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In today’s Daily News, John Harper writes that, despite new Yankees’ Senior Vice President Hank Steinbrenner’s confirmation of talks between his team and the Twins, Mets’ GM Omar Minaya will be pushing hard to land Minnesota’s ace left hander Johan Santana in Queens.
Harper quotes one baseball executive as saying:
“He always wants to do something big, and this is a time when he needs to do something big. And this is as big as it gets for him. I believe he’ll exhaust every possibility, even if it means getting other teams involved, to make a deal for Santana.”
As for speculation that Minaya could include shortstop Jose Reyes in a deal for Santana, the executive said:
“I know he wouldn’t want to… But I do believe he’ll think long and hard about it if he absolutely has to. As explosive as Reyes is, Omar needs pitching to win a championship, and it has become so hard these days to acquire front-line pitching that I think he’d have to consider it.”
On the subject of trading Reyes, yesterday on SNY’s Daily News, host Chris Cotter talked with Adam Rubin of the Daily News and Chris Carlin of WFAN about whether or not the Mets should consider trading Jose Reyes for Santana.
To watch a clip of the discussion, click here.
In his article, Harper notes that the Yankees have a deeper farm system from which to deal, but as always, that advantage is contingent on whether or not they’re willing to deal the prospects, such as right hander Phil Hughes, that the Twins would demand in exchange for Santana.
…it doesn’t help the yankees if they are unwilling to unload those top prospects, while omar is seemingly open to just about anything, save dealing David Wright, to get his man… this has a chance to be a bloody inter-borough war, one that the mets seem to think they can’t afford to lose…
Meanwhile, Rubin and Mark Feinsand in another article in today’s Daily News handicap the chances of each team hoping to land Santana.
The Mets are fourth, at eight to one, following the Yankees at 3-1, Red Sox at 4-1 and Angels at 5-1. However, it notes that Boston is uninterested right now in trading OF Jacoby Ellsbury, while the Angels are concentrating their efforts on acquiring Florida 3B Miguel Cabrera. Los Angeles would most likely also balk at the cost of extending Santana’s contract, as well as trading P Jered Weaver.
…this could get very interesting… the mets clearly can’t put together the strongest package, so they have to hope neither boston or either los angeles team actively pursues santana… or Dan Haren, for that matter, in case the yankees do decide to give up the crown jewels…
…you know those mets’ prospects list i’ve been blogging about? they could look very different (read: barren) within a few weeks time…
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The idea of trading Reyes is freaking crazy. Filling a major hole (ace pitcher) but creating another major hole (lead-off hitter, SS, spark plug of the entire offense) is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.
I’ve heard people compare this idea to the Sox trade of Beckett for Ramirez. Well, Ramirez was not established as the key the Sox offense when he was traded; Reyes is! It’s not the same trade at all.
Reyes, Wright, and Beltran are untouchable, they are the cornerstones to the entire offense and will be for many years to come.
Yea Hanley wasn’t as coveted by the Sox. They viewed him as having an attiude and pretty much being another manny. He also wasn’t in contention for their SS that season as they had Renteria.
My post below supports my pro-Santana stance…but you are right. I will trade anyone on our team and farm system as long as his last name is not Reyes, Wright, or Beltran.
Trading prospects, and many of them, is fine by me. No one can tell who will be the next Alex Escobar or the next big star. But we do know what we get with Santana.
yep – reyes wright and beltran are off the table.
santana is going to be tough to get if there are competing teams with better farms. Haren wouldnt getting much less, but i think his price is going to be more than what has been suggested.
I know alot of people are scared of trading the farm for Santana, but people must realize this move has to be made, if it can. Aquiring and keeping the best pitcher in MLB for at least 6,7 years is a move that will provide many benefits outside of Mets games. By keeping the best pitcher off of rival teams, and that includes any potential World Series opponents, the mets weaken other teams dramatically, not to mention improving there own.
A Red Sox pitching staff with Santana is scaaarrrry.
A Yankees team with some good youth ahead(leftover youth after a deal) and with Santana at the helm is scary.
Most importantly, a Mets team with Santana/Maine/Ollie/Pedro and our offense is instantly the best team in the NL. I couldn’t say that the last few years only b/c we lacked an ace pitcher.
And everyone here knows, or should know, that pitching wins championships. Just ask the D-backs, Marlins, Cardinals, and Sox.
You know, it was only two years ago that people were saying that the Yankees farm system was barren and the Mets farm system was good. And this was before their system produced Melky Cabrera, Chien Ming Wang, and Robinson Cano. (So those who want to say that the Mets farm system is barren because Milledge and Pelfrey no longer qualify has to answer to those three players.)
I guess this can go to show one of two things. Either
1) Nobody can truly project prospects. They develop or they don’t. Some players learn something along the way and exceed the ceiling that they have been labelled with, and others just don’t get where people think they should… (who would have thought that Wang would be an ace? Who even heard of Wang 2-3 years ago? And what ever happened to the Milledge/Delmon Young comparisons? Who would have thought that Joe Smith would have contributed as much as he did in the first half of 2007 when he was drafted in 06?)
or
2) Some systems are better at developing prospects than others. Since I’m keeping this a Mets/Yankees comparison, we can throw out the argument of developing under a spotlight (Yes, Bannister developed away from NY… but Joba and Hughes developed in NY, while Pelfrey was much slower in coming along…and is still coming along)
Maybe it’s some combination of the two, but I guess all I’m really trying to say is that I’m disappointed. We have top prospects that didn’t turn out AND we don’t have prospects that rise out of nowhere. And now the Yankees have Melky playing over his head, in combo with Wang/Hughes/Joba….causing even lower tier prospects like Ian Kennedy to become overvalued because of their reputation.
Our farm system, which was looking so rich just two years ago is looking barren enough right now. I wonder how it’ll look after we make the big trades this offseason.
I’d offer 4 guys for Haren. Blanton has much less interest for me.
Milledge, Heilman and Mulvey / Humber.
I want to keep Pelfrey. too soon to give up on him . Put him in the pen.
If Pelfrey must be included then pull out Mulvey.
I would then sign Dotel ( after) a physical. he did strike out 40 in 30 innings last year so he still throws hard.
I don’t know if this is simply conjecture or if Omar is really considering trading Reyes. I’ll restate that the reason I was so ferociously advocating a full-tilt push for A-ROD was also because trading Reyes was pretty much the only way we could nearly ensure getting Santana and getting A-ROD would be the ONLY way I would have advocated trading Reyes. At this point, trading Reyes would be foolhardy unless somehow someway Omar was able to get someone else to play SS and be a leadoff hitter on his level, which would be a tougher thing to pull off than signing A-ROD (very doable considering the money he’s getting) and trading Reyes for Santana.
I agree with you. I was also one of the people who would have been OK w/ giving up Reyes for Santana was if you could also aquire A-ROD. Now that that isn’t a possibility, I can’t see how that would work, unless he gets another mega-SS back…which he wont…….
That being said…….what is to say he is even considering this? This is one mans interpretation of what Omar is doing…..another persons was…Wright/Reyes/Beltran are the only untouchables…………all this reporting is BS until something is done when it comes to Omar……he’ll end up aquiring someone noone had even thought of….
Hi Jeff. I’m worrying that we’re gonna see the Omar of late, which is lots of “great plans” that don’t happen. He’ll do a lot of talking “under the radar” and we’ll all watch as all of the big deals go down and Omar is left with his manhood in his hand, playing catchup by signing Livan for 4 years.
Two deals, and this isn’t including chips like FMart, and I think Omar wants to keep at least one of the 3 OF’s.
Milledge, Mulvey, and Pelfrey for Haren (Not sure if this would do this, but it is around the value that the buzz seems to indicate)
Maine, Gomez, Humber, and Heilman for Santana (This is the only package we can offer to compete with the Yankees)
Santana
Haren
Pedro
Perez
El Duque
i feel like haren and maine are very similar so its kind of pointless to just replace maine with him and trade for santana. unless youre implying that the only way to get santana would be to include maine and thus you must replace him in which case i agree bc santana must be added to the rotation not replacing say perez or maine in order to improve the team.
That’s exactly how I feel. Replacing Santana with Maine is an huge upgrade, but it’s only a good pitcher for a great pitcher.
Adding Haren would be great, but I can even deal with Blanton, at a lesser price… who I feel is very similar to Maine.
Maine has to be involved in any deal for Santana if we want a chance to get him… meaning, we still have to deal with Oakland.
If we get Santana, I think we should not just stop there. If we have the chips, make another move with Oakland.
first off – while I LOVE Maine – Haren has thrown up 3 210+ innings Maine squeezed out 190 innings last year.
I wouldnt include Maine in a deal for Santana.. that makes no sense..Maine should be as close to untouchable right now as Reyes and Wright. Hes very young, very controllable and very good.
I am so stressed out right now!! I want Santana as a way to beat the Yankees, but I don’t want him because I don’t want the Mets to lose everything in the process.
I wish Minnesota would sign him. However, Omar may not have a choice – If the Yankees get Santana, the Red Sox will go after the A’s pitcher and the Mets will look bad again.
I just want to feel like a winner in some capacity.
Two deals, and this isn’t including chips like FMart, and I think Omar wants to keep at least one of the 3 OF’s.
Milledge, Mulvey, and Pelfrey for Haren (Not sure if this would do it for the A’s, but it is around the value that the buzz seems to indicate)
Maine, Gomez, Humber, and Heilman for Santana (This is the only package we can offer to compete with the Yankees)
Santana
Haren
Pedro
Perez
El Duque
so the rumors are the Yankees only have to give up a marginal OF like Melky, but the mets have to give up Reyes? That doesn’t quite make sense.
Also, you have to temper your expectations of what you will get from Santana (other than a “splash” and a huge hit to payroll)
Someone above said you have to gut the system to get the “best pitcher in MLB” for the next 6/7 years.
well, what you are getting is a guy that was probably the best over a previous 3-4 year period, but will be 29 next year, and is entering the part of his career where the numbers start to decline (and forget about elbow injuries!). I just don’t see how he can get any better, and is much more likely to tail off somewhat..
So call me a heratic, but I just don’t think that Santana is going to be the “best pitcher” when he is 32/33/34/35 (years for which the Mets would be paying $100,000,000)
Haren has potential, and while he hasn’t been as good as Santana, he might actually be a better bet only being signed for 3 years (and at way lwess$$). hey, if it works out, you just extend him after the 2009 season.
DO NOT TRADE JOSE JOSE JOSE, He’s all Met.
I agree that Reyes, Wright, and Beltran should be off the table. they are the heart of the team.
I believe Omar is doing something in regards to Santana. Unlike Big Hank, he doesn’t feel the need to alert the presses every time he goes to take a s#!t
Omar’s got the other GM’s right where he wants them….standing behind him with his pants around his ankles…
I’m just getting a real bad feeling that Omar is going to do something stupid that will sink the team for years to come.
And I don’t consider some relatively minor moves to shore up the quality of the pitching (something like the imfamous Gomez/Gotay for Garza deal) to be stupid, rather exactly what he should be doing in this ridiculous market.
Blanton would be fine, but he isn’t worth Milledge straight up. Gomez I might think about, alhtough Omar probably wouldn’t
Maybe a Humber/other prospect for him.
Now, the rotation would be set if they could do those 2 deals, and still ahve the ML teamin good shape, and some depth on the farm.
Or, expanda deal with Oakland. Say Milledge + Humber for Blanton + catching prospect that is (or soon to be) ML ready?
Get creative here, and try to fill a couple of needs, instead of just clear cutting the farm for 1 SP, leaving other holes to fill (without any way to do so).
I can’t wait for the season to get here…
keep your eye on the ball OMAR..
there are plenty of quality arms out there to shore up the rotation.
Santana aint worth the risks, money and prospects/.
And in what World besides yankee-hotstoveland is Melky Cabrera valued as anything more than a weak hitting, average defensive bottom of the order second rate outfielder.
free cricket wireless ringtones…
Then 24 theme ringtones ringtones for cingular phone…
I want to smoke what you’re smoking….. Such positive thinking
I was thinking something similar, but with 3 teams not 4 that Cabrera thing is just not going to happen….
Mets send Pelfrey or Humber, Milledge and Mulvey and get Haren…Send Haren, Gomez and Heilman to twins for Santana…..
… I know if you can get haren why bother with Johan, but if they want him that much more why not