Comments on: Johan, Finally

By: hub

hub — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:09:28 +0000

Time to awake from the dream.

The Providence Journal reports:
“Santana, who has a full-no trade clause and intends to wield it to land a six-year contract extension from any team striking a deal for him, told the Twins that he would veto a trade to any team except the Yankees or Red Sox. He also warned them that he would not accept a deal in-season, forcing the Twins to move him this week or lose him to free agency after the 2008 season, when his current contract expires.”

By: eponymous coward

eponymous coward — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:34:30 +0000

143-

Why would I want to imagine that lineup? You have a horrible defensive 1B and LF, and Chen and Clement have by no means proven they are ready for MLB based on their minor league performances (Chen is OLDER than Lopez, which should tell you why it’s a bit early to label Lopez a bust). Santana and Kuroda improve things, sure, but you arguably have 4 positions where you are below average (2B, 1B, DH and LF), a couple of positions at around league average (SS and RF), one a bit above (C), and two superior ones (CF and 3B).

That just doesn’t scream “division winner” to me.

By: joser

joser — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:23:37 +0000

Seattle simply doesn’t have the trade pieces NY and Boston can offer (if they choose to make them available). But it’s not just media focus, and it’s not just what the Twins are interested in. It’s also what Santana wants. He has a full no-trade clause. If he tells them he’s only interested in AL East teams, or he’s only interested in teams that won their division or the WC in the last two years, or he’s only interested in teams that at least have a shot at the postseason, or he’s interested in any team except that basketcase in the upper left corner of the country, that sets the parameters. The Twins are only going to talk to teams Santana is interested in. You can rosterbate all you want, but that doesn’t change the facts: Santana is in the driver’s seat on this.
And there’s no sign he’s interested in stopping here.

By: Walrus

Walrus — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:39:14 +0000

Fin190…I wish I had your optimism, but Bavasi scares me. If Kuroda does not take the M’s offer, I’ll bet this Guillen issue will be small, compared to the hoopla that will come.
However, I do firmly believe, even if Bavasi gets both Kuroda and Fukodome, trades for Santana, and signs Colon…the best that the M’s can hope for is the wildcard. There is no way the M’s can catch the Angels this next year, especially when they get Cabrera or Tejada and one or two more.

By: thefin190

thefin190 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:16:50 +0000

Not that impressed with that lineup. Especially with Sexson and Ibanez still in left field. Fukudome isn’t coming to the U.S. and that rotation is a #1, a #1.5, and bunch of 4s (Batista is possibly a three). But again, I think the Twins seem to be more interested in the Yankees or Red Sox packages for Santana rather than the Mariners.

At the same time, the media always seems to love to focus on the Red Sox and Yankees, and not so much on the other teams. I guess we don’t know what actually is happening.

By: msb

msb — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:57:54 +0000

it’s nothing to do with cash.

By: fwbrodie

fwbrodie — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:53:22 +0000

Imagine:
Johan Santana
Felix Hernandez
Jarrod Washburn
Miguel Batista
Hiroki Kuroda

CF Ichiro
2B Chi-Chen
3B Beltre
LF Ibanez
1B Sexson
RF Fukudome
C Johjima
DH Clement
SS Betancourt

If only the Mariners could spend a little bit more cash.

By: thefin190

thefin190 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:37:58 +0000

Guillen’s whole HGH ordeal should’ve lessened his value atleast a little right? I don’t know if I wanted him back, but if it was either him or seeing Raul in left field for another year, I would take Guillen. We’ll just see what Bavasi does at the winter meetings.

Walrus, just because the Mariners aren’t a WS caliber team doesn’t mean that we should write them off now. We will just have to wait to see what Bavasi does this offseason before we make that prediction.

By: msb

msb — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:30:22 +0000

take it with the usual grain of salt:

“Sources told FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal that Johan Santana has informed the Twins he will not waive his no-trade protection to allow an in-season trade.”

By: Walrus

Walrus — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:25:55 +0000

The M’s NEED another corner OF…and Guillen would be a decent get for one year, even if he was paid $10 mil. The reasons he is worth it are:
1. better than Raul for OF defense
2. a proven right handed hitter for Safeco field
3. Since the M’s FO and or Bavasi believe in vocal team leaders, and having a player with “attitude”…now Bavasi has to go get another one, which will probably be more like Everett
4. should force Bavasi to trade Sexson (or remote chance of Vidro or Ibanez), because even the M’s FO has to realize the M’s have too many 1B / DH types.
5. Guillen would bring a decent player back in a trade at the AS Break, when the M’s are totally out of the race this year.