Top 10 Reasons Why Beltran Bolted For Big Apple

[MontroseNeighborhoodCafe]

OPINION

From the January 14, 2005 print edition

Reporter's Notebook

Top 10 reasons why Beltran bolted for Big Apple

Jim Greer

Houston Business Journal

Negotiations were highly secretive between the Houston Astros and Scott Boras, agent for free agent Major League Baseball star Carlos Beltran.

The hush-hush nature of these clandestine confabs calls for the use of some imagination in pinpointing exactly why the two sides failed to agree on a deal to bring Beltran back to the Astros.

Some educated guesswork might uncover a few of the financially driven sticking points that sent Boras and Beltran looking for greener pastures.

And now that the New York Mets have met Beltran's $119 million price tag, the Big Apple's latest millionaire baseball celebrity is one of the hottest media interview tickets in town.

If an appearance on "The Letterman Show" is in the offing, here's a hypothetical list of "The Top 10 Reasons Beltran Split" to fit Dave's familiar format.

10. The Astros refused to broadcast the song "Money (That's What I Want)" every time Beltran came to bat at Minute Maid Park.

9. Astros General Manager Tim Purpura wouldn't play ball when Boras demanded that the team pick up the tab for Beltran's personal pastry chef on extended road trips.

8. City and county officials nixed public funding for a traffic loop around the city called the "Beltranway" that would be confined to vehicles driven by the baseball player and Boras.

7. Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. was willing to pony up more than $100 million for Beltran, but balked when Boras demanded that the Houston ballyard be renamed "In a New York Minute Maid Park." Boras got even more miffed when McLane also threw out the agent's alternative choice: "Always Negotiate Until the Last Minute Maid Park."

6. Boras was unable to convince the Astros to adorn the Minute Maid Park rafters with a hanging jersey bearing Beltran's name above the agent's favorite number -- $119,000,000.

5. McLane vetoed the agent's plans for a gala "Beltran benefit" in Minute Maid Park on New Year's Eve to raise the cash difference between the team's offer and the asking price. McLane also started to get a little suspicious about a possible hidden agenda when Boras suggested replacing the huge oranges in the ballpark train with even Bigger Apples.

4. McLane flat out refused a request by Boras to contact New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and provide a strong work place reference for Beltran.

3. McLane overruled a Boras proposal to erect a statue of the agent outside Minute Maid Park. The sculpture would have depicted an intrepid negotiator, true to life, never budging.

2. Negotiations to start an annual "Scott Boras Night" at Minute Maid Park fell through almost immediately when the agent insisted on a giveaway of Scott Boras "bobble head" dolls that constantly shake their heads "No."

1. The Astros brass wouldn't force veteran Jeff Bagwell to give up his nickname, "Bags." Boras claimed it would cause too much confusion when Beltran answered to a similar nickname of "MoneyBags."

Goodness only knows how many hidden concessions were made by the Mets. But regardless of where Beltran bats in the lineup for New York's second-fiddle team, he and Boras hit clean-up on the new contract.

[Talbot]

lol, funny list. Im still kind of steamed over the issue, but eh it was meant to happen.

[Heights2Bastrop]

I have my own Top Ten reasons why.

10. He wanted more money.

9. He wanted much more money.

8. He wanted much, much more money.

7. He wanted much, much, much more money.

6. He wanted much, much, much, much more money.

5. He wanted much, much, much, much, much more money.

4. He wanted much, much, much, much, much, much more money.

3. He wanted much, much, much, much, much, much, much more money.

2. He wanted much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much more money.

1. He wanted too much more money.

[tw2ntyse7en]

...

[KinkaidAlum]

Actually, my guess is that his agent pushed him towards NYC. Not so much for the sake of Beltran, but rather for the sake of the agent. Scott Boras is the one who will fare the best from this deal.

Think about it.

Texas has no state income tax.

New York has a 7.7% bracket for the highest earners.

In just his first year, that means the state of New York will take just under $4,000,000 of that salary that he would have kept in Texas after federal taxes.

In year's two and three, New York will take around $6,900,000.

In the final four years, New York will take around $16,100,000!

So, without even looking at costs of living in Texas vs. New York, Beltran's $119 million is actually lessened by around $26,900,000!!!!

[Talbot]

Man he got ripped off! Sucks for him.

[GovernorAggie]

Actually, my guess is that his agent pushed him towards NYC. Not so much for the sake of Beltran, but rather for the sake of the agent. Scott Boras is the one who will fare the best from this deal.

Think about it.

Texas has no state income tax.

New York has a 7.7% bracket for the highest earners.

In just his first year, that means the state of New York will take just under $4,000,000 of that salary that he would have kept in Texas after federal taxes.

In year's two and three, New York will take around $6,900,000.

In the final four years, New York will take around $16,100,000!

So, without even looking at costs of living in Texas vs. New York, Beltran's $119 million is actually lessened by around $26,900,000!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I also heard that they have a city tax in New York, too!