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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This post was written by kranepool on November 27, 2007
I gotta say that giving up the entire farm and half th bullpen for Santana seems a tad …ah..reckless.
He is without doubt the best pitcher in baseball, but he is only one man. Getting a Dan Haren or Ian Snell or other pticher gives us 200+ innings of excellent pitching also. A guy like Haren may not get the Cy Young votes but this last season he pitched every bit as well as Santana and was also his staffs ace.
Haren- Milledge, Heilman and Pelfrey. Would we be upset keeping Gomez, Martinez, Gotay and Humber? Not for Sanatana lite!
222inns 15-7 192so 3.07era 27yo or
219inns 15-13 235so 3.33era 28yo
Who is better? I would take either but giving up less to get Haren (top #’s) seems like a better move.
Haren has 3 more years on his contract at 3mil per on average. Santana will require a 6yr+ deal at more than $20mil per. Wow! it $60mil for Santana or 3 mil for Haren.
Think I’m going with Haren
We don’t know the price tag on Santana all it is is speculation but if the Mets want a front line pitcher whether it’s Santana, Haren or Bedard the price in prospects will be high.
As I posted about a month ago if I were OMar I’d look more to a Ian Snell/Ronny Paulino move.
I like the Snell idea if the Pirates are willing o move him it would be a good signing.
On Santana we know the price will be enormous because of the teams already linked to the talks. If the Yanks are involved then the Red Sox will eventually be there to thwart them. The poor old Mets will have to package the entire farm to try to keep up with these two.
Haren seems available at from rumor it seems a reasonable price. If its Mulvey instead of Pelfrey or Humber then we still have 2 prospects with decent upside.
I like Snell but Haren should be our target.
Steve,
Love your attitude. Get Santana or Haren. Sure we’ll overpay, but it will be worth it. Everyone knows pitching trumps all.
And with the loss of 200 innings from Glavine, and Pedro a year older we need a new stud.