Carlos Beltran

“Everyone here has anticipated it, whether we like it or not,” Collins told reporters before the Mets’ 8-2 win against the Reds. “We knew it was going to happen. We’ve talked about it for the last 10 days. So we will find out tomorrow.”

News of Beltran’s move came four days before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

The trade would clear salary space for the Mets, who may lose $70 million this year, and would end a New York tenure for Beltran remembered in part for a postseason- ending strikeout.

Beltran, who leads the National League this season with 30 doubles, missed at least half a season each in 2009 and 2010, primarily due to right knee injuries. In the deciding game of the 2006 National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, he struck out looking with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, ending the Mets’ most recent playoff appearance without taking the bat off his shoulder.

An American League scout in Philadelphia for the Giants-Phillies series said he has always thought of Beltran as a “reluctant star.’’ But while Beltran might not be much for swagger or courting the media, his internal compass can kick into overdrive when he’s on the big stage. Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt, Beltran’s former teammate in Kansas City, thinks the heat of a pennant race is going to bring out the best in his old friend.

For what it’s worth, Beltran is a career .310 hitter in 87 career at-bats at AT&T Park, with no homers, two triples and a whopping 11 doubles. He has the potential to be a gap-seeking missile by San Francisco Bay.

“He has a lot of pride in his game,’’ Affeldt said. “He’s not 37. He’s 34 and he wants to prove something.
I think this is a good opportunity for him to hopefully replay what he did in Houston seven years ago.
He definitely has the talent, the athleticism and the ability to jump-start a team.

The past few weeks couldn’t have been easy for Beltran, who’s had one foot out the door while numerous scouts have tracked his every move. Meanwhile, players and fans in San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Arlington, Texas, have lived through countless updates on his next destination. As the San Francisco players monitored the proceedings, they could only be sure that Sabean would try to make a trade a reality if humanly possible.

“It’s no secret with Brian. When the trade deadline comes around, he usually wheels and deals,’’ outfielder Aaron Rowand said. “Over the years, guys know that he’s going to make moves to try to make the team better.’’

When Sabean visited the White House with the defending champions this week, he probably didn’t have any advice to pass along to President Barack Obama to resolve that nettlesome debt-ceiling debate. And chances are he might not be able to spell “Marc Rzepczynski’’ on the first, second or even third try.

But with four days left until the non-waiver trade deadline, Sabean has made his move, and now it’s up to the other contenders to try to counter. A pennant might be at stake.