Jason Giambi vs Carlos Beltran

At the halfway point of the 2005 season would it shock you if NL All-Star starter and the big winner in last winter's free agency, Carlos Beltran, actually had worse stats than Jason "The face of the MLB steroids scandal" Giambi?

I know I am.

But check this out:

BA: Giambi - .268 Beltran - .262
OBP: JG - .420 CB - .319
Slugging % - JG - .433 CB - .425
OPS: JG - .853 CB - .744

Beltran does edge Giambi in HRs (9 to 8) and RBIs (41 to 27).

But, Beltran also has 100 more ABs than Giambi.

Beltran is having a much better year in the field than Giambi. But, is that really worth the $11.5 million that the Mets are paying him this season?

Looking back on this past offseason, this may have been one of the worst FA years ever.

Pedro and Matt Clement are about the only big time impact guys that changed teams this offseason.