12/21/24
January 14, 2010
Beltran Has Knee Surgery without Mets' OK: The New York Mets have a bone to pick with outfielder Carlos Beltran after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday. The procedure, which will cause him to miss 12 weeks and perhaps the start of the season, was performed without the team's involvement in the decision.
I think the player's interest should take precedent over the team's in matters of surgery/health.
Not when the team owes him $18.5M per year in each of the next two years.
I believe getting surgery without sign-off from, and input of, the team is usually a breach of contract. In this case, according to this piece from ESPN, there appears to be a dispute as to whether the team signed off on the procedure (the doctor who performed it said that he received workers' comp insurance info from the Mets related to payment for the procedure) and whether Beltran would have to receive consent in any event (Beltran's agent Scott Boras said that Beltran's contract only requires team consent for elective procedures).
posted by holden at 01:49 PM on January 14, 2010
Especially considering the timing of the operation. Given what we hear about players not wanting to attend spring training, this is a convenient way to say, "Well, I'm healing. See you when the season starts."
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:04 PM on January 14, 2010
Wow, the Mets don't even wait for baseball season to start putting guys on the disabled list. Seriously, though, Beltran has already been off for over three months, and if he waited then didn't have the Mets blessings about having this procedure done at this time, he should owe the team. The thing is, Beltran will not only miss time following surgery, but will need the extra time following spring training to get into playing condition. I can see this being another year-long issue for Beltran, which puts the team's backs against the wall already.
posted by dyams at 04:39 PM on January 14, 2010
Iwasjusgonnasay - Only the Mets would find a way to put a guy on the DL in January.
Beltran is something of an infuriating talent. Million dollar game and a five-cent head.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:44 PM on January 14, 2010
Do players normally have to ok surgeries with their teams? It's his knee, the team doesn't own that knee. I think the player's interest should take precedent over the team's in matters of surgery/health.