Following the Mets’ trade of Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers, most everyone believes Carlos Beltran is the next shoe to drop. However, the six-time All-Star won’t be going to the Yankees, sources tell ESPN.com’s Buster Olney.
Olney reports that the Yankees aren’t interested in Beltran, who has hit .285/.377/.503 in 89 games this season.
If the Yankees were to pick up someone like Beltran, it’d mean sitting either Nick Swisher or Jorge Posada against right-handers, and while Beltran may well be an upgrade in that situation, he doesn’t really qualify as a need.
It’s pretty much a given that Beltran is a goner. Since the Mets are prevented from offering him arbitration as a free agent, they don’t even have the incentive of keeping him in the hopes of getting a couple of draft picks in return. Speculation will likely continue to center on the Giants, but Olney thinks the Tigers could land him because of their ability to take on salary.
