Six-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran created excitement last Thursday by agreeing to a two-year, $26 million deal to join the defending World Series-champion, yet new-look St. Louis Cardinals.
Beltran, 34, hit a combined .300 with 22 home runs, 84 RBI and 39 doubles in 142 games for the Mets and Giants last season.
Although three-time NL MVP, nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion Albert Pujols left a void by signing a lucrative 10-year, $254 million deal with the Angels, Beltran's decision to join St. Louis makes them a strong NL contender for 2012.
He'll play a crucial role in solidifying a lineup featuring 2011 World Series hero David Freese, five-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, veterans Rafael Furcal and Yadier Molina, as well as a pair of young, up-and-comers in Jon Jay and Allen Craig.
Ironically, Beltran will be reunited with six-time All-Star slugger and 2011 NL Comeback Player of the Year Lance Berkman -- his former teammate with the Houston Astros during the 2004 campaign.
Beltran and Berkman were part of the exciting Astros squad that was eliminated in the 2004 NLCS by the Cardinals over seven games.
Now, they'll wear the Cardinal red, navy and white together.
It's a sore and somewhat sickening sight for loyal Astros fans to see, especially since both players established a legacy in Houston.
Berkman departed the Astros via trade in the middle of the 2010 season as a franchise icon, while Beltran's short-term tenure in 2004 has a way of triggering a bittersweet memory in Houston.
Beltran compiled an eight home-run performance during the 2004 postseason, which included five straight games with a homer and a seventh-inning solo blast that won Game 4 of the NLCS.
However, he broke the city's heart following the postseason by signing a lucrative seven-year, $119 million contract with the Mets.
Since departing Houston, Astros fans have only been able to watch him play at Minute Maid Park once per season during a three-game series.
That will change next season.
Beltran and Berkman will both take the field as members of the Cardinals for a total of nine games (three, three-game series) at Minute Maid Park -- the Astros' final season in the National League.
This presents a favorable marketing scenario for the Astros, since it's likely that Minute Maid Park will sell out these nine games.
Berkman's return to Minute Maid Park last season wearing a Cardinals uniform created a mixed reaction among the Astros fan base.
Imagine throwing Beltran into the mix?
One of the greatest challenges as part of the Astros' rough 2011 season was generating consistent attendance for home games.
Astros new owner Jim Crane and president and CEO George Postolos want nothing more than to restore the ballclub back to being a winner in which the fans pack Minute Maid Park to watch.
It's not going to happen overnight.
In the meantime, the Astros have to hope for small victories regarding the dipping attendance and capitalize on favorable situations.
The combination of Beltran and Berkman wearing the rival St. Louis uniform isn't a pleasant sight, but it has the potential to make Minute Maid Park an electrifying atmosphere over nine games.
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