MLB Trade Rumors: Buyers Must Beware of Carlos Beltran at the Deadline

For weeks now, just about every team with even a glimmer of hope has been chasing after New York Mets All-Star outfielder and free-agent-to-be Carlos Beltran.

But is he really worth all the fuss?

The simple answer would seemingly be yes. Beltran is in the midst of a resurgent season, sporting a .291 batting average with 15 home runs, 63 RBI and nearly as many walks (57) as strikeouts (60).

His patient approach would fit perfectly with any number of teams, including the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, who are severely lacking in that department.

Those looking for that extra spark to ignite a World Series run can't help but reflect back on Beltran's magical three months with the Houston Astros, when he put the team on his back and slugged them all the way to the 2005 World Series.

Where they were swept by Ozzie Guillen's Chicago White Sox.

Details, folks. Details.

Clearly, there is no shortage of reasons for teams all over baseball to at least put in a courtesy call to Mets GM Sandy Alderson to check on Beltran's mood.

But then again, there are just as many reasons for all involved, particularly those five teams rumored to be leading for Beltran's services—the San Francisco Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves, the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers—to think twice before pulling the trigger should the negotiations reach that pivotal point.

The biggest issue, of course, is health. A big part of what's made the Beltran story so big this season is the fact that he'd been practically incognito over the previous two years, missing 179 during that span.

As encouraging as Beltran's return to relevance has been (he's played in 95 of New York's 100 games this season), the specter of injury remains for the six-time All-Star, especially at the age of 34.

Along the same lines, those teams looking for Beltran to do for them what he did for the Astros in 2005 would be well-advised to stop dreaming.

A quick recap: Beltran clubbed 23 homers, drove in 53 runs and stole 28 bases from late June until the end of the regular season after he was traded from Kansas City to Houston. He then proceeded to hit eight more home runs in the playoffs, tying Barry Bonds' record for the most in a single postseason.

That run of brilliance was nothing short of historic. As such, any team expecting lightning to strike twice, especially six years later, had better think twice before sending a top-flight prospect to the Big Apple.

Unless the suckers in question are willing to make that sacrifice for a guy who is projected to hit nine more homers and drive in 38 more runs between now and October. Those numbers will be better than anything put up by Ryan Ludwick, Josh Hamilton or BJ Upton, all of whom are expected to go at the deadline.

But are they really worth a future ace or a Major League-ready bat?

I'm not saying that Carlos Beltran isn't the best outfielder on the market or that he won't help a team down the stretch; he is and he will.

The concern here is what price the team that lands him must pay to do so, particularly since he might only be in uniform for two more months.

The Mets won't give him up without getting some serious value in return, which should give potential suitors just enough pause to consider whether the juice is really worth the squeeze at the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.