Santana a Met

[Bench]

(But is Cabrera a Brave?)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm

Mets give up Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. Note that they managed to avoid giving up Fernando Martinez as well as Pelfrey.

In my opinion that is a much lesser package than that which was reportedly being bandied about by the Red Sox and Yankees during the winter meetings.

Of course, it should be noted the deal is still pending a 6 or 7 year extension as well as a passed physical.

ETA for numerous brainfarts.

[das]

(But is Cabrera a Brave?)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm

Mets give up Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. Note that they managed to avoid giving up Fernando Martinez as wells as Pelfrey.

In my opinion that is a much lesser package than that which was reportedly being bandied about by the Mets and Yankees during the winter meetings.

Of course, it should be noted the deal is still pending a 6 or 7 extension as well as a passed physical.

I hope Ed Wade has Livan Hernandez on the speed dial.

[MusicMan]

Turds!  I sooooo wanted that guy to stay in the AL.

[JimR]

(But is Cabrera a Brave?)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm

Mets give up Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. Note that they managed to avoid giving up Fernando Martinez as well as Pelfrey.

In my opinion that is a much lesser package than that which was reportedly being bandied about by the Mets and Yankees during the winter meetings.

Of course, it should be noted the deal is still pending a 6 or 7 extension as well as a passed physical.

they have an All Star team.

[MRaup]

they have an All Star team.

That couldn't make the playoffs last year.

I hope they lose 100 games this year.

Fuck the fucking Mets.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Is it odd that ESPN.com isn't reporting this as a done deal? 

[Snake]

Mets give up Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. Note that they managed to avoid giving up Fernando Martinez as well as Pelfrey.

In my opinion that is a much lesser package than that which was reportedly being bandied about by the Red Sox and Yankees during the winter meetings.

That's what I was thinking. Can anyone who has more minor league knowledge than myself shed some light on this? Are these Met prospects generally regarded as better than those offered by the Red Sox and Yankees?

[Jacksonian]

That's what I was thinking. Can anyone who has more minor league knowledge than myself shed some light on this? Are these Met prospects generally regarded as better than those offered by the Red Sox and Yankees?

2 things.  1) What were the Red Sox actually offering, as opposed to rumored to be offering?  2) What's most important is how the Twins evaluated the prospects offered, not how highly I or BA or BP or anyone else regards them.

[Duman]

Just read that one of the winners in this may be the red sox.  Got to keep all their prospects and keep Santana from the Yankees just by keeping the negotiations going.  I don't know about this but thought it was an interesting take.

[Bench]

1) What were the Red Sox actually offering, as opposed to rumored to be offering? 

That, I think, is the crux. All the Red Sox/Yankees smoke during the winter meetings may have been just that. Each side agreeing with the Twins to play along to drive up the price, each hoping the other would bite and the Twins hoping someone else would suddenly jump in.

[MusicMan]

That, I think, is the crux. All the Red Sox/Yankees smoke during the winter meetings may have been just that. Each side agreeing with the Twins to play along to drive up the price, each hoping the other would bite and the Twins hoping someone else would suddenly jump in.

Oh, I think Little Boss very much wanted him, but the BoSox bid him up enough to let Cashman talk him out of it.

[MusicMan]

Is it odd that ESPN.com isn't reporting this as a done deal? 

They are

[pravata]

I hope Ed Wade has Livan Hernandez on the speed dial.

Remember when Ed Wade used to call us every day and let us know every little thing that was on his mind and on his to do list?  Now, it's like he doesn't even know us anymore.  Not even Alyson Footer knows who he's made his latest offer to, here's her answer to whether the Astros are interested,

If the Mets wind up trading for Johan Santana, they likely won't be interested in Hernandez or Lohse, and perhaps if they're still out there in the days leading up to Spring Training, the Astros could jump in with a bid. We'll just have to wait and see. Link

"Wait and see", I hate that.

[pravata]

Oh, I think Little Boss very much wanted him, but the BoSox bid him up enough to let Cashman talk him out of it.

Yeah he was drawing lines in the sand just like Bugs Bunny.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

They are

Thanks... I should have waited 10 minutes before asking...

[Reuben]

Just read that one of the winners in this may be the red sox.  Got to keep all their prospects and keep Santana from the Yankees just by keeping the negotiations going.  I don't know about this but thought it was an interesting take.

Same goes for the Yankees. I'm sure they and the Red Sox are both breathing sighs of relief right now.

[pravata]

2 things.  1) What were the Red Sox actually offering, as opposed to rumored to be offering?  2) What's most important is how the Twins evaluated the prospects offered, not how highly I or BA or BP or anyone else regards them.

Jon Heyman takes a stab http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/01/29/Santana.traded/?cnn=yes

"Santana Central" at the Minnesota Star Tribune
http://nc.startribune.com/blogs/neal/?p=320#comments

[jbm]

2 things.  1) What were the Red Sox actually offering, as opposed to rumored to be offering?  2) What's most important is how the Twins evaluated the prospects offered, not how highly I or BA or BP or anyone else regards them.

Gomez must be highly regarded by the Twins and be the prize of the deal in their mind.  I realize he is young for his level and he must look like a load of potential to observers, but has he really ever excelled at any level?  Humber - ho hum.  He looks like a lot of borderline pitchers.  The other two, who knows.  It just seems like the Twins acquired a lot of question marks.  Given the rumors of the Red Sox offer, I expected a lot more. 

[remy]

God damn it.

[toddthebod]

Same goes for the Yankees. I'm sure they and the Red Sox are both breathing sighs of relief right now.

Doubt that.  The Yankees and Mets are constantly battling for the back pages of the tabloids and for the heart of the city (and more important -- for the corporate dollars).  The Mets won this one today. 

[coop]

Santana pretty much held all the chips and power through the entire process with his no trade clause.  I'd have to think that the Twins were under a lot of pressure to make this...or any...deal happen this week. 

[BatGirl]

Ed Wade has Livan Hernandez Brian Moehler on the speed dial.

fify

[Duman]

fify

Guess you had already seen that they signed him today.

[austro]

Guess you had already seen that they signed him today.

It says something disturbing about the Astros' situation when you look at his 64-83 career record and 4.75 career ERA and think "well, that might help".

[BatGirl]

Guess you had already seen that they signed him today.

yeah...and bit of a surprise.  let's see how he looks in a few weeks.

[juliogotay]

yeah...and bit of a surprise.  let's see how he looks in a few weeks.

I'm betting he'll look alot like he did last year.

[DVauthrin]

I really hope this allows the astros to get Livan on a short term deal.   He would give them the innings they sorely needed from jennings last season.

[VirtualBob]

I'm betting afraid he'll look alot like he did last year.

fify

[das]

I'm betting he'll look alot like he did last year.

50-60 innings of middle inning slop.  There is a place for that on most teams and he'll either play his way on the team in ST or go home.  Not a bad signing.  Livan signing makes this less of an issue as he hands the ball to the back end.  Here's hoping...

[S.P. Rodriguez]

So, I have to confess that I was/am hoping this deal falls thru.  The Mets have been lacking high quality pitching the past couple years, leading me to conclude they were a good regular season team but doomed to struggle during the divisional race/playoffs. 

Adding Santana, assuming he is healthy, pushing Pedro from the #1 spot in the rotation to #2 spot, I don't see any team other than Arizona with a top of the rotation that strong.  I realize Pedro isn't what he used to be, but I think he'll be pretty damn effective in the second spot in that rotation.  Follow that up with Oliver Perez and John Maine (solid in the 3-4 spots), I'm thinking Atlanta and Philly will have a tough time this year.

[pravata]

So, I have to confess that I was/am hoping this deal falls thru.  The Mets have been lacking high quality pitching the past couple years, leading me to conclude they were a good regular season team but doomed to struggle during the divisional race/playoffs. 

Adding Santana, assuming he is healthy, pushing Pedro from the #1 spot in the rotation to #2 spot, I don't see any team other than Arizona with a top of the rotation that strong.  I realize Pedro isn't what he used to be, but I think he'll be pretty damn effective in the second spot in that rotation.  Follow that up with Oliver Perez and John Maine (solid in the 3-4 spots), I'm thinking Atlanta and Philly will have a tough time this year.

George Vecsey of the NY Times (probably a Yankee sympathizer,) I hate to bring up an unpleasant reminder, but this is also the team that managed to squander a 7-game lead with 17 to play, the biggest collapse in baseball history with that few games left.
Link

They're replacing Glavine with Santana.   Moises Alou is a year older, and Ryan Church is in rightfield.   They could win it all, but they're going to have to grow up. 

[Tralfaz]

Oo, thanks for reminding me about the steM owning the biggest collapse in baseball history.  Smiling ear to ear.

[Limey]

Oo, thanks for reminding me about the steM owning the biggest collapse in baseball history.  Smiling ear to ear.

Interesting.  On the flipside, who owns the greatest comeback...?

[Froback]

Interesting.  On the flipside, who owns the greatest comeback...?

Depends on when you start the clock.  With 20 games left, 50 games left, 100 games left....  biggest deficit ever made up from any point?

See my point?

[VirtualBob]

Depends on when you start the clock.  With 20 games left, 50 games left, 100 games left....  biggest deficit ever made up from any point?

See my point?

So what team has been dead last with 160 games to play and come back to win the world series?

[Reuben]

Doubt that.  The Yankees and Mets are constantly battling for the back pages of the tabloids and for the heart of the city (and more important -- for the corporate dollars).  The Mets won this one today. 

Well, some of the Yankees. I bet Brian Cashman, for example, is relieved that he didn't have to give up 2 or 3 of his best young pitchers to keep Santana from going to the Red Sox. Also, how many back pages of the tabloids had "Joba Rules!!!" or some variation on them last fall? I think they (and Theo Epstein also) realize that the kids have some serious fan appeal these days too.

[Noe]

Not for nuttin', but if the Mets land Santana (and every indication is that they will), they will be the odds on favorite in my book to win the World Series, much less the National League Pennant.  Pitching and defense sets teams apart and then just enough offense.  Face it, Carlos Beltran is the best CF in the MLB (again, in my book).  If Reyes has his head on straight and playing the type of defense he's capable of, that is yet another defensive cog in place.  But perhaps the best non-radar move that the Mets made this offseason is retaining Ramon Castro.

Excellent under the radar move by Omar Minaya because that almost solidifies a very strong up the middle defense for an already strong rotation pitching in a pitchers haven that is Shea Stadium.  Letting Paul LoDuca walk was met with consternation by the one and only Billy Large Mouth Wagner of course, but it was the best decision to make for the team's sake.  LoDuca was a horrible game caller and even worse catcher defensively.  Castro is much better and in that offense, you don't need him to hit for high average nor for power (which he can provide on occasion).  But just to hedge his bet, Minaya went out and got a backup catcher that is offensive minded: Brian Schneider.  Left handed stick too.  If Schneider is given the lion share of the work by Randolph, then they should fire him immediately.  Why in heavens name would you even bother to worry about Castro as the batterymate for most if not all of the season for the strong rotation (with or even without Santana)?

Put him in there and forgetaboutit!

Castro, Reyes, Castillo and Beltran defensively up the middle... WOW!

Delgado, Wright, Alou (when healthy) and Ryan Church in the corners... man oh man, if they had just one more steady outfielder for the corners, that is one powerful lineup of corner men.

That is a winning formula.  (Hey, remember, I'm a jinx... so save your "are you smoking crack" comments... m'kay!)

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Prior to your post, I was thinking the same thing.  I feel better now...

[pravata]

...That is a winning formula.  (Hey, remember, I'm a jinx... so save your "are you smoking crack" comments... m'kay!)

Leadership.  That's what sunk them last season.  No focus at the end. Couple of seasons ago I thought Beltran was going to be the man, taking Wright and Reyes into his circle, but the effects aren't showing.  Pedro is too wierd, Alou too regal, Wagner is a joke in that regard, Randolph couldn't pull them together last season.  Maybe if Castro is in a starting role he can add that too. 

[Bench]

By the way, the Mets and Johan have reached a deal. The whole package is supposed to be about $152 million. An average of $22 million over the 6 year extension, plus a $7 million signing bonus on top of the $13.25 mil owed for this season.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/sports/baseball/02mets.html?ref=baseball