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Giants primed for big 2nd half – could they get Beltran?
By Jeremy Harness July 13, 2011 |
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Throughout the first half, given that they have had problems at the leadoff spot in recent years, one hot topic with the Giants was whether or not they would pursue a certain player at the top of the lineup. Mets leadoff hitter Jose Reyes, who has been mentioned in trade rumors this year, could also help fill a need for a shortstop, where the Giants have also struggled lately; Miguel Tejada enters the second half of the season hitting only .241, while rookie Brandon Crawford currently has a .208 average, not exactly what the Giants were looking for after watching Edgar Renteria and Juan Uribe leave via free agency after last season. However, as much as Reyes could help the Giants, it could be short-lived and could cost them dearly in the long run. They would most likely have to part ways with at least one starting pitcher, and since Reyes is a free agent at the end of this season, the Giants could have their bread-and-butter weakened considerably while the dynamic leadoff man becomes merely a hired gun and leaves after the season anyway. Maybe Brian Wilson is on to something; the best long-term option for the Giants could very well be Reyes' high-priced teammate Carlos Beltran. Even though he isn't nearly the all-around player that he was a few years ago, he could still help the offense, which the Giants could really use in center field since neither Andres Torres nor Aaron Rowand scare anybody at the plate these days. Most importantly, however, is that Beltran would be very open to staying in San Francisco. While Reyes, who will be among the most - if not the most - coveted free agents this offseason and has shown every intention of testing the market for his services, Beltran has said that he would waive his no-trade clause to be a part of the Giants. Also, even though he, too, becomes a free agent after this season, he isn't as likely to command the big bucks as Reyes is, increasing the likelihood that he could stick around if acquired. For a team that is riding a 52-40 mark going into the second half, the Giants could always use a little more offense, so why not? |
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