Like shoppers on Black Friday, the GM’s for teams with deep pockets are getting ready for the Johan Santana Sweepstakes. I’m one Mets fan who laughed at the headlines in the Post and Daily News that the Highlanders have opened talks with the Twins on trading for Santana. Of course we have heard that the Highlanders have the prospects and the dough to land Santana but the Mets have as much if not more of what the Twinkies are looking for.

 

The big Highlander names we hear are Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Melky Cabrera. Pack a Day Hank has said that Joba Chamberlain is off limits in a deal. Omar Minaya has said everyone but D-Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran are off limits. I like Omar’s way of thinking.

 

The Twins have three young pitchers in Kevin Slowey, Matt Garza, and Scott Baker so you would think that they would want a major league arm instead of another young arm? So how about the Mets putting Aaron Heilman in the deal with Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, Ruben Gotay and say one or two low level prospects for Santana. Heilman gets to go back to starting; Gotay fills the need at 2nd base. Milledge takes over CF and Carlos Gomez gets seasoning in Triple A. Even if you had to add Mike Pelfrey or Phil Humber it’s still worth it for the both teams. In fact add in Pelfrey/Humber and take back Gomez, and that looks better.

 

Don’t let the fish wraps fool you, the Mets are MAJOR players in the Santana sweepstakes and they will spare no player or dollar bill not to land him.

 

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