Although the trade itself hasn't been 100% solidified by Major League Baseball, the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets have struck an accord that would send slugger Carlos Beltran to the Bay. Many reports have stated that the Mets will receive Giants prospect Zack Wheeler in the deal, but that has neither been confirmed or denied by either side.
The Mets will also send $4 million to the Giants to help compensate for the $6 million left on Beltran's 2011 contract, signaling two possibilities: either the Mets aren't as strapped for cash as once thought, or the team was that desperate to get him off their payroll. Either way it's a bit of a head scratcher if you ask me. Andrew Baggarly points out that that money will essentially cover the approximately $3 million bonus that Wheeler got a few seasons ago if you want to look at it that way as well.
Baggarly also noted that Beltran will likely bat third in the lineup in front of Pablo Sandoval, and will play the majority of his time in right field (he is the expected starter there on Thursday). This will cause the Giants to platoon a few of their outfielders, notably Cody Ross and Nate Schierholtz. Why the team wouldn't do more platooning with Andres Torres is beyond me, especially with Nate being the Giants mainstay in the batter's box right now alongside Sandoval. Ross and Aaron Rowand will likely lose the most playing time to Beltran, but that only improves their roster depth off the bench.
More to come when the official word is dropped either later today or tomorrow morning.