This season, the New York Mets will often feature a franchise-best present from the team.
Tim Healy of Newsday reports that Carlos Beltran, a current special assistant and former All-Star center fielder, will be spending a significant amount of time with the major league team this season at the request of Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.
In his first season in this capacity last year, Beltran spent a lot of time with the team’s minor league affiliates after former general manager Billy Eppler resigned due to his violation of MLB’s regulation against manipulating the injured list. However, given that he was a terrific player in his day, Stearns clearly believes that his value is being maximized around the major league club.
From 2005 until his trade to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for then-top prospect starting pitcher Zack Wheeler during the 2011 trade deadline, Beltran was a member of the Mets.
Prior to the 2020 season, Beltran was recruited to manage the Mets; however, he was fired two months later due to his involvement in the Houston Astros’ computerized sign-stealing controversy while he was a player.
In addition to his playing background, Beltran served as Brian Cashman’s special assistant for the 2019 season before accepting the skipper position with the Mets, albeit briefly.
Stearns has previously tried to entice David Wright back to the company in an undisclosed capacity. Beltran, who will be spending a lot of time with the major league team this season, is at the very least another franchise great.
