Major League Baseball

Mets done dealing after Beltran trade

Published Jul. 28, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Carlos Beltran officially became the San Francisco Giants' property Thursday, with the New York Mets not expected to make any other significant moves before Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson cited the organization's desire to compete for the playoffs in 2011 as the reason he probably will not make another deal.

"By trading Carlos we've made it a little tougher on our remaining players and the Mets club," Alderson said, after officially announcing the deal that brought pitching prospect Zack Wheeler to the Mets. "I'd be very reluctant to make it any tougher on them.

"I really believe this group still has the persistence and tenacity that can lead them to some positive things this year. Unless something extraordinary were to come up I would rule [another trade] out. I like the group that we have. I like the remaining players. I have a lot of confidence in them."

Wheeler, a 21-year-old righty, will be assigned to Single-A St. Lucie. Alderson virtually eliminated the possibility of Wheeler pitching for the Mets next year, but indicated he could be a factor in 2013.

Alderson called Wheeler, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2009 draft, a prospect with "top end potential."

Wheeler posted on Twitter, "Well I'm a MET. [I'm] ready to get started on a new path. It was good San Fran."

Beltran's first choice was to remain in the NL, specifically with the Giants, but Alderson said there was a chance Beltran could have been dealt to the AL.

"There was some latitude beyond the National League," Alderson said.

The Red Sox and Rangers also had interest in Beltran, as did the Phillies and Braves.

"In baseball, your currency is your young, player/development system," Alderson said. "It's not often a team that has access to a player that is drafted in the fifth, sixth, seventh spot in the first round, so we're very fortunate to add [Wheeler] to our system."

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball