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.”
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.”
