« On Gotham Baseball Live - Wed., 1/23/08 | Main | Howard: Enough With Boston »
January 23, 2008
Mets In The Lead For Santana?
From Jon Heyman -
Once written off as an extreme long shot in the long-running Johan Santana drama, the Mets may actually be the favorite now. At the very least, there are indications now that they are engaging in more regular dialogue with the Twins in recent days than either the Red Sox or Yankees. And Mets general manager Omar Minaya, who loves a big deal but hasn't made one since the winter before last, has told some people in the business, "We have a shot.''
Well, if true, at the least, he won't be in Boston. So, it could be worse news for Yankees fans.
Posted by WW Staff at January 23, 2008 12:53 PM
Comments
Apart from the Twins keeping him for the season, that's actually the best news.
Posted by: Rich ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 23, 2008 01:57 PM
I agree with Rich, I don't see why him ending up at Shea/Citi would be bad news for Yanks fans. If the Mets were to get him, not losing Hughes/Melky/AJax and not seeing him in Boston is a double-win.
Posted by: MJ at January 23, 2008 02:42 PM
If the Twins wanted the Mets third rate prospects this deal would be done. They want a Yankee deal. And as long as they dont give up Hughes, Cashman will do it.
Posted by: Josh at January 23, 2008 03:08 PM
Bill Smith is not going to come out of this looking well. He could made a deal a long time ago and held a press conference with either Phil Hughes or Ellsbury and now he might be stuck with a bunch of prospects that aren't that good that the Twins fans will flatulate all over.
The Mets' system is essentially bare. Their best pitching prospect (if you don't include Pelfry) isn't even as good as Alan Horne. Just think about that: if Horne was in the Mets' system he would be the best pitching prospect they have.
They hurt Carlos Gomez's status by rushing him, and Martinez and the other pitching prospect that keeps getting mentioned are just 18/19-year-old kids.
It's pretty obvious at this point that the best deal the Twins were going to get was out there already, and now they're going to have to settle for a lesser package of players.
I understand this from the Twins' point of view. They had the best pitcher in baseball and wanted everything in sight. But only one year of the best pitcher in baseball plus that huge contract and he really wasn't worth that much. So instead of compromising they sat back, pouted, sucked their thumb, and acted like things would change.
So now he either ends up in Shea or hits free agency. Bill Smith's first move as a GM looks like a stumble.
Posted by: baileywalk at January 23, 2008 03:45 PM