The reason for this post is to see whether or not Twins fans are happy with the trade of Johan Santana to the Mets, if Mets fans are happy to have Johan (I can’t see why they wouldn’t be), if Red Sox fans are happy to keep the young kids or if Red Sox fans think the Red Sox should have done more and the same for Yankees fans.
My thoughts throughout this whole soap opera have wavered at times. When I first heard about the potential deal back in late November, I thought it would be a great deal for the Red Sox. The Red Sox had two initial offers back at the beginning of this saga, one was Jon Lester, Jed Lowrie, Coco Crisp and Michael Bowden. The other deal was Jacoby Ellsbury, Lowrie and Bowden.
My favorite of the two deals was the Lester deal back in the day. In giving up Lester, I didn’t think it would hurt the Red Sox as much as losing Ellsbury would be. You don’t know how Lowrie and Masterson will turn out in the big leagues. You already knew that Lester could pitch and that Coco could play. I didn’t like the Ellsbury deal due to the fact that he was outstanding in his short time with the Red Sox in the regular season and in the playoffs. Many felt he could have been the MVP of the World Series.
But as time went on and I read other blogs and other media sources, my thoughts began to change. Is signing Santana worth it to the Sox? With all the money he wants, I didn’t want to see the Red Sox hemorrhage themselves with even more payroll then they already have when you have the young talent that could help the Red Sox out. With the likes of Lester and Clay Buchholz competing for the 5th spot this year plus Justin Masterson and Bowden waiting in the wings, I thought the Red Sox would be better served with those guys than mortgaging the fort for Santana. And now all of us in Red Sox Nation can exhale and breathe a sign of relief that we didn’t lose any of these guys.
I’ll be honest with y’all, I am glad that he went to a National League team.
My biggest question now is will the Red Sox trade Coco or keep him? I’d like to see the Red Sox trade Coco for some more middle relief help and maybe a prospect. This would give the Sox a chance to re-sign Bobby Kielty who I feel could be invaluable asset off the bench for the Sox as he proved down the stretch and in the World Series.
As far as the trade goes, I really think the Twins didn’t get enough from the Mets. I left this in a comment just earlier but if you listen to Peter Gammons analysis of the trade, he thinks the Red Sox and Yankees offers were much better than what the Twins excepted. Carlos Gomez is good but lacks plate discipline. Kevin Mulvey and Philip Humber will probably be nothing more than 3rd or 4th starters in the rotation and Deolis Guerra is still a long ways from reaching the big leagues as he only pitched in A-ball last season.
I am now going to enjoy a piece of my birthday cake so the forum is open to you. Even if you’re not a fan of the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets or Twins, you too can sound off in the comments section.
Bummed doesn’t even cut it for me.
I am sure most if not all Twins fans feel the same way Sooze.
Well as a Mets and Sox fan, I guess I have a unique perspective of the deal. I, like Ian, am ultimately happy that he didn’t end up in the AL with the Sox. The Sox never have NEEDED Santana and I did not really want to see Lester, Ellsbury, or anyone else go. The Sox are lined up to be great for years and there was no reason to mess with it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
As for the Mets, their rotation was broke and thus they needed fixing. The Mets fans have demanded for months that Omar do something big and the Mets biggest need was for a top starting pitcher. Obviously, this is a great deal for the Mets. I’m sad to see Gomez go, but I never really saw him as a future star…he will be a very good player, but not a star. Humber has not impressed me at all, but I do think Mulvey has some good potential. Guerra’s too young for me to judge. So, the Mets gave up some of their top prospects, but they didn’t give up #1-Fernando Martinez. “Scouts,” say he’ll be a middle of the order power hitter within the next 3-4 years. I don’t know if I believe it, but I’m shocked Mets got this deal done without giving him up. They also kept their biggest young pitcher Mike Pelfrey. What happened to the days where it was Reyes or no deal? The Mets gave up 4 top 10 prospects, but ultimately it was still a steal. Santana will cost a ton of money, but he’ll be dominant in a big ballpark in the NL. This deal makes the Mets a serious contender and will make Met fans extremely happy for years to come. A great, great deal for the Mets. I am extremely thrilled and can’t wait to see him pitchin in front of sell-out crowds @ Shea this season, and eventually Citi Field.
Most importantly, Santana did not end up a Yankee. That should make everyone quite happy.
Happy to know the young ‘uns will be staying with the Sox. How many more days before pitchers and catchers?
How many more days before pitchers and catchers?
About 15 days. For your viewing pleasure, the countdown is up in the top left on the sidebar.
I have to agree Sam, I think we are all glad he didn’t up as a member of the Yankees. I’ve been saying it a lot lately, the Mets had the biggest need for Santana because of their pitching rotation. With Pedro anchoring the rotation, they probably wouldn’t have competed for the NL East. Now they may be the favorites.
I still don’t understand how Minaya pulled that deal off with out giving up Pelfrey and F-Mart
I said all along I was willing to trade either guy to get a two time cy young winner and it still amazes me that people wouldnt make that deal. Its like the poll in Boston where people said not to trade Al Jefferson for Kevin Garnett. Uh ya.
I couldn’t care less about the money they’d pay him, they’re gonna pay someone else inthe next year or two especially when they decide to kepp or replace Manny. It’s not mymoney I don’t care. I cant afford tickets like I could in the past so another $150 mil is nothing to me.
I am happy that seeing he was traded it wasn’t to the Yankees. That made my day. I am far from heartbroken the Sox didn’t get him because I think most of the guys they were proposing as part of the deals will turn out to be good players. Plus I hate the fact that the Twins held the Sox hostage from other potential deals involving Crisp.
As for the Twins, they got bent over and pounded by an extremely poor GM while all of MLB watched. This is the first big deal for the new Twins GM and he didnt do a good job. I saw Phil Humber pitch 4 or 5 years ago in the Cape League, he was good but he slipped on his progression to the bigs and if I recall there was an injury there too. The other three guys, much like Humber, appear to be guys the Mets overvalued like they have most of their other prospects the last 20 years.
Twins fans better hope Morneau, Mauer and Cuddayer hit a lot HRs and drive in a lot of runs because they’re gonna need them. Oh and I also heard they were or are shopping their closer, Joe Nathan but got nothing “of value” in return. Based on this deal today sounds like someone could have Nathan for some candy bars and a milk shake.
to me sure i wanted santana..in the end i thought giving up the kids was to much but if the deal got done i would have been ok w/it. i think the mets needed something and they got it. if i had been in minnesota i would have resigned him to tell you the truth how do you open a new stadium with no stars on your team.(i just don’t get that logic.)i grew up following the mets and sox so when the yankees don’t get what they want/need i’m happy. if next year the mets and sox go farther in the playoffs than the yanks its a win /win situation for everyone. there’s always other free agents the money doesn’t matter so in the end there’s no loss here.
Thanks everyone so far for your thoughts. It seems everyone does have a differing opinion.
One other thing to think about is that C.C. Sabathia will be a free agent at the end of this year and will probably want a similar deal to what Santana will get with the Metropolitans.
if i had been in minnesota i would have resigned him to tell you the truth how do you open a new stadium with no stars on your team.(i just don’t get that logic.
1. Justin Morneau – already won a MVP
2. Joe Mauer – won a batting title/best young catcher in the game
3. Joe Nathan – one of baseball’s best closers
4. Francisco Liriano -saw this kid in the minors he can be better than Santana
5. Delmon Young – runner up to Pedroia for ROY, little ‘unstable’ but I think the Twins will be good for him
That’s a pretty good start and more than some teams have. The question shouldn’t be not having stars for the new park it should be do they have enough overall talent to compete year in year out with the Indians and Tigers.