I said I would wait until he officially was traded before doing this, but the Mets have come to terms with Santana on a six year, 137.5 million contract on top of the 13.25 million Santana is makig next season. This is the most money any pitcher in the history of baseball has ever made. With that said, let me give my thoughts.
Winners: Mets, Red Sox
The Mets pulled off one of the best, if not the best, trade of the offseason. Getting the best picher in basbeall to complement that staff makes the Mets the favorites to land in the World Series this season....and next season...and next season....in the Junior Varsity League that is called the National League.
Pitchers like Santana don't come around that often. The man's stuff is tantalizing. I dont care what offense in basbeall you support, when you see Johan Santana, your chances of winning the game go downhill dramatically.
The Mets had a mediocre team before this trade, especially in terms of pitching. Asking John Maine or Oliver Perez to be a numer one starter (Pedro is not the old Pedro) is too much to ask. Now, the Mets are set with a good blend of young and old pitching. When Mike Pelfrey is your tenative fifth starter (I heart the Mets may sign Kyle Loshe 1 yr/$5 mill) is that bad at all?
And the Mets did the trade without giving up any prospects which now seem like great prospects. Fernando Martinez is the Mets best prospect and they didnt even have to give him up. As Peter Gammons said none of the Mets prospects crack the Yankees or Red Sox top 10 list.
Doing this trade with such little given up is pure brilliance by Minaya.
The Red Sox are winners in this ordeal because Santana did not end up a Yankee. No matter which way you slice it, the Yankees need an ace. Lots of Yankee fans are writing how they are happy that the Red Sox didn't get Santana, but the more pressing matter is the Red Sox didn't need him. The Yankees do.
In case anyone has forgotten, the Red Sox have this guy named Josh Beckett who just happens to be pitching's version of Mr. October. By the Yankees not getting Santana, the Red Sox can rest easily. Who is the Yankees ace to take on Beckett? Wang? Wan'gs my boy, but the man has never come up big in his life.
Neutral/Losers: Twins/Yankees
As of right now, this deal seems to be grand theft larcenary on the side of the Mets. The Twins gave up the best player in baseball for four minors guys who aren't destined to be good mlb players. I would mark them as complete losers in this case, but you have to let these players develop before making the final judgement.
And onto my beloved Yankees. Let me state first, I wish we had done this deal. I would've traded Hughes, Cabrera and Horne for Santana. The contract was too high? Give me a break. With luxury tax, Santana would have cost $28 million. How much are we paying A-Rod, Giambi, Jeter? Santana deserves it. Since when don't the Yankees spend money.
These prospects are too good to give up? There are two points to prospects-1) keep them 2)trade them. Brian Cashman has this assanine belief that everyone of the Yankees prospects will turn out to be a stud and the team wil be full of farm players? The belief tat Joba, Phil and Ian will be great pitchers this season is assanine. George King of the New York Post and John Heyman of Sports Illustrated both said that having one of the three have a good season would be an accomplishment?
I understand that Cashman wants young pitching, but let's not forget, you don't win World Series based on homegrown pitching? Two of Boston's biggest pitchers in the years they have won the World Series were free agents/trades (Schilling, Pedro, Beckett). Homegrown rotations dont win the ship. Period.
The Yankees need an ace. As much as Wang is the man, he can't win in the postseason and can't match Josh Beckett. Andy Pettite is done after this season. And Joba, Phil and Ian can't match Beckett either. The Yankees are clearly without an ace and it will hurt us? How many Yankees fan would honestly feel good sending out Wang against Beckett in a one gam playoff?
The Yankees may be the biggest losers of this ordeal of Santana takes the Mets to three-four World Series during his tenure while the Yankees struggled in the American League. I honestly believe the Yankees are going to miss the playoffs this season.
Imagin the headlines now: Mets in World Series with Santana-Where are the Yankees with Hughes?
It will get rubbed in the Yankees face constantly.
These are my thoughts on this trade.
Again, to all Mets fans. Congrats. This is the trade you've been waiting for.
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