It’s a pretty exciting time for the San Francisco Giants and the Hall of Fame. Sure, Barry Bonds and Duane Kuiper have been passed over more times than I was anytime we picked teams for any sport at the playground. But in December, Jeff Kent was elected to the hall by the Contemporary Baseball Era committee. And next year, Buster Posey, Bruce Bochy, and Dusty Baker will all be on the ballot, and all three will be expected to make it at some point or other.

And on Tuesday, they added another name to the hall: Forever Giant Carlos Beltrán.

Beltrán was one of two players elected to the Hall of Fame this year, joining fellow outfielder Andruw Jones. And while most people remember the nine-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, and one-time champion for his superstar tenure with the New York Mets, around here we associate him with the Giants.

The switch-hitter played just 44 games for the Giants in the 2011 season, but he was electric in them. As he approached free agency following a seven-season tenure with the Mets, New York — a team that won just 77 games that year – flipped him at the deadline to the Giants, who were hoping to recreate their World Series magic from the year prior … and, most importantly, replace Posey, who had suffered a brutal season-ending injury early in the year.

Beltrán was every bit as good as advertised, hitting .323/.369/.551 with seven home runs. Unfortunately the Giants, who were 60-44 at the time of the trade, went just 26-32 following the trade, and missed the playoffs.

Unfortunately, despite his individual success, the fan opinion of Beltrán has always been fairly cold, as many see the trade as a short-sighted move by Brian Sabean. The Giants traded pitcher Zack Wheeler — their 2009 first-round pick who was, at the time, in High-A — for Beltrán, and Wheeler has gone on to be one of the top pitchers of this generation, with three All-Star appearances, two Cy Young runner-ups, and a few hundred million in earnings. Beltrán, meanwhile, entered free agency and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. And many fans view the move as selling the future for a mild run at the present.

It’s an unfair way of viewing it, of course. The Giants were in position to make a run, and you can’t blame them for chasing one of the top hitters in baseball and giving themselves a chance. And while Wheeler has gone on to have a fabulous career, it didn’t fully materialize until after he, himself, had reached free agency and left the Mets; he made his first All-Star team and earned his first top-10 Cy Young finish a full 10 years after the trade.

Congratulations, Carlos. You played more games with the Mets and the Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers than you played with the Giants. But you still played for the Giants.

2025 stats: 8 G (7 GS), 29.2 IP, 6.37 ERA / 4.00 xERA, 11.8 K/9, 5.2 BB/9, 1.55 WHIP, +0.3 fWAR

It’s down to Kai-Wei Teng and Tristan Beck as the players left in the organization following the flurry of trades former President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi made at the 2019 trade deadline. Both were pitched as starters, but it turns out that both might wind up as relievers.

In Teng’s case, that is a very positive development, as despite his terrible performance as a starter, he showed aptitude in shorter bursts — or in the bulk innings role following an opener. But since the Giants are organizationally resistant to that strategy over the course of a season, let’s zero in on Teng’s likely role going forward.

The trendy-because-it’s-really-effective pitch these days is the sweeper. Kai-Wei Teng threw his 38.7% of the time duromg his MLB service in 2025. Batters hit .191 off of it with an expected slugging percentage of just .256. In a very limited sample size, it was about as effective as Shohei Ohtani’s sweeper, Chris Bassitt’s, Trevor Roger’s, Mitch Keller’s, and Dylan Cease’s. Remarkably, based on the quality of contact, it had the same expected batting average (.167) as Paul Skenes’s. But that’s hardly the point!

The point is that relief pitchers are usually 1 or 2 pitch pitchers. As a starter, his fastball velocity sat more in the 92-93 range, but as a reliever he’s more in the 94-95 range. That’s really effective paired with that sweeper. 21 of his strikeouts came off that best pitch while 10 more off that fastball, meaning 31 of his 39 strikeouts (79.5%) came on just those two pitches… which really does cement his best role being that of a relief pitcher.

It was an unusual route he took to getting to this position, though. For many, he was an afterthought, and the Buster Posey-led organization’s behavior only supported that. They designated him for assignment after the 2024 season, an action that was among the first taken by the Posey administration. Just 10 days later, they signed him to a minor league contract to bring him back into the organization.

Why make that move? They almost certainly had his stuff pegged and had the opportunity to bring him back into the organization presumably because they knew he’d clear waivers. Because they didn’t outright him, they still maintain that flexibility down the road if they need to shove him off the 40-man roster for whatever reason. But more immediately, he still has 2 major league options remaining; so, there’s plenty of time to sort out a proper role for him.

It’s worth noting that on the day of his callup (August 1st), Eno Sarris posted this analysis regarding Teng’s Triple-A measurements:

Giants SP Kai-Wei Teng has interesting arsenal. Wide, no standout pitch.

[Four seam] / 241 thrown / 90 AAA Stuff+
[Sinker] / 107 / 95 Stuff+
[Sweeper] / 324 / 106 Stuff+
[Cutter] / 107 / 102 Stuff+
[Changeup] / 49 / 102 Stuff+
[Slider] / 30 / 101 Stuff +

Only Sweeper has above-ave locations —> fits his command grades.

The Giants rolled the dice to clear a roster spot but knew they had something to work with if they could retain him. I’d hope that the number-based discussion to this point would prove sufficient evidence for those who are skeptical, but at the end of the day, the analytics, the results, and the Giants actions demonstrate that the organization is glad to have him on the 40-man roster heading into Spring Training.

Teng pitched his way into being the next in a line of perfectly serviceable back of the bullpen arms. Maybe close to already improving upon Spencer Bivens and Tristan Beck — just from a stuff standpoint — and, at worst, even with Carson Seymour in the upside reliever role — if they had to establish the depth chart today. His strikeout totals are impressive. In September, he K’d 27 in 16.1 IP and had this tidy little highlight against the Dodgers:

He struckout out Shohei Ohtani with his four-seamer in the 1st inning and then with the sweeper in the 3rd. He got Mookie Betts, Andy Pages, and Freddie Freeman with that sweeper, too. Michael Conforto struck out on Teng’s changeup.

Teng is a wild arm that’s still a work in progress. He’s still best known for getting shelled and putting too many runners on base. In that strikeout-laden September (28 K%), he still walked too many (12.2 BB%) and hit too many batters with stray pitches (4 — with 7 on the season). But, he allowed just 1 home run in the final month and just 2 across his innings.

His results are far from great but they were clearly good enough to thrust him into a meaningful conversation the organization has held all offseason. He’s definitely “pitching depth” that should be confidently mentioned in a conversation about that very subject — not quite on the level of the outlandish statement made by last season’s pitching coach, J.P. Martinez, but certainly as a factor in the team covering innings in 2026. While I don’t personally believe he pitched his way into a backup starting pitcher role, he’s certainly an option if they need to do some bullpen games or as an injury or blowout replacement to give the team multiple innings.

He’s a big guy (6’4”, 241 lbs), so, I like the durability potential here, and I suspect the Giants do, too. Most starters wind up sustaining their careers as relievers, and it looks like that’s the course Kai-Wei Teng managed to chart for himself in 2025.

Now that we’re going closer to spring training, let’s get serious about projecting what the Colorado Rockies outfield will look like.

Since I first asked this question, the Rockies have reached arbitration agreements with their players (including three outfielders) and traded for Jake McCarthy. We also know that Willi Castro and Troy Johnston have outfield experience.

Their abundance of outfielders is well documented, but we’re also getting a better sense of Paul DePodesta’s plans.

So here’s tonight’s question: When the season starts, who will be playing outfield for the Rockies, and who do you see starting in ABQ or being moved?

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Will Carlos Beltrán don a Mets cap on his Cooperstown plaque? 

That’s the million-dollar question at the moment after the former Mets star, who also spent time with the Royals, Yankees, Cardinals, Astros, Rangers and Giants, was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday. 

Beltrán previously told The Post last year that he would go into the Hall wearing a Mets cap, but he didn’t commit to doing so while appearing on MLB Network on Tuesday night. 

“There’s no doubt that my best years in baseball are with two teams, the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets,” Beltrán said. “That’s a decision I would love to sit down with my family, with Jessica, with my kids and make a decision on that. I did really enjoy my time in New York. Now I work as an advisor for the Mets, so there’s a lot of weight wearing the New York [Mets] cap.”

Now that Carlos Beltrán is elected to the Hall of Fame, which hat will he wear on his plaque?

He explains his excitement to decide between the Mets and Royals https://t.co/awZYOGR5UPpic.twitter.com/74FE8QkHum

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 21, 2026

The 2026 Hall of Fame inductee did admit he had thought about the idea of playing for the Royals his entire career and how “great” it would have been. 

However, that idea changed after he was traded by the Royals to Houston in 2004 and then ended up with the Mets on a seven-year deal before the 2005 season. 

“New York really invested in my career big time,” Beltrán said. 

Beltrán, in his fourth year on the ballot, was elected to the Hall of Fame after receiving 84.2 percent from the Baseball Writers Association of America. 

He played seven seasons in Queens, where he hit .280 with 149 home runs and 559 RBIs. He was a five-time All-Star and won three Gold Gloves in center field. With Kansas City, he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1999 and hit 123 homers over 795 games.

Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife Alex congratulated Beltrán in a statement released Tuesday night. 

“On behalf of the entire organization, we are thrilled to congratulate Carlos on receiving the highest honor in baseball,” they wrote in a statement. “One of the most dynamic players ever to wear a Mets uniform, Carlos combined rare power and speed with elite defense, setting a standard of excellence that endures today. Beyond his achievements on the field, his leadership, insight, and presence continue to shape our organization. It is a proud moment for Carlos, his family, and Mets fans everywhere.”

It’s Tuesday night here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Thanks for stopping by. Come on in out of the cold. We’ve got a fire going on inside and the music is hot. We can take your coat for you. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night I asked you about the possibility of the Cubs signing free agent right-hander Zac Gallen. You were mostly in favor of the idea, with 46 percent of you thinking the terms I proposed were a solid offer. Another 24 percent of you thought the Cubs should pass on Gallen with the rest of you quibbling with the contract terms I put forth, with most of you thinking that you’d sign Gallen if the price were really low.

On Tuesdays I don’t normally do any movie stuff, but you still have time to vote in the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic between Blade Runner and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. But I always have time for that, so you know the drill by now if you don’t care for the tunes.

Tonight we have Steve Turre and Group playing the Miles Davis classic “All Blues” in Brazil back in 2001. The first thing that you’ll notice from this video is that Turre plays a collection of seashells in this performance. It sounds like a gimmick, but it actually works quite well.

Javon Jackson plays tenor sax, George Cables is the pianist, Buster Williams is on bass and Victor Lewis is the drummer.

Welcome back to all of you who skip the seashell music.

The Cubs insist that they’re not done making moves this winter, and Jon Heyman dropped this note yesterday.

Miguel Andujar came up with the Yankees in 2018 and quickly established themselves as their starting third baseman. He hit .297 that year with 27 home runs and finished second to Shohei Ohtani in Rookie of the Year balloting.

Unfortunately for Andujar, he missed almost the entire 2019 season with a torn labrum and struggled to come back in 2020. By the time he was healthy, Gio Urshela had established himself as the Yankees third baseman and Andujar got moved to left field. He didn’t hit much and spent the next few seasons bouncing around the majors as a utility player.

Over the past two seasons, however, Andujar has rediscovered his bat. In 75 games with the Athletics in 2024, Andujar hit .285/.320/.377. The A’s traded him to the Reds at the deadline last year and between the two teams, Andujar hit a strong .318/.352/.470 with ten home runs in 94 games.

So let’s posit that Andujar is a good bench player. At least he has been the past two years. On top of that, he probably won’t cost much. Andujar earned $3 million last season. I’d say the Cubs could get him on a one-year, $5.5 million deal. Yes, that would put the Cubs over the luxury tax threshold, but we’re all assuming they will go over at some point anyways. The tax on Andujar’s contract would amount to petty change for the Cubs.

But is signing Andujar a good idea? In the sense that adding more good players to the team is always a good idea, then yes. But I do have some problems with the concept.

The Cubs current roster is pretty much set, at least on the position player side. There’s some give and take with the pitching staff, but the 13 position players they’d start the season with, should it start today, is pretty clear.

There are nine starters:

Carson Kelly

Michael Busch

Nico Hoerner

Dansby Swanson

Alex Bregman

Ian Happ

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Seiya Suzuki

Moisés Ballesteros

That leaves room for four bench players:

Miguel Amaya

Matt Shaw

Kevin Alcántara

Tyler Austin

So if the Cubs add Andujar, one of those four players is going to get squeezed off the roster. It’s not going to be Amaya, as the Cubs will not go with Ballesteros as their second catcher. It won’t be Austin, as they just signed him from Japan on a major league deal and he doesn’t have any options left from his first stint in the majors. It probably won’t be Alcántara either. There are conflicting reports as to whether Alcántara has an option left, but I believe he does. But Andujar has only played third, first and left field in the majors. (He’s played right field in the minors.) Without Alcántara, the Cubs really don’t have anyone backing up PCA in center. Alcántara may yet start the season in Iowa, but it probably won’t be for Andujar.

So there are only two options (well, maybe two and a half) options to get Andujar on the roster. One is that if they want Mo Baller to get more work in catching, then the Cubs could send him to Iowa and that would open up a spot for Andujar. Andujar could DH or he could take the field to give Bregman or Happ a half a day off as they served as the designated hitter. But Ballesteros looked pretty impressive at the plate in his late-season call-up. Maybe he can’t catch, but it looks like he would be a big asset in the lineup in 2026, even if it does hurt his development as a catcher.

The other option is Matt Shaw. Now Shaw does have options, so the Cubs could send him down to Iowa to play everyday while Andujar serves as a backup in the infield. Andujar has never played second base or shortstop, but Alex Bregman has, so Andujar could move in to third base and Bregman could shift over to a middle infield position to cover all the bases, so to speak, were Shaw in the minors.

The other option with Shaw is to trade him. We’ve been down this road before, but Shaw would probably bring a lot back in trade. He’s a young player with six years of control left. His bat in the second half was very good. The defensive metrics on Shaw at third base were all over the place last year (some very positive, some less so), but people thought enough of him there to make him a Gold Glove finalist. In any case, most teams would play Shaw at second base where he probably would be a pretty good defender.

Of course, the things that make Shaw valuable to other teams also makes him valuable to the Cubs. And if Nico Hoerner leaves as a free agent after this year, the Cubs need Shaw to fill in at second base.

There is another options which is to trade Nico Hoerner, but the Cubs have made it clear that they would have to get the equivalent to what they gave up for Kyle Tucker to deal Hoerner. I don’t see that happening. I guess it’s possible but unlikely.

So with all that in mind, should the Cubs sign Miguel Andjuar?

Thanks for stopping in tonight. We’ve enjoyed seeing your smiling faces. Please get home safely. Call a ride if you need to. Stay warm out there. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.