According to an article in the Pioneer Press, the Red Sox are the frontrunners in the race for Johan Santana.
A little birdie says the Boston Red Sox have become the favorite in the Johan Santana trade sweepstakes.
The Twins would receive four players for the Twins’ two-time Cy Young Award winner, including center fielder Coco Crisp, 28.
Others would be shortstop prospect Jed Lowry, 23; left-handed pitcher Jon Lester, 23; and right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson, 22.
Before a deal could be made, the Red Sox would have to have time to negotiate a contract extension with Santana, 28, who can become a free agent after next season and could have a market value as high as $150 million over six years.
Lowry did not play in the major leagues this year but is considered ready and is a good-fielding shortstop who also can hit. Lowry had a slugging percentage of .500 at Class AA and Class AAA this year.
Lester made a comeback from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma a year ago and is said to be cancer-free.
Masterson, 6 feet 6, 245 pounds, had 59 strikeouts in 58 innings at Class AA Portland.
The New York Yankees don’t have the prospects available who the Twins figure have a reasonable chance to play in the major leagues by the end of 2008.
That’s very interesting to me as last night it seemed like the Yankees had the upper hand in this. Stay tuned folks, the hot stove is officially warming up now.
I can’t see the twins accepting that deal,but if the are willing to do it,I say get Johan to Boston.You aren’t giving up your top pitching or position prospect.You have one guy (Crisp who is already mentioned in trade talks another(Lowrie)who doesn’t have a spot on the major league team and Masterson who is currently in double A.Great deal for the Sox IF they do it.
Ian, I just read the same article and posted it! I don’t know what to think, but it seems that sacrificing Jon and Coco, and the two lesser known names, is a good (maybe too good?) deal.
I’m floored…..
I’ve said earlier that this would be the deal I would do. So like Gerry said, let’s do it. I just saw this from Tony Massarotti.
I think it would robbery if the Twins took Coco instead of Ellsbury. I’m sorry but you gotta pony up more chips to land Santana. It almost seems like a slap in the face the Sox are trying to throw in Coco in this deal instead of a chip like Jacoby.
Gotta give up players to get the best pitcher in baseball folks!
What the Red Sox is offering is a fair deal. You are given the a CF who can flat out play, a pitcher who’s shown he can pitch and the two MLB ready prospects.
The Mets are also willing to trade Jose Reyes to get Santana which I found to be shocking.
If you can get Santana without giving up Ellsbury Or Buchholz you ABSOLUTELY do it and it would be a steal for the sox in a way. Sure it’s hard to just trade Lester, but it’s a business and it’s worth it.
These stupid Reyes rumors floated around months ago and not many close to the Mets really believe its true. Most of the Mets community believes it wont happen and many fans, including me would not want this at all. I think the Mets would ultimately not part with Reyes. The Mets want and need Santana more than the Sox but they don’t have the pieces. It’s between the Sox and the Yanks I believe. Hopefully, this deal works out.
I just saw on rotoworld that the Dodgers are scared off by the Twins’ demands.
It’s the second article in his news.
Sam here is the link for what I saw about Reyes.
Gotta give up the best to get the best folks. There are no free handouts!
Beckett-Santana-Dice-K-Schilling
Yanks will pony up and give up hughes if this deal goes into the late hours.
What’s going to happen is one team will swoop in at the last minute with an offer the Twins can’t refuse.
Plus, I think he looks better with a Sox cap on.
Buster Olney is reporting that the Red Sox and Twins are working on the framework of the deal but it hasn’t been established yet. Lester, Coco, and Lowrie are the primary 3 while he’s not sure of the 4th although he says it might be Michael Bowden.
For those who don’t have espn insider, you can read the article here.
I think what it comes down to is that the Yankees cupboard is pretty bare, outside of their “untouchables”. The other thing is that they can’t just let the Yankees be the only game in town. If the Yankees REALLY want Santana they are going to have to pay a heavy price.
It’s really what the Yankees did to the Red Sox for years. Payback is a bitch.
Not to mention… that starting rotation makes me giddy.
It’s a very nice rotation to dream about. Let’s hope it becomes reality.