all questionable but these guys are playing in AAA and so there is less question with them than other guys.

I think it's pretty safe to say every one of them will be a major leaguer and if they all turn out ot be above average players the Royals won. This may be a good deal for all 3 teams.

[Jetsfan80]

This deal puts Houston at the forefront on the NL playoff picture. I don't think anyone in the NL Central has a chance to catch the Astros now.

And what about Billy Bean's assertion that he doesn't need a closer? I guess that's gone now that he went out to get Dotel.

[Niner Empire]

if houston continues to slide beltran might be on the move again.