Trade talks surrounding Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana are sure to heat up when big league executives and his agent, Peter Greenberg, meet up to wheel and deal during the annual Winter Meetings beginning Monday in Nashville, Tennessee. Though Santana will not hit free agency until after the 2008 season, Twins GM Bill Smith has given other clubs the opportunity to sink their bobbers in the water and try to catch a big fish for their rotation.
It's going to take a ridiculous package deal chock-full of big name prospects to acquire the two-time Cy Young award winner, who has a no-trade clause with the power to veto. He's expected to demand a six-year offer, which may cost no less than $150 million.
There are few teams of elite payroll who can afford such a deal, including the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
The latest rumor involving the Yanks is a shuffled roster that would send top pitching prospect Phil Hughes (rather than Ian Kennedy,) outfielder Melky Cabrera and a random minor leaguer to Minnesota for the 28-year-old Santana. The Twins were not as impressed with this offer as expected, and want to add another top-tier prospect from New York.
This is getting a little out of control. Do these big dogs not know that signing a pitcher to a long-term deal (best in the league or no) is not the wisest move in the history of the game? Take Atlanta Braves hurler Mike Hampton for example. He's made more than the entire Florida Marlins roster in the past two seasons, yet hasn't pitched once due to injury. Just a thought.
[NY Daily News]
5 comments:
Good point about the long-term deals making absolutely no sense. Who's to say he'll be the same pitcher five years from now?
Santana could be a savior in a short playoff series, but the cost to get him--a package of top prospects, plus $150 mil--is almost mind-boggling. Really, most small-market teams are just AAAA feeders for the Sox-Yanks.
I have to comment twice, in hopes someone will hear my tiny internet voice.
See?? I heard you! And I totally agree about your AAAA comment... it's a sad reality.
This is turning into an all-out bidding war for Cytana. We'd better get a HUGE package for him!
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