What do you guys think of the prospects the Mets gave up/Twins received?
I wonder if the Twins wouldn't have been better off taking Jacoby Ellsbury from Boston instead of the four prospects they got from the Mets. With Ellsbury, at least they'd be assured of getting one impact player in return. I'm not sure they got a real impact player from the Mets.
Baseball wisdom usually says that whoever got the best individual player won the trade, but whenever the best player is a pitcher, his health relative to the length of his contract can matter more.
So what would worry me, if I were a Mets fan, is that Santana seemed to wear down in the second half last year. If they give a declining Santana a 7-year contract worth more than Zito's $126 million deal, they could be stuck paying a lot of money for a lot of years. Realistically, for this deal to work, the Mets need to get the Santana of 2004-06, or at worst the Santana of '07 frozen in time. That seems unlikely to me, just because he has a lot of mileage on his arm now, and has started giving up more home runs.
No matter how it works out, though, it's unlikely to be a disaster on the level of the Cardinals' trade for Mark Mulder for the '05 season. Mulder had worn down in the second half of '04 (much more dramatically than Santana declined late last summer), but the Cards still gave up their best hitting prospect (Daric Barton) and their best young pitcher (Dan Haren). And they didn't just get burned, they get branded.
The Twins have a pretty good track record with the prospects they get in this type of trade.
If Liriano (sp?) comes back anything like '06 (big if) the #1 spot in the rotation is in pretty good shape.
If the Twins are competitive and at least two of these guys are significant contributors when the new ballpark opens, I think it will end up being a good deal.
I'm more disappointed that they got absolutely nothing for Torii Hunter.
I hate this trade, MN screwed this up so bad. I agree with Lou - they could have had TWO proven big leaguers, Elsbury or Melky Cabrera. I think the Yankees offer of Hughes and Melky, as well as Elsbury and Lester was FAR better than the Mets' offer. Gomez is fast, but I bet only 1 of the 3 prospects becomes an everyday type player.
I think Johan shut 'er down after the Twins traded Castillo and basically threw up the white flag on the season. I can see why he would, why get hurt when your $120 million dollar pay day is right around the corner. But I don't think I'd want that mentality on my team. Plus, he's had arm trouble and bone spurs - so I'd be a bit scared of giving him a 6 or 7 year deal.
I also hate it because now my Braves have to see him ALL THE TIME!!! BOOOO!!!
E
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"It's what you've got inside that matters. The details and technological things will take you only so far. You still have to pedal the bike. Some people are always looking for the magic secret. There's no secret. Just bust your ass." -Dave Zabriskie
The Mets have a way of making good players becoming mediocre. I'm not sweating him in the NL yet.
E,
You're a Braves fan. I thought you were a better guy than that.
You're just jealous
E
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"It's what you've got inside that matters. The details and technological things will take you only so far. You still have to pedal the bike. Some people are always looking for the magic secret. There's no secret. Just bust your ass." -Dave Zabriskie
That's cool, fair enough. I think a lot of fans are allowed to have a grudge, like I have against both the Twins and Yankees - they ALWAYS beat us in the World Series. Damn Jack Morris, damn HIM!!!!
E
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"It's what you've got inside that matters. The details and technological things will take you only so far. You still have to pedal the bike. Some people are always looking for the magic secret. There's no secret. Just bust your ass." -Dave Zabriskie
Agreed. Unless you're the Rays or Pirates, and then you know you are doomed from the start...
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"It's what you've got inside that matters. The details and technological things will take you only so far. You still have to pedal the bike. Some people are always looking for the magic secret. There's no secret. Just bust your ass." -Dave Zabriskie
I guess your Astros made up for it with that marathon 18 inning game. I teared up with that homer.
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"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
Those were an amazing set of years. I still remember the pain in my heart when Pujols hit that bomb off of Lidge. I was watching the game with all my friends at a bar. It was an awesome time. Until that pitch.
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Past performance is not indicative of future success.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Johan Santana
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