Red Sox Looking Into Carlos Beltran Trade?

Published: 16^th Jul 11 10:53 am

Alastair Ingram
Boston Red Sox Featured Columnist

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FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi is reporting that the Red Sox are “among the teams that have checked in on Mets switch-hitting outfielder Carlos Beltran.”

According to Morosi, a right-handed hitting outfielder is Theo Epstein’s priority heading into the July 31st trade deadline despite the additional need for a starting pitcher.

Beltran is a .287/.381/.512 hitter this year with 14 home runs and 59 RBI in 90 games. The 34-year-0ld is making $18.5 million this season in the final year of a seven-year deal he signed with the Mets in 2005.

New York (46-46) is 12 games behind the Phillies for first place in the N.L. East and 8.5 games behind the Wild Card-leading Braves, so dealing Beltran appears to be a near certainty.

The veteran has a no-trade clause in his contract, but he has admitted that joining the Red Sox would be an easy decision.

Beltran’s OPS is nearly .900 in 2011, worlds better than both J.D. Drew (.643) and Darnell McDonald (.507).

Josh Reddick is currently slugging better than .650 in a limited sample size (62 at-bats), but one is forced to wonder if the lefty’s bat will cool off in the near future.

The Mets are reportedly looking for a top level prospect in exchange for Beltran, but Boston is unlikely to sacrifice a major piece from its rebuilding farm system.

The organization traded Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, and Reymond Fuentes in the Adrian Gonzalez deal last winter and there currently aren’t many grade A prospects in the system.

There’s also been speculation that the Sox can’t add significant payroll at the deadline this year, and they’d be responsible for approximately $6 million of Beltran’s 2011 salary (unless the Mets picked up some of the tab) if he was acquired.

Epstein could opt for cheaper options like Jeff Francoeur (Royals) or Ryan Ludwick (Padres), both of whom bat right-handed.

Alastair Ingram is the lead Boston Red Sox writer for the www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlastairIngram. For daily Red Sox updates, follow the blog at @FenwayReport and join the fan page on Facebook.