"The Indians, trying to revive their struggling offense, made a strong push for Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, but were told he preferred to go elsewhere.

In a story first reported Tuesday by Peter Gammons of MLB.com, the Indians offered to pay the remainder of Beltran's $18.5 million contract this year and give the Mets a player. The Indians were told it was a no go.

Beltran has a complete no-trade clause in his contract. If the deal had been made, the Indians would have been responsible for about $7 million in salary. Beltran can be a free agent at the end of the season and has a clause in his contract that the team he ends the season with cannot offer him arbitration, which means there would be no compensation draft picks for that team if he signed with another ballclub during the winter. "