Now that Mets legend Carlos Beltran was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, the next decision is which cap he plans to don on his plaque.
Beltran played for seven different teams through his 20-year career, but the switch-hitting slugger pinpointed the Mets and the Royals as the two teams he must choose between.
“There’s no doubt there are in two teams: the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets,” Beltran said in an interview with MLB Network. “That’s a decision that I would love to sit down with my wife, kids and make that decision. I do really enjoy my time in New York. Now I work as an advisor for the Mets, so there’s a lot of weight wearing the New York cap.”
Beltran was drafted by the Royals in the 1995 draft and spent parts of the first seven seasons in Kansas City, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1999. During that time, Beltran amassed a .287 batting average, 123 home runs, 516 RBI, while stealing 164 bases and earning one All-Star selection.
If Beltran is inducted as a Royal, he’ll be just the second in franchise history (George Brett).
The 48-year-old said he enjoyed his time in Kansas City and envisioned being there his whole career, but that wasn’t to be.
He was traded to the Astros during the 2004 season and helped Houston make a deep run with one of the best postseason performances in MLB history.
That offseason, Beltran signed with the Mets on a seven-year, $119 million deal, where he had his best years as a pro.
From 2005-2011, Beltran hit 149 home runs, drove in 559 RBI — both career highs with any team — and stole 100 bases while hitting .280 across 839 games. He made five All-Star appearances as a Met while winning three Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards.
But New York’s ties to Beltran go further than his playing career.
The Mets actually hired Beltran to manage the team in November 2019, but reversed the decision a couple of months later after the slugger was suspended due to his role in the Astros sign-stealing scandal.
New York brought him back in February 2023 when the Mets hired Beltran as a special assistant to president of baseball operations David Stearns.
Beltran was asked the cap question again in a Zoom call with assembled media, and the new-minted Hall of Famer reiterated many of the same points. He’ll take time to decide with his family and even consult the Hall of Fame on how the process works.
But echoed how much the Mets meant to his career.
“The Mets are a big part of my identity as a player,” Beltran said. “Almost seven years in that organization, I got there with a big contract and to be able to stay with the team as an advisor…there’s no doubt the Mets have a lot of weight in that decision.”
If he is inducted as a Met, Beltran will join Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza.
Beltran will receive his plaque in Cooperstown on July 26.
Read the full article here
