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Carlos Beltran (Bing Images)

The San Francisco Giants significantly improved their outfield late last night with the acquisition of outfielder Carlos Beltran from the New York Mets for pitching prospect Zack Wheeler.

After an abundance of injuries, mostly knee issues over the last few years, Beltran has performed admirably in 2011, batting .289 with 15 home runs and 66 runs batted in. He is getting up in age a little at 34, but has shown this year he still has offensive skills.

Beltran should fit in nicely in centerfield where the Giants haven’t received great production this year from Andres Torres (.235, 3 HR, 18 RBIs) and Aaron Rowand (.244, 4 HR, 20 RBIs).

The Giants currently lead the Arizona Diamondbacks by three games in the National League West.

With Wheeler, the Mets are receiving a top prospect that has an effective curveball and a fastball at 95 miles per hour. But my motto is Wheeler is only a prospect. There was a lot of hype about Stephen Strasburg a year ago too.

In another move Thursday, the Cleveland Indians have acquired Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (.273, 3 HR, 13 RBIs) from the Chicago Cubs for prospects and cash. The Indians have struggled lately, going 3-7 in their last ten games, and were no-hit yesterday by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starter Johan Santana.