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muethibp
01-29-2008, 04:36 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm

he New York Mets have agreed to a trade for two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, giving up four prospects to acquire the left-handed ace of the Minnesota Twins, according to two high-ranking Twins officials with knowledge of the talks and a person close to Santana.

The deal is pending the Mets and Santana reaching agreement on a six- or seven-year contract extension and that Santana passes a physical; they have been granted a 48 to-72-hour window to do so. Santana has a no-trade clause that he will waive if agreement is reached on a contract extension.

The Mets paid a high price in prospects to land Santana, agreeing to send the Twins outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey.

The deal would give the Mets the much-needed ace at the front of their rotation. Santana won the American League Cy Young Award in 2004 and 2006 and is 93-44 lifetime. He went 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA for the Twins last season. Santana has struck out at least 235 batters each of the past four seasons.

While the deal drains much of the talent out of the Mets' farm system, they did manage to hold on to top prospect Fernando Martinez, an outfielder. Instead, they headed the package with Gomez, who turned 22 in December and spent 58 games with the Mets last year.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: MLB | Major League Baseball | Mets | Twins | Cy Young Award | Santana

Gomez is what scouts like to call a five-tool player, a combination of offensive ability that includes power and speed as well as an above-average defensive game and a strong arm. He has worked to cut down a strikeout rate that was high during the early part of a minor league career that began in 2004 after the Mets signed him out of the Dominican Republic. He made his major league debut last May and hit .232.

Humber, 25, is the Mets' 2004 first-round pick who has made five major league appearances, including one start, over the past two seasons. He won 11 games at Class AAA last season, his first full year after having Tommy John surgery in 2005.

Santana would give the Mets the best rotation in the NL East after they missed out on the division title by one game thanks to a historic September collapse. He'd likely be joined by Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez.

The Twins, meanwhile, would see yet another young star they produced leave the organization. Their Gold Glove outfielder, Torii Hunter, left for the Los Angeles Angels this offseason. Gomez would be a candidate to replace him in center field.

How do these prospects compare to our guys?

GoReds33
01-29-2008, 04:40 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm


How do these prospects compare to our guys?I don't think they're all that good. I like Humber, but he's comporable to Cueto or Bailey. It's not the prospects that was the big factor though, it was the contract.

*BaseClogger*
01-29-2008, 05:03 PM
he wanted to play in New York

jmac
01-29-2008, 05:14 PM
I don't think they're all that good. I like Humber, but he's comporable to Cueto or Bailey. It's not the prospects that was the big factor though, it was the contract.

Exactly, I think the reds could match about any offer talent wise but as you stated, the contract is what leaves many out of it.

terminator
01-29-2008, 05:45 PM
I was hoping he would stay in the A.L. but it would be fun to get to watch him pitch.

So the Mets would have Santana and Pedro Martinez in their rotation. I know Pedro's not what he used to be but if he gets healthy that sure would be fun for the Mets fans to watch.

Degenerate39
01-29-2008, 05:49 PM
I'm not liking Santana pitching in the National League the least bit. The Reds will see the Mets 7 times in '08 so there's at least 2 times Santana will pitch against the Reds.

muethibp
01-29-2008, 05:56 PM
I'm not liking Santana pitching in the National League the least bit. The Reds will see the Mets 7 times in '08 so there's at least 2 times Santana will pitch against the Reds.

Or once or twice, depending on how the rotations play out. Could be we hit the 3-4-5 spot the first time with them and the 2-3-4-5 spot the next time.

That said, I take your point; the Reds against any lefty is bad news, the Reds against Santana is really, really, really bad news.

Degenerate39
01-29-2008, 05:58 PM
Or once or twice, depending on how the rotations play out. Could be we hit the 3-4-5 spot the first time with them and the 2-3-4-5 spot the next time.

That said, I take your point; the Reds against any lefty is bad news, the Reds against Santana is really, really, really bad news.

I was just thinking of the worst case scenario. Two games can make a big difference and it'll definetly make a big difference in the NL Central.

_Sir_Charles_
01-29-2008, 06:21 PM
They've got a couple of polls up on ESPN about the impact of Santana moving to the NL. This question got my attention.

"9) If Santana is traded, who would be the best pitcher in the National League?


65.5% Johan Santana

14.1% Jake Peavy

5.7% Brandon Webb

3.2% Cole Hamels

2.3% Roy Oswalt

2.1% Carlos Zambrano

1.5% John Smoltz

1.2% Pedro Martinez

1.0% Brad Penny

1.0% Dan Haren

0.7% Ben Sheets

0.6% Matt Cain

0.5% Tim Hudson

0.4% Chris Young

0.3% Aaron Harang"

As usual....Harangatang is the Rodney Dangerfield of starting pitchers. The man can't get NO respect. Pitiful. ....well, at least they actually INCLUDED him in the poll. *sigh*

TheBigLebowski
01-29-2008, 06:40 PM
Really hard to believe the Yanks and Sox could not or would not do better than this offer. However, I do happen to like Kevin Mulvey more than most.

Stephenk29
01-29-2008, 07:02 PM
The fact that Pedro got that many votes is a testament to the voters bias. Pedro is far from the best these days. It's kind of like fans voting on the all-stars, they usually don't pick the most deserving ones.

*BaseClogger*
01-29-2008, 09:59 PM
Sure, Harang is better than some of those pitchers, but the question asked "who is the best?" and Harang is simply not the correct anwser to that question. Theoretically he shouldn't receive any of the vote...

FlightRick
01-29-2008, 10:14 PM
Really hard to believe the Yanks and Sox could not or would not do better than this offer. However, I do happen to like Kevin Mulvey more than most.

There was a really excellent column on Yahoo Sports last week about why the Yanks and BoSox were getting out of the way on this one:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ys-gennarosantanafinal011808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Basically, Santana's dollar value to them is less than it is to another team that isn't already playoff-bound, running at near 100% stadium capacity, and with maxed out cable distribution deals. And the quality (and thus, future value) of the prospects the Yanks or Sox would have given up were also much greater than what the Mets gave up.

I believe the conclusion reached was that for Santana to make sense for the Yankees (assuming the Yankees gave up Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrerra, and filler), Santana would have to sign for $7m/yr. below his estimated market value OR Huges would have to tank and max out as a 5-starter/swingman. I know it's fashionable to rip on the Yanks for their big-spending ways, but I do believe there's a difference between "being successful enough to have money to burn" and "fiscal irresponsibility." Cashman and Co. are trying to get away from the latter these days.

Anyway: the article is an interesting read. A rarity on Yahoo....


Rick

kentjett
01-29-2008, 10:29 PM
I would have let Dunn walk, pay Santana, put Bruce in left and have Hopper and Freel split in CF. WE have too many power hitters and not enough people that get on base. Something needs shook-up.

*BaseClogger*
01-29-2008, 10:32 PM
I would have let Dunn walk, pay Santana, put Bruce in left and have Hopper and Freel split in CF. WE have too many power hitters and not enough people that get on base. Something needs shook-up.

Except letting Dunn walk would pay for ONE of Santana's SEVEN year contract...

Bip Roberts
01-30-2008, 02:09 AM
Its a shame that only a few clubs in baseball are able to trade for guys just because of the contract that would be involved.

kentjett
01-30-2008, 11:07 AM
Let him walk and we save a good chunk of change. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe he makes anywhere between 10-14 million a year. Santana will get around 23 mill/ year, therefor we would only be increasing our salary by 10 million for arguably the best pitcher in baseball. I'll take that deal if it means 5 years of playoff appearances and 1 world series.

jmac
01-30-2008, 01:59 PM
Really hard to believe the Yanks and Sox could not or would not do better than this offer. However, I do happen to like Kevin Mulvey more than most.

I really dont think the Yanks/Bosox cared who got Santana as long as the other one didnt.
Going to the NL would only make it better.
I will say the Yanks needed him alot more than Boston.

Degenerate39
01-30-2008, 02:11 PM
Most of the guys at my school are Atlanta Braves fans so I'm starting to think this is a good thing. The Reds may have to play against him twice (max) but the Braves will play against the Mets 15 times in '08 so their chances of playing against Santana are better than the Reds. The Reds could always luck out and miss Johan whenever they play against the Mets. The Braves chances of doing that is pretty slim.

reds77
01-30-2008, 09:03 PM
Nice move for the Mets, trades like this make me envious of other teams. Life as a lowly Reds fan in the 2000s...haha.