Buzz: What Will it Take for Santana
…it appears that it will be, more or less, non-stop Johan Santana talk from now through the end of next week - and understandably so…
…first off, several people i have e-mailed asking about santana’s no-trade protection…from what i understand, he has full no-trade protection through the start of next season, but it does not extend in to 2008, because he did not finish in the top three during last year’s cy-young race…so, like several reports suggest, if he intends filibuster a trade by demanding a contract extension from his new team, it’s feasible that the Twins just wait, have him for opening day, then look to move at will during the middle of next season, i would think…
At any rate, over the weekend, according to Newsday, citing ‘a source,’ the Yankees plan to make a ‘good, strong offer,’ while they believe they have ‘more to offer the Twins in a trade than anybody else does.’
…well, that may be, but will they actually do it…i mean, i keep reading that the Yankees can offer Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera, but will they…personally, i still get no sense that they’ll trade away melky, and not because of any rumor or suggestion, but because they are unlikely to bet on Johnny Damon in center all season, and so who will play in his place…
Lastly, also over the weekend, ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons said that the Twins want Hughes, Cabrera and Austin Jackson, while Santana is seeking at least six years and $150 million.
However, at his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney writes:
“I’d be shocked if they seriously considered that trade…Even beyond the question of swapping promising young players like Hughes and Cabrera and Jackson, how much money does it save them to have cheap players on their roster? How much will it cost them to replace a Cabrera or Jackson? Without either Cabrera or Jackson, the Yankees might have to sign a veteran center fielder in his place in a year or two…And it’s possible that within three or four years, as Santana gets older and Hughes progresses, that Hughes might become something close to what Santana will be then. And you could say the same for Clay Buchholz.”
…exactly…on the other hand, i sense that the Mets are prepared to pull any trigger, not including David Wright or Jose Reyes in the gun…which is why i keep saying, it’s not so much about whether the Mets can top each team’s best package, it’s about who, besides the Mets, is willing to overpay in a trade to get him, knowing they can, but may not, re-sign santana to an extension…
