Every media outlet known to mankind is reporting the trade of Johan Santana to the Mets for Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra, andKevin Mulvey. How does this deal affect the Mets? How does the deal affect the Twins? How much does this affect the Sox and Yanks?
Other note: Michael Wilbon is recovering from a ‘mild’ heart attack. PTI is just not the same without him. Get well soon.
Based on what it seems was the priority of both the Yankees and the Red Sox, I think this deal is kind of good (or at least a relief) to both of them. They no longer have to worry about whether or not their chief rival will get him, and as a bonus, he’s now in the other league.
As a Yankees’ fan (I think that’s the first time I’ve admitted that here, although it could’ve been surmised by my support of the New York Football Giants), I’m kind of happy about it. I really would just like to see the team try to build for years behind the arms of Chamberlain and Hughes.
It should be obvious by now that you can’t buy a championship, nor can you do it simply from the strength of your farm system, but you have to have both. This may not really apply to the Yankees, but you need to have some relative bargains in order to have the money to spend on filling the gaps with free agents. Obviously, young players who haven’t yet reached their big payday are a prime example of such bargains.
That said, I did salivate over the prospect of Santana becoming a Yankee. I’m sure Red Sox fans have/had the same kind of mixed emotions. I actually think it’s riskier for the Yankees to pass on Santana in order to keep Hughes, and for the Red Sox to do the same for Ellsbury, but it’s a more attractive scenario to me.
Oh, and can you imagine how good Santana could be in the National League? Can you say Bob Gibson 1968? That’s still a tall order, but the potential certainly is there.
Chas-
You mention the word relief – I kinda had that sense when I heard of this deal. Even though you guys made a feasible argument here on the Clipboard, I never fully got comfortable with the Sox giving up a bunch of good young talent.
Agree with your comment about how to build a chan’ship team. You need to have the outline of a puzzle before you start fitting in any pieces you might find through free agency or vice versa.
Santana in the NL could be scary. That is if there isn’t any kind of jinx that goes along with the Mets and their acquiring of high-priced pitchers. Johan should pan out better than Hampton and even Pedro. Both those two did/have not earned their paychecks.
We’ll see how well the Mets recover from their September implosion.
Casey
Dittos on the Wilbon comment.
As far as Santana goes, I think it is the best thing that could have happened for the american League. How exciting will it be to watch all of these young players take over the two powerhouses of the AL East, the Yanks and the Sox, over the next few years? As a Yankees fan, of course I would have liked to have seen Santana in pin stripes, but not at the cost of Hughes, Kennedy, and Cabrera. I don’t think the Red Sox were ever really in the game for Santana; it seems as if they were just trying to push the price up for the Yankees, especially since when the Yankees appeared to leave the discussions the Red Sox didn’t swoop in and put a deal together.
Santana ended up in the place where it makes the most sense. The Mets need a number one staring pitcher and who’s better than Santana? Santana is set to become the face of that franchise, especially with a new stadium opening soon. I agree, Santana will totally dominate in the weaker hitting NL.
Is anyone else having a hard time picturing Santana batting?
Is it really over? I am not sighing in relief until the Mets sign Santana to that extension. That being said, was the Mets deal really better then the Sox or the Yankees for that matter? I think both the Yankees and the Red Sox fell off, leaving the Twins with only one realy option – the Mets.
Personally, I have to admit to salivating at the notion of Santana and Beckett being the 1-2 punch for Sox starting rotation. To give up Lester, I could live with.. Ellsbury ? Not so sure.. Definitely not both.
The fact is, the Sox were and are in a position of strength. They didn’t HAVE to do this deal. Winning a World Series and having an already good rotation will put you in that position.. especially with the young guys they have.
The Yankees – I agree and applaud their commitment to their youth movement. I still wonder about their starting rotation. Hughes and Kennedy are going to be starters. Will Chamberlain really be their starter? I have to see him pitch more then 1-2 innings. Something in my mind tells me he is the heir apparent to Rivera.
That being said.. I agree with Chas and that there needs to be a combination of a productive farm system and going out and getting the help you need. The Braves did this for years. I think Theo has been trying to follow that model and I think Cashman is as well.
Santana is going to have a monster year in the NL.. Weaker lineups and pitchers hitting? Good Lord…. Cy Young. Just give it to him.. It is like handing Tiger Woods the player of the year trophy now. Why wait until December. Just let him have the trophy and get his trophy case setup.. Beware all Mets fans, I just jinxed Johan Santana..
I look forward to this discussion in 2 or 3 years about “should the Red Sox/Yankees have offered more to get Santana”? I agree that both teams went against public expectation when they stood their ground and refused to up their bids to the Twins. I agree that to lose Lester would have been fine, but not Ellsbury! Just too much excitement in that kid just from the brief taste we Saux fans got this past fall- and everyday as opposed to once a week! But what are the Twins thinking with taking what some called the 3rd best offer they had? Is it true that he told the Twins that if they didn’t trade him by Tuesday that he would play out the year with them and not accept any trades, and become a free agent at the end of the year? Something just doesn’t seem right with the deal- but that’s OK with me!
Muels-
Back on the Clipboard!!!! Ding ! Ding! Ding!
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout.
Is it possible the Twins opted for the Mets so that they wouldn’t have to face Santana on a regular basis?
Casey
I’m still bummed about this trade… it’s gonna be a tough transition not seeing him on the hill at the Dome!