Will Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets bounce back?

This season, the New York Mets moved Carlos Beltran from center field to right field. Beltran was a once great fielder, but his legs are in terrible shape. The move to right should give Beltran's knees a much needed rest.

Carlos Beltran hasn't played a full season since 2008. In 2009, Beltran played in only 81 games, while in 2010, Beltran played in only 64 games.

Will the 33 year old Carlos Beltran be able to bounce back to his 2008 form? Or more importantly, can he play more than 130 games?

If Beltran plays more than 130 games, then his hitting statistics could return to their prior form. However, it is more likely that Carlos Beltran will be about 70% of his former greatness. Not only has Beltran's age shown through his injuries. It is also present in his decreasing power. During his last three healthy seasons from 2006 to 2008, Carlos Beltran had a slugging percentage of .594, .525, and .500.

I project Carlos Beltran to hit .270, 18 home runs, and 80 RBI in 115 to 140 games. With his injury prone legs, the New York Mets will not have Beltran stealing many bases.