 |
|
|
| |
« Rumor Royalty: La Velle E. Neal III (Twins) | Main | Reds Have Preliminary Discussions About Blanton »
Neal On Johan Santana Talks
I recently named La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune as Rumor Royalty for the Twins. He answered a few questions for MLBTR, so let's kick it off.
MLBTR: Are you sick of the Johan Santana saga yet? These talks have been dragging for a month after it seemed like something would get done at the Winter Meetings. Who will cave in - the Twins, Yankees, Mets, or Red Sox?
Neal: Can't wait for this to end! I think the Twins have sent out signals in recent weeks that they have lowered their demands some in order to get something done. I initially felt that the Red Sox had the best chance to land Santana because I kept hearing how well talks were going. Then I thought the Yankees would step up and make the deal because they have a greater need for a front line starter than Boston. But the Mets have a greater need than the Yankees, and as soon as the Twins indicated that they would accept a deal with the Mets without Jose Reyes being involved the Mets' chances shot upward.
I don't blame a team for holding out to get what they want, but Santana will require a hefty contract extension wherever he winds up. A team won't empty its roster and take on salary. So get what you can and move on.
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e2010534c06e67970b
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Neal On Johan Santana Talks:
Comments
Top Stories
Search MLBTR
MLBTR Features
Recent Posts
Rumors By Team
Monthly Archives
Live Chats
Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST
Maybe someone can shed some light on this question I keep asking myself.....
Knowing for months now that Santana was avaiable, why didnt the Diamondbacks trade Quentin,Carlos Gonzalez, Eveland and whoever else to the Twins for Santana??
Posted by: dbacks2007 | January 13, 2008 at 11:05 PM
well dbacks2007 thats an easy one.... simply b/c the dbacks dont have or the owner doesnt want to give santana a contract worth more than 100 million dollars
Posted by: gemf89 | January 13, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Another thing is that Johan is a lefty and The DBacks need a lefty starter in my opinion. Doug Davis is inconsistant and not that great in my opinion, he doesnt go deep into games because he gets behind in the count alot. Randy is a lefty but I dont expect him to start 20 games. The DBacks have a great rotation to start the season but it could have been better...
Webb
Haren (Santana)
Randy Johnson (LHP)
Doug Davis (LHP)
Micah Owings
Edgar Gonzalez.
I think by the end of the year this is what the rotation will look like.....
Webb
Haren
Edgar Gonz
Owings
D.Davis/Randy. (LHP)
If they had traded for Santana this is what their playoff rotation would have looked like...
Santana (LHP)
Webb
Edgar Gonz
Owings
Randy?? (LHP) / D.Davis (LHP)
Posted by: dbacks2007 | January 13, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Well if the DBacks get to the World Series im sure theyll be facing Johan. Shame the other team could have been facing him as a DBack!!
Posted by: dbacks2007 | January 13, 2008 at 11:31 PM
hey idk.... i mean i want a 4 million dollar house with 4 4 million cars but i cant afford it....
the dbacks are not going to clean their system for 1 year of johan....i mean there is more value in 3 years of haren (who has a nice contract) than for 1 year of johan... even though johan is better.
Posted by: gemf89 | January 13, 2008 at 11:33 PM
the value of johan is going way down, right? pitchers and catchers are only a few weeks away. it seems like at this point most teams have already made plans with their current rosters.
in my opinion, the twins gm is kinda screwin' up on this one. also, if you trade santana, you trade nathan too, right? this really doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but i'm guessing that in the end the twins could have gotten more for santana/nathan earlier than they can now.
Posted by: scootie puff jr. | January 13, 2008 at 11:41 PM
In no way or form can the D'Backs afford Santana. I mean, the team is in financial debt from the previous ownership(At least, I think that is what I read). A rotation of Webb,Haren,Johnson,Davis, and Owings is actually very good in the NL. More than most teams can say. In all honestly, I don't think the D'Backs need him.
Posted by: bravesrule14 | January 13, 2008 at 11:52 PM
disagree scootie.
the value for johan is still high as far as the mets and yankees are concerned. they both NEED a frontline pitcher. they both have tons of money. they're just trying to get johan for as little as possible before having to offer him a 6 year/$120 million contract (which will be a bargain compared to what he'll get as a free agent next off-season).
and i think you wait and trade nathan at the trade deadline, when a contender needs bullpen help and will offer more prospects. there really aren't many teams that need a closer right now, so you wait until the deadline.
Posted by: minnesotawins | January 13, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Well, the reason the Diamondbacks would never trade for then sign Santana is because of money. The Diamondbacks are worth about $330 million if I remember correctly. Why trade for a guy then sign him to a contract worth over 1/3 of what the franchise is worth?
Posted by: seanprh | January 14, 2008 at 12:21 AM
oh, yeah 1/3 of the franchise does not make any kinds of sense. I see now why they got Haren with him being under their control for 3 more years. Now next offseason they can give O-Dog a nice contract because he is the best all-around 2b in the NL.
Posted by: dbacks2007 | January 14, 2008 at 07:10 AM
Chase is better, and its not close.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 14, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Chase is better on offense yes. But Hudson is the best defensive 2b in the game today.
Posted by: seanprh | January 14, 2008 at 04:30 PM