Santana to the Mets?

by Allen Chace on Jan 29, 2008 5:25 PM EST in News Comment 25 comments

Not exactly a done deal yet, with the Mets still having to work out a contract extension in order for Johan to officially waive his NTC.

HT: to Liza and Matzushocka for beating me to the punch in the diaries.

Makes it more likely that the Coco/Ellsbury situation will be resolved soon, as well as an overlooked (and thusfar) non-story, that being whether Julian Tavarez will be starting for an NL team or not.

[Update by SoxDevil:]

The tentative deal for Johan Santana is Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey. I know Gomez is supposed to be excellent and Humber pretty good himself, but how is this deal better than either of the two the Red Sox offered? Can an enlightened OTM'er provide some insight on the Mets prospects dealt?

In my opinion Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie would have solved immediate and future needs for Minnesota. If the Twinkies were going to give up and rebuild from the ground up, why re-sign Mauer and Morneau? Even if Lester was off the table as occasionally rumored, a package consisting of Jacoby Ellsbury, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie (maybe with Ryan Kalish thrown in for good measure) still seems at least as good as the Mets deal. There are fewer pitchers, but the Twin's farm teams have some pretty good talent coming up. Do you think it comes down to the fact that the Red Sox simply didn't want to bankroll Johan when all was said and done?

Despite all the ranting and raving from the New York Yankees and their fans, I never thought any of their packages matched the Sox' for talent.

While I'm happy that Johan is going to the Mets instead of the Yankees, I'm somewhat disappointed that he won't be wearing a Red Sox uniform to be part of one of the most dominant rotations in MLB history. The only issue I see the Red Sox having in the near future is the inevitable departure/decline of Manny Ramirez's production (through trade, free agency, or age) and that's not a problem that any of the players mentioned in the Red Sox packages would fix. I suppose that goes for Papi as well in several years. We're spoiled right now and it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the Red Sox could be in the Angels' shoes in a few years: good pitching, punch-less lineup. That's why I supported the Santana trade. Win more now!

Poll

Which deal for Johan Santana would best benefit the Twins?

Mets: Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey

2 votes

Red Sox: Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Justin Masteron, and Jed Lowrie

9 votes

Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury, Justin Masterson, Jed Lowrie, Ryan Kalish

9 votes

Yankees: Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Ian Kennedy

16 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

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Comments

Re: Santana to the Mets?

Gammons is saying that the deal the Twins got from the Mets is less than what they were entertaining last month from the Yankees and Sox, both of whom drew back. I think this is what the Sox wanted: Santana not on the Yankees. And they keep all of their prospects.

by RickD on Jan 29, 2008 6:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

I also think the Twins would rather have Santana in the NL, rather than face him for the next 6 or 7 years.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jan 29, 2008 6:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

I think this is a good outcome for the Sox. The Yankees don't get him and we seldom have to play against him, if ever. We get to keep our players, prospects, lots of cash and we avoid the situation where our players would compare their pay to his.

If this was what was holding back any significant trades, then there is no longer a reason to delay. We still need a young catcher and another outfielder/firstbaseman. Get with it.

by Longsuffering on Jan 29, 2008 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yay.

Glad that's over (almost).

You know, living in NYC, I might just have to start rooting some for the Mets. Santana-Pedro could be fun. And Wright-Reyes IS fun.

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Jan 29, 2008 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

This is the 1b option for the Sox. Putting Santana in the NL on a suspect team, in a competitive division and making sure the Sox do not have to face him until the World Series was brilliant.

Hey, I would of loved to see our rotation with Beckett, Santana, Dice-K, Buchholz and Schilling, but this outcome is almost as good.

Not only do we still have one of the top pitching staffs in the AL, we kept Lester, Ellsbury, Lowrie and Masterson, still have Coco and Tavarez to deal and the Sox can spend their money next year on Kazmir(I love this guy) or CC or Penny without giving up any of our guys.

I am not convinced even with Santana and a healthy Pedro, the Mets win the NL or even the NL east, chances are the Twins did the Sox a favor and stuck Santana on a team who might never see the World Series while he is there.

I still like the Dbacks rotation much better.

P.S. Nice work Minnesota, way to lower the bar for the Mariners...Santana = 2 B+ prospects, 1 B prospect, 1 B - prospect. Is Bedard really worth Adam Jones now?

by SoxAcumen on Jan 29, 2008 7:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

I definitely agree on the bid for Kazmir. The rotation is already one of the strongest in the league, and next year the free agent market for pitchers is out of this world. Go after a Kazmir, Ben Sheets, or Brad Penny and you're set. Schilling won't be back, and if Wake's back keeps on giving him problems, we might not be seeing him filling a starting role all that much longer. As for the Manny deal, Carl Crawford's got the option going next year in Tampa. Imagine him and Jacoby roaming the same outfield!

by 2004LoveAffair on Jan 30, 2008 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

My only problem with Crawford and possibly letting Manny walk is that we are all spoiled by the Manny/Papi combo...do we really want to break this team up early?

Sure Manny might be on the decline and so might Papi, but 85% of Manny/Papi is still way better and very scary to opposing pitchers then other options.

I think we should keep Manny for as long as possible, he is invaluable at keeping pitchers honest with Papi. Crawford, while a great player, just does not scare me as much as Manny.

by SoxAcumen on Jan 30, 2008 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

I don't really see Crawford as a #4 hitter. He's more dangerous on the base-paths. You want to get him on a bag, distracting the pitcher with your sluggers coming to the plate.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jan 31, 2008 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

Just to add about SoxDevil's post, for me I think Manny is gonna be back to his past form. He looked pretty "bad ass" in the playoffs and looked to have his swing back.

I am expecting big things from Dice-K, Manny, Lester and JD Drew, each had their problems/issues/injuries last season.

by SoxAcumen on Jan 30, 2008 12:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

So the Twins still need a CF

I wonder if they'll still make a play for Coco. Or maybe the Mariners, if they end up flipping Adam Jones for Bedard, would flip Clement for Coco-plus. The Rangers seem to be off the table for Coco's services, since they picked up Hamilton.

I really don't see us starting the year with Coco on the bench. Something will happen here.

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Jan 30, 2008 12:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: So the Twins still need a CF

The Mariners idea is a good one, assuming they're cool with Johjima for at least a few more years. Any other combination they could come up with this point, minus Adam Jones, could be pretty horrific defensively outside of Ichiro in CF or RF.

by Allen Chace on Jan 30, 2008 12:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: So the Twins still need a CF

I would be all for trading for Clement.

by SoxAcumen on Jan 30, 2008 1:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: So the Twins still need a CF

Johjima is an imprending free agent. My guess is the M's hold onto their catching depth.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jan 30, 2008 7:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

funny thing is

if for any reason the mets didnt work out an extension, the twins might as well never trade him, because now theyd get low-balled to hell and back.

by spinz on Jan 30, 2008 12:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: funny thing is

I think its a given that Santana will get whatever he wants. Can you imagine the NY media and what they would do to Omar M. if they do not sign Santana?

Good lord, that would be hilarious...

by SoxAcumen on Jan 30, 2008 1:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: funny thing is

im so glad this is the mets and not us, and were not talking about losing ellsbury/lester and the sox being pressured to sign him for 20 mil a year, And we wont have to see santana pitch, its just great:P

by spinz on Jan 30, 2008 1:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: funny thing is

20 mill? from what is on ESPN and some of the blogs, its 25 Million to start.

6/150 is what everyone believes will be the deal...

by SoxAcumen on Jan 30, 2008 6:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: funny thing is

yeah definitely, 20 mil for 4 years is what the Twins offered him that they kept reminding him it was on the table, so I highly doubt it will be that low

http://newsshouldbeentertainment.blogspot.com/ when news articles are too long to read

by Realistic on Jan 30, 2008 10:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

Spamalot: The Musical. Destroyed.

by Allen Chace on Jan 30, 2008 1:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Que?

Wrong blog? Are you also a poster at timcurryissocool.com?

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Jan 30, 2008 8:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Que?

There was a spammer around last night. ...I took care of it.

by Allen Chace on Jan 30, 2008 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

If the Red Sox trade to Crisp, it will be to Texas or most likely Oakland. Padres may be interested in him if they do trade Cameron. However, I don't see Boston trading him without a pretty good deal in place, notably for a pitching prospect...

On Santana, I do think the Twins let go the better offers from the Yankees and Red Sox, given no one wants to face a Santana breaking ball at Yankee Stadium as a Yankee starter, and I always believe Santana with have very human like ERA at Fenway, given it isn't a southpaw friendly park and no super human can't strike out 13 every game. I thought the Red Sox deal was good, but I can see the Twins not exactly thrilled by the package if it included Crisp than Ellsbury. Besides the Twins don't have to face him or maybe once or twice in 4 years during interleague series, which they should get rid of.

by superferret on Jan 31, 2008 1:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

Cameron is now a Brewer. The Padres appear to be going into the season with Edmonds as the likely starter in CF. ...not the best idea, IMHO. Oh well.

by Allen Chace on Jan 31, 2008 2:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

There's speculation that the Sox would settle for a left-handed corner infielder like Sean Casey. I sure hope not! Talk about selling for 30 cents on the dollar.

Coco is a good, solid player even if you argue that he'll never recapture his Cleveland form. He's as good a defensive centerfielder as you can find, and sure as hell worth more than a Sean Casey-esque role-player.

The Sox should at least get a good prospect for Crisp.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jan 31, 2008 9:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Santana to the Mets?

Sox will get youth for Coco I think, and possibly one or two of those high ceiling, super youngin's who you won't remember until 5 years from now. They handleld the Santana deal nicely -- the deal comes down to prospects for the right to sign Santana to a market price deal, which is not that much of a bargain. Overall, I am disappointed, only because I think it would have put Boston as the clear favourite for the AL. (I have Boston 2nd right now -- Tigers, Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Yankees in that order -- although part of that is my natural Sox fan tendency to not think of us as #1)

I admire the Patriots, but I LOVE the Sox.

by sriram12078 on Feb 4, 2008 8:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs