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According to the Pioneer Press, due to this year’s Cy-Young results, Johan Santana will soon have a no-trade clause for next season that allows him to only be traded to one of 12 teams.
However, Santana recently told the Star-Tribune that he will waive his no-trade clause assuming he is appropriately compensated and is 
traded to a team with a legitimate chance of winning a World Series.
…from what i can gather out of people who are close to santana, he has a lot of interest in playing in new york, specifically for the Mets, who play in the National League with out the designated hitter…that being said, as we learned last season with Barry Zito, as well as in so many other situations, money talks…but i sense that santana knows this is his time to shine on the big stage, and the Mets are probably his best option to hit all nails on the head…but, again, money talks…and to get him right now, pre-free agency, the Mets will have to pay with a lot of young talent in a trade…in other words, i think it’s safe to say that this will be the definitive storyline of shea’s off-season, as we chase rumors about santana all around baseball over the next few months, most likely starting at the Winter Meetings in early December…
Santana will enter the final season of a four-year, $39.5 million contract next season.
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Santana in his prime is what the Mets need. Omar should go to the twins and give him the roster and say “pick two” with the exception of Wright, Reyes, and Beltran…..I’d hope the twinkies would take Milledge……
Then sign him to a long term deal.
If he has an agent that is worth anything at all – the first thing he does is tell Santana not to sign any long term deals as part of a trade. He’d be completely foolish from strictly a business standpoint. He’d basically be taking a discount to do that. It ain’t happening guys.
The Mets would open the vault for him right now and give him the New York stage to exploit. Waiting a year (from an agent’s point of view) always presents the risk of an injury (especially with a pitcher).
The injury risk is a risk for the Mets if they give up Reyes, granted. But it was a risk for the Red Sox when they gave up their best prospects for Pedro. That worked out okay, no?
good point
….the conversation doesn’t even start without Reyes in it.
100% agreed. The Mets prospects are not strong enough to compete with what other teams would offer.
To get Santana, we’d have to give up either Reyes or Wright . I think the mets have enough offense to win without Reyes. Especiall the last few month, the Mets haven’t had trouble scoring without Reyes hitting. If we offer Reyes +(pick of Pelfrey/Humber) + Gomez. The deal could get done. The mets would need another throw in from the Twins but considering the fact that the twins don’t have a legit SS and are losing a top flight CF this would make sense. Since the Twins are playing on turf, that would help players like Reyes and Gomez.
As far as a replacement for Reyes, I’d like to see the mets go after David Eckstein. He’s scrappy, and he’s got the rings. With La Russa not sure if he’s going to be back this could happen.
OK . . . let’s say you move Reyes for Santana. Why would you include his logical replacement as lead-off hitter in Gomez? If you include Milledge, Gomez can mostly start in right with Endy as super sub spelling both Alou and Gomez.
Gomez / Chavez
Castillo
Wright
Beltran
Alou
Delgado
Gotay/FA SS
LoDuca
Are the Twins really this dumb? If they want to get anything for the guy, why would they insist on people they know won’t get traded? You guys are throwing names around like Santana is under contract for five years. If so, I’d agree with you. As it is, the Twins will get two first round picks if he leaves next year and nothing else. They are in no position to ask for Wright, Reyes, Utley types of players. they’d get laughed out of the building.
And no, you absolutely cannot trade Reyes for a one-year pitcher, even if his name is Jesus Christ.
Why the blasphemy? Unnecessary and offensive.
I agree with Nails here. While I think the pricetag will be high, if the Twins honestly believe they can’t sign him then there is no way they will ask for a Bowden type of deal.
Santana is an amazing pitcher, but lets be honest here, he has one year left on his contract.
So before all of you think it’s going to cost Gomez, Milledge, Humber, Pelfrey, Maine, Perez, and Reyes and possibly your fathers cufflinks, Think Again.
The only way the Mets lose out on this, is if another team with better prospects bites and overpays in a trade for Santana.
The only way you could give up alot of value is if he would be willing to negotiate a contact with the team trading for him.
I do not value the Mets prospects all that highly, but Pelfrey and Humber can turn into 4 or 5 starters at their worst.
PS Am I the only person that is happy that Jeff Conine and his nonexistent bat is gone?
I think every Met fan is happy that Conine is gone. He really was a waste of space.
It would cost Pelfrey, Mulvey, Gomez, and one more legitimate prospect to get Santana. At least. And the only way I would do that is if he’s already talking long term deal. If he reaches free agency, make no mistake, the Yankees WILL outbid everyone else for him. And that’s gonna bring the blasphemy to whole new level.
What about Andruw Jones patrolling a corner outfield spot? Then you could more easily package Milledge / Gomez.
thank you, I’m glad some people see it my way! Everyone is all “we’re not getting Santana without giving up Reyes, Wright, Beltran, both of our World Series trophies, and the keys to Citi Field,” and that’s just ridiculous. The Red Sox gave up 2 fairly highly regarded prospects (Carl Pavano and Tony Armas Jr.) for Pedro, and Pedro was coming off of a Cy Young season, and was younger than Santana is now. So why, if the Red Sox could get Pedro so cheaply, does everyone assume the Mets couldn’t do the same for Santana, coming off his worst season in 4 years, and after making his intentions of wanting to leave Minnesota very loud and clear? Pick any 3, or even 4 players from Humber, Pelfrey, Milledge, Gomez, FMart, and Heilman, and I’m sure the Twins would make that trade. It’s better than letting him walk at the end of the year for 2 draft picks.
Because:
A) other interested parties (Dodgers; Diamondbacks and maybe the evil empire) have better prospects to give up; and
B) the Twins saw what happened to the Expos post-Martinez and won’t allow this chit to be sold at below market costs.
Can I repeat for the 100th time. My willingness to give up Reyes is predicated on being given the time to sign Santana within a certain time-slot post-deal. A deal and sign is not unheard of.
While I am content to overpay – and would empty the farm system for this guy – I draw the line at Reyes. Despite the last few months, Reyes is special, a talented shortstop who is very young, reasonably compensated and a legit MVP candidate one day. It is hard to overvalue the worth of an impact shortstop, not to mention leadoff hitter.
Still, I throw everyone else out there (except Wright) to get this guy.
what if they traded Reyes and the signed ARod? I’d trade Reyes for ARod in a heartbeat, and this way you also get the best pitcher in baseball out of the deal.
Note, I don’t think this will happen, but I’m just saying, if signing ARod looks like a possibility, I’d be willing to give up Reyes for Santana. That, however, is the only circumstance in which I’d give up Reyes.
We’ve got to face facts. If it comes down to prospects for Santana the Mets are completely outgunned by any number of other interested parties: Diamondbacks and Dodgers for two. We’ve convinced ourselves that Milledge and Gomez are the next Mays and Clemente. They may turn out to be very nice players but they do not rank on anybody’s top 15 list of baseball prospects. And Pelfrey? Certainly the jury is out on him (even though he may indeed turn out to be a nice pitcher).
When you are attempting to get arguable the best pitcher in baseball at age 28 (you have to give up serious talent). Now all of this is predicated on reaching an agreement to sign him before the trade is finalized, but I’m with Buster Olney on this.
Reyes is the one chit we may have.
We may be outgunned in terms of prospects, but not in dollars. Remember that the team that wins the Santana sweepstakes has to pay through the nose to do so and not too many of them are in a position to do so.
Neither LA team and neither NY team would have any problem with shelling out 200M for the best pitcher in baseball. I wouldn’t count Arizona either, or Chicago if they don’t sign A-Rod.
You pay for rarity. The best pitcher in baseball in his prime is as rare as it gets. You won’t get him for less than Reyes….
See here the Met fan goes again with being afraid to pull the trigger. We have to hold on to this guy, and hold on to that guy.
Let me remind you….while Reyes might be “special” Johan Santana is THE BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL!
Not the National League….B-A-S-E-B-A-L-L.
Omar has to get this deal done for 2009 at the very least.
HAS TO. You have to unload the farm (which is no big loss anyway) and if it takes Reyes…you make the move.
All you Mets fans that don’t want that deal done…will be the same ones here in April 2008 complaining that we don’t have an ace, a stopper, a number 1 pitcher.
The Mets need pitching! Go get Johan. He trumps Reyes. End of story. Any other pitcher…I wouldn’t say it.
Good agressive teams get that done. But in typical fashion…I can see the Mets sitting on their hands again…..hoping they can turn Oliver Perez into a star. And the front office fantasy camp will continue with another quiet October.
Deals have to be one. Players have to be sacrificed.
Agreed. He is the best pitcher since Pedro and Randy in their prime. You include Reyes in a deal for this guy- no questions asked.
One year of Johan v. five years of Reyes. No, pitching doesn’t trump hitting that much.
1 World Series vs. 5 years of finishing behind the Phillies. We can’t outhit them, so we need to outpitch them. Santana lets us do that.
Santana is unreplacable while Reyes is. Love Reyes and his speed and talent but Santana in the NL in a pitchers park gives me wood right now. I would think Omar would only trade Reyes if we get a window to lock Santana up in a long term deal. And if that happens it must be done. I dont think Freddie “Coupons” would pony up the dough to sign Santana and ARod both though. Steinbrenner would and that is the difference between our ownerships. If Wilpon signed a check for Santana and ARod I would never criticize him again. Imagine having the best pitcher and the best position player in baseball on the Mets! My God!
A number one stud pitcher is just way more important to a team’s success than a basestealing shortstop with an attitude problem.
A pitcher who can successfully eat up innings (especially if he’s great) takes the pressure off of the rest of your staff and certainly takes the pressure off of your bullpen; since they know they’re not coming in in the sixth inning every game.
Santana is that guy.
I simply have a very hard time equating the value of ANY pitcher to a shortstop, let alone a leadoff, gold glove level shortstop who’s 4-5 years younger.
If we could sign Santana long term – much as I like Reyes – I would do it. Santana is just too good to pass up
I happen to live in Boston and for years it was even more unthinkable to consider trading Nomar. He was the heart and soul of the franchise. Home grown talent. Shorstop. Always MVP candidate. Mentioned in same breath at Jeter and A-Rod.
In 2004 they did the unthinkable and traded him.
If I remember correctly (and I do) the Sox did pretty well without him.
If Omar drops his shorts and trades the world for Santana, then gives him 25 illion a year, it will pretty much lock them in as also rans for years to come.
1 SP just can’t make that much of a difference when the team is old and needs improvement in a nuimber of areas. And without top prospects to either play, or get traded for needed parts, how are you going to do that? Not to mention no payroll flexibility!
I could live with just overpaying in FA $, assuming the Wilpons extend the payroll a bit for the new network and stadium (plus to make up for ‘07!), but that + wildly overpaying in prospects is too much.
Although maybe you are right. Santana + 1 or 2 good young hitters + a bunch of spare parts is guaranteed to go deep in the playoffs, right? I mean, the Twins are a lock for the series this year, aren’t they, with Santana dealing the winning blow every game?
Oh wait, he’s sitting home..
If you want to trade a younger SP (that can put up almost as many wins as Santana) + 3 top prospects, why not turn that into something like Slatalamchia (for example) + something else you need?
I just can’t support gutting the team for 1 SP (all of whom have to be considered an arm blow out waiting to happen!).
And if you want to, target someone that doesn’t have the “sexy” name, but puts up good numbers and shold cost less. maybe 75% of the results for 25% of the cost?
Oh wait, that would probably be the SPs they would have to send back!
A starting staff of Santana; Pedro; Maine; Perez and either Pelfrey or Humber gets you to the playoffs next year and for the next several years.
The Twins were gutted by injuries this year.
I can see it now. Santana gives up 1 run and loses in a CG. You need pitching to be a great team.
You also need an offense that can score runs. See the Dodgers and Padres.
Did you not watch the Mets in September? They were scoring 7-8 runs a game (the last Friday and Sunday notwithstanding) with ZERO help from Reyes.
Plan B would be to wait until the end of next year and sign him as free agent. Knowing how these tings have been going the past few years, I doubt Santana would sign a long term deal to a team he was traded to -simply because there is no bidding war and he was less leverage. I would not want him as a rental – too expensive.
So in reality guys, this is all probably a pipe dream. We should look elsewhere and keep him in our sites for 2009 – opening day at Citi
As for “potential superstar Jose Reyes”
2007 was his fifth year in the majors. He regressed in runs; hits; triples; batting average; home runs;slugging percentage and rbi’s. His OBP was exactly the same as last year. Yes he stole a lot of bases.
When you are a budding superstar shouldn’t the fifth year be where you really start to kick it into high gear?
Hey, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying I don’t want Reyes on my team. But if we want Santana (and I do) Mets prospects don’t get it done. We just don’t have enough. Reyes is the name that starts the ball rolling.
Reyes is 24 years old and you think he’s already reached his potential?
Lets put that in context:
When Albert Pujols was 24 he batted .331 with 46 hrs; when A-Rod was 24 he batted .318 with 52 hrs; when Jeter was 24 he batted .324 with 84 rbi’s; heck, hanley ramirez was only 23 when he batted .332 this year with 51 stolen bases.
I’m just saying by age 24 (and in your fifth year) a “potential superstar” should be acting more like a “superstar” and less like a “prospect”.
Has it occurred to you that Pujols may be somewhat of an exception?
That’s why I included four players on the list.
Hey, if you want to value Reyes like a superstar-to-be, that’s the company he’s going to be compared to.
But if you want more, here it goes: When Vlad Guerrero was 24 he batted .345 with 44 home runs; when junior griffey was 24 he hit .323 with 40 home runs; when (gulp) Chipper Jones was 24 he batted .309 with 110 rbis; when Nomar was 24 he batted .323 with 122 rbis.
Need more?
…and on the original list (Pujols; A-Rod; Jeter and Ramirez) three are/were shortstops.
Let me attempt to put this into context.
Every team in the league outside of Florida, the Yankees, and the Rockies would take Reyes off our hands.
….in a heartbeat.
A superfast SS basestealer that was batting above .300 for most of the year with 20 hr power, triples power in a different ballpark than shea, with a cannon for an arm and average-above average defense
Oh, and he is 24. Reyes is an extremely valuable player. I will still be around on this board next year to remind you of this.
Reyes is your exceptional leadoff hitter and the best basestealer in the league. He contributes 160 games a season. Santana contributes 33 games a year.
He is one of the faces of the franchise outside of Wright and Beltran. Get used to it for years to come.
Hellbelly, when Reyes was 23 he hit .300 with 19 home runs, 81 RBI, 64 SB, 17 3B. When he was 24 he had an off year. It happens.
How dare you introduce reason into this argument mister koo lol!
I feel the other guy was using reason too……it just didn’t coincide with your opinion….so you bash it.
like ignoring 3 and half seasons?
Sorry but throwing reyes away for one year of Santana as so many are ready to do riles me up.
I’d like to see how many of the DWright must go posters are saying the same about reyes right now. DWright silenced them after a slow start. I expect Reyes will do the same next year.
The guy has one bad half and everyone is ready to take him out back and put him down like Old Yeller.
This flies directly in the face of developing youngsters and having homegrown talent on the team.
Stache….repeat after me…..the trade of reyes is predicated on being able to sign Santana. No sign no trade. If you could sign Santana you do that trade immediately.
If not sooner.
k
How about this people?
Reyes for Kazmir..
i”d rather trade for Oswalt…..Beltran and Pelfrey for Roy oswalt….
…Only problem is there are about 3-4 CFs in the free agent market that are comparable to Beltran that Houston wouldn’t have to give up their best pitcher to get…
oswalt is getting old and is declining. houston has hunter pence in centerfield for years to come.
get a grip, never gunna happen.
D-Rays taking on guaranteed money? I don’t think so
If Santana can be had for Reyes, and say Pelfrey, obviously we get a window to sign him. Only way I make the deal and include Reyes. Let Gomez lead off. Juan Uribe is a free agent. He’s got pop and can hit lower in the order. Or we could also let Gotay or Hernandez compete for the job.
Santana is the real deal. Get him
Yes let Gomez lead off.
…..
….
Carlos Gomez of the .230 batting average and .260 obp?
That Carlos Gomez?
YOU CAN’T STEAL FIRST!
Just because you are fast, does not make you a leadoff hitter.
Besides bunt and play good defense, how is Gomez all that spectacular?
Anderson Hernandez? Gotay?
Hernandez can’t hit in the major leagues or he would have been our 2b a long time ago. Gotay is dead to rights against any lefty.
If you can sign Castillo quickly, I think Santana will be more willing to come to NY.
This might sound nuts, but this is how you do it – you trade Reyes for Santana straight out (the Twins will do it), of course with the negotiating window in which time you sign him for 240 million for 8 years (yeah 30 mil a year, but that’s what it will take to keep him from being a free agent). Then, you sign A-ROD for the same contract 240 million for 8 years (so he replaces Reyes at SS). Then, you still have all of your prospects, who if you add the altogether wouldn’t get you Santana, considering the competition. You can then trade a prospect or two for more relief pitching and nurture the rest along or mix them onto the ML team. Maybe it sounds a bit expensive and drastic (and I know others have suggested it), but it might actually get us somewhere. It might be everything we’ve dreamed it would be to keep Reyes, but he could turn into a Strawberry kind of situation. The thing is, his value is very very high right now, so while it’s risky to trade him, it’s also risky to keep him, if he falters and/or gets involved in scandal (no reason to believe either will happen). Of course, on the other side, A-ROD isn’t exactly Mr. Clean and it is true that a starting pitcher is just an arm injury waiting to happen at any given moment.
It sure will be nice of the Yankees to let Arod go to the Mets.
Yanks dont have a choice if Arod opts out of his contract. Arod at third or ss if we trade Reyes and Wright at 2nd would make an awesome hitting lineup!
If the Mets tried to sign A-Rod and Santana, that’s about 50 to 60 million in payroll a year. That means they would have to shed other contracts. I guess they could explore a Delgado to Angels (maybe Figgins?) deal and trade el-Duque. Along with Glavine, Castillo and Green not coming back and having Martinez and Alou on the last year…. that might give them enough flexibility payroll-wise.
They’d also have to find a 1B (Casey?). That doesn’t even begin to address the bullpen (Linebrink?).
Figgins/Gotay
Gomez/Chavez
A-Rod
Beltran
Wright
Alou/Gomez
Casey
C???
Santana
Martinez
Perez
Maine
Pelfrey/Humber/Heilman
Wagner
Linebrink
Heilman
Sanchez
Scho/Feliciano??
Just brainstorming here… That’s a lot of turnover and money… I’m not sure but I know that they need to think outside the box. The mix of players was a failure and I’m sure they are thinking about every possibility.
figgins for delgado? you’re nuts. they’d literally never do that.
also, wright is our 3rd baseman, if we sign a-rod it’s for him to play short stop.
$60 million/year for 2 players? Hello, Yankee payroll! No thanks. I don’t want this team to become the early 2000’s version of the Yankees, I just don’t. And I don’t think the Wilpon’s do, either.
Omar, with as down as I am on you right now, please go get this done. Don’t trade Reyes or Wright or even Beltran, but other than that, just get it done. This would at least bring confidence back to a reeling organization.
Honestly, I’d trade Beltran for Santana.
Thinking Santana is going to sign an extension to come to the Mets is a pipe dream. He’ll be on the open market next year, and he can name his price. Yes, there’s always chance of injury, but players (and their agents) don’t think that way. Would it be worth it to give up Reyes, and watch Santana sign with the Yankees next year?
I don’t think that’s a risk you can take. As others have said, our minor league talent (including Milledge) is not enough to get this done. Throwing in a John Maine might help, but I doubt even that is enough. Plus, if you give up a ransom to get Santana, then you are forced to outbid everyone and pay a premium to keep him.
Best bet is to work out a deal for D-Train (and hope the Mets can strighten out his mechanics) or Dan Haren, and then go all out for Santana as a FA. If he’s interested in playing in NY, and wants to play in the NL (who knew?), the Mets are in the drivers seat.
If Omar can get it done without trading Reyes, Wright or Beltran, fine. Get it done.
Otherwise just wait a year. The Mets will be a favorite to get Santana when he becomes a FA. He wants to play in NY, in the NL, in a new stadium. He likes Castillo (so, give Castillo a contract this winter) and he’s friendly with Jose.
oh..
my..
god…
I agree with you.
Fix D-Train’s mechanics?
…..ummmmm…who’s going to do that? Rick “i’ll fix zambrano in ten minutes” Peterson?
If Peterson’s still here, he’d be the perfect coach to fic D-Train. Peterson takes a lot of unnecessary heat on this site. His being a good pitching coach doesn’t mean he should be able to make a servicable starter out of a guy like Jose Lima. He did a great job getting Perez straughtened out, and Willis is in not nearly as bad shape as Ollie was. Peterson’s strength ios mechanics, so yeah, he’d be the right guy.
And that “10 minutes” comment is so overblown, it’s ridiculous. First of all, Zambrano came to the Mets with an elbow injury. The blame for that deal goes to Ralph Wiggims and Duquette, not Peterson. They made the trade. I’d add the team doctors, if they were even able to examine Zambrano. With a healthy elbow, I have no doubt that Peterson would have been able to help VZ.
Johan Santana for Jose Reyes is a no brainer. The number 1 ACE in baseball is more valuable than a SS, who while good…is not great, and has attitude problems.
YOU NEED PITCHING! And to get the goods…you have to give up some of the goods. You mets fans that want to just keep everyone….well…dont complain when the team stinks again next year!
Do everything you can to lock up Santana. The guy dominates the AL! Can you imagine him pitching in the NL? He’d throw shutouts every 5th day in this terrible league.
Please….your kidding yourself if you dont want Santana for reyes…..an absolute joke.
So you’d trade Reyes for one year of Santana? Would you be OK watching Reyes in Minny while Santana pitched for the Yankees? Because that’s what could happen.
Santana is not signing an extension. He’s not. It would be a bone-headed business decision, and his agent should have his license revoked.
The better option is to sit tight for a year, and bid for Santana in FA. Yes, the team that does trade (and overpay) for him might have an advantage, but what if he didn’t like his experience there? Maybe he’s unhappy in, say, LA, especially after the Dodgers fail to make the playoffs. Trading Reyes for a one-year contract is outright stupid.
The Yankees will not get Santana. He wants to leave the AL. Mike and the Mad Puppy were saying that with the Yanks now having Hughes and Joba they would more likely stay away from a bidding war on Santana especially if they break the bank to keep ARod. Sounds logical. The Mets are a perfect fit for Santana and have the money to get him. Whatever it takes Omar and if you get him I promise to buy a “In Omar We Trust” t-shirt from this site!
You know, as much as I love Jose, I would pull the trigger to get Johan.
Who do we get to play SS though?
I do believe the Greatest Shortstop of All Time is going to be a free agent this offseason.
And no, I’m not talking about Honus Wagner.
depending on who you ask here, it looks like Anderson Hernandez, Juan Uribe or A Rod. Quite an interesting mix.
Forgot about ARod being on the market.
why? What if he hits .200 in the playoffs again? You really think the Yankees fans aren’t just waiting to turn on him again? No way he goes back there if that happens. Either way, he’s opting out of his contract, and are the Yankees really gonna shell out the money to keep him? Steinbrenner is obviously not in control anymore, and they have been going the fiscally responsible route the last few years. Their payroll is already close to $200 million, and that’s with Texas paying more than half of ARods contract. Even if he signs for less than the $25 mil/season he’s making now, the Yankees will end up paying more money for him, and there’s no way he’s gonna make less than that.
The problem with getting Santana without Reyes (Minn wouldn’t take Beltran’s contract plus they have enough pop with Mauer and Morneau and Wright is untouchable) is that you have to look at it from Minnesota’s perspective. They are trading:
1 year of the best pitcher in baseball
2 of the top 32 draft picks in 2009 (compensation for losing Santana as a FA)
An large amount of credibility with their fan base heading into a new stadium
I’m sorry…. Any combo of Gomez, Milledge, Pelfrey, Humber, Mulvey, Maine, Gotay, Heilman, etc… just isn’t equal value for them from both a baseball and box office perspective.
2 picks in baseball is practically useless. This isn’t the NFL or the NBA….first round picks make it to the majors about half the time, and become starts less than 10% of the time. So you think they’d pass up an all-star shortstop or a group of 3-4 close to Major League ready prospects for the 50/50 chance that they might possibly draft a guy who will make it to the Major Leagues in 4-5 years?
Does anyone see anything here worth throwing alot of money at in free agency?
http://www.mlb4u.com/freeagency.php
I can’t justify too much. Maybe Issy as a set-up man…I don’t know.
Nope. I was looking through this the other day, nothing exciting out there.
That’s one of the reasons I felt Willie needed to go. Next year will be pretty much the same team. Maybe an additional OF bat, SP and some BP help, but really, the same cast of characters.
With that in mind, if the players don’t change, the message should. I view it this way: a manager is very strong either as a tactician or a motivator. We know Willie is lacking in the tactician area, which means he needs to have his troops all on the same page and playing hard for him. Going down the stretch they did the exact opposite.
Delgado’s comments, which I kind of respect for their honesty, even if they piss me off, is a perfect insight in to the problem. The feel they are too good to actually try. Which means Willie isn’t getting through.
Someone made the Showalter / Torre analogy a few posts ago. This may be a good example . . .
The crop of FAs this year blows.
I still concur with Hit the Weights Zeile’s line from the Santana thread. We’re going to spend a lot of time wasted on this.
If we didn’t move Randolph, we’re not moving Reyes. We don’t otherwise have the talent needed to make the Twins give up Santana before the trading deadline next year, which would more likely max out his value. I believe our cross-town rivals are also looking for pitching, and have the wallet and more talent in their farm system.
And you’re dreaming about ARod. As I’ve said, we had our shot in ‘01, and Steve Phillips spat in the face of destiny and let the best player in the game, who actually WANTED TO BE A MET MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEAM, slip away. Now that the Skanks have him, they’ll pay anything to keep him out of a Mets uniform. We bid 25 million a year, they’ll do 30. We do 30, they’ll do 35. They can and will outbid us. ARod no longer has the backbone or desire to be a Met like he did in ‘01 where I’m 100% convinced he would have taken less money and told Boras to go to hell in order to be a Met.
I certainly think the Mets should inquire on Santana, and ARod if he goes free agent. But I think the chances of getting either is .0000001 this year.
you really don’t think we could get ARod? He grew up a Mets fan, and wanted to play for them 6 years ago. Phillips screwed that up, so he went to Texas where he was miserable playing for a losing team. Then he went to the Yankees, where he was miserable playing for a winning team whose fans hated him. You think that just because the fans came around this year, that all is forgiven in ARods mind? I bet my bottom dollar that he hates the Yankees, and hates their fans. He probably remembers every little insult they’ve hurled his way for 4 seasons, while he was winning an MVP award, and generally just being the best player on the team. So now he has a ridiculous walk year, runs away with the MVP award…you don’t think he’d love to just stick it to the Yankees and their fans this offseason by signing with the team he’s always wanted to play for? One big, final F-U to the NY Yankees organization. Well, actually, hopefully, the final F-U would be him winning the World Series MVP, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
If I were Omar I would just go ahead and offer Reyes, Milledge, and Heilman. In return i would want Santana and Nathan. Both are free agents after next season and I believe the twins would take that. Especailly with Neshek being so impressive. AHern could play short if needed or we could jump into the AROD sweepstakes and have him play short. Wouldn’t that get under the yankess skin.. remember AROD rew up a mets fan.
as far as free agents go, the only ones worth anything are relievers, like linebrink….
we should consider signing an innings eater, like livan hernandez (even though im NOT a big fan, we can ALL agree we need someone that’s gonna go MORE than 6 innings)
and we should re-visit the Chad Cordero/John Rauch trade talks, as well as inquire about Dontrelle and Joe Blanton. Next years free agent class is RIDICULOUS, so we should just fix the little we have to now and go hard after Texiera and/or Johan next year….or Sheets, or Peavy…
between this offseason, and next, we have so much money coming off the books, AND on top of that add $20million a year coming in from Citibank…there’s NO REASON to not expect us to be big players in the FA market next year
Glavine and Green off this year, maybe Alou
Delgado and Wagner off next year (maybe ALou if he stays one more year)
and thats just off the top of my head…i am STILL in mourning and STILL want to watch the playoffs, so im not in full off season whAT SHOULD THE METS do mode..when i DO get into that mode, i do my research
oh wait, i think wags comes off after 09…well in any case, he’s off sooner rahter than later
If Santana is on the market and is going to be traded. He will come here. Omar wants to make this kind of move for not only the team, but the fans. The team needs an acquisition like this and it would create hope in the off-season for us.
My idea would be to get the White Sox involved. Here’s what the deal would be:
Mets receive: Johan Santana (w/ window for new contract) and Matt Guerrier
Twins receive: Joe Crede, Carlos Delgado, $5 mil, Carlos Gomez, and Mike Carp
White Sox receive: Aaron Heilman
White Sox need relief pitching. They’d dump Crede and let Fields play. Even though they help the Twins, they’re getting Santana out of the division.
Twins get the 3B they need in Crede. They get a temporary DH in Delgado, $5M to pay for his $16M salary in 08, Gomez to replace Hunter in CF, and Carp as a future DH. This deal also cuts some payroll to allow the Twins to sign Mauer to a longterm deal.
Mets get Santana and Guerrier to solve the rotation and bullpen. They need the window to negotiate a new deal otherwise this deal won’t get done.
wow….that’s pretty well thought out, and actually a really good proposal. I never really considered getting a third team involved, but that does seem to be the best way to get big deals like this done. Hopefully the Mets can work something like this out.
Well thought out? Except for the fact that Heilman is a free agent.
No. He’s eligible for arbitration. The Mets usually avoid it by offering the players new deals.