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Unconfirmed: Twins Made Offer To Santana

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Sid Hartman has a tidbit towards the end of his column today: The Twins have made a five-year, $93 million offer for Johan Santana. The source of this is not the Twins, but rather Hartman hearing "word in baseball circles." The $18.6 million average annual value would surpass that of Barry Zito, though Zito’s deal was for seven years.

Santana is entering his age 29 season in 2008, so this contract would keep him locked up through age 35.

While Johan could probably do better on the open market, if he really wants to stay in Minnesota, he should consider this offer — that is, if this offer actually exists. As a free agent, he could likely command seven years and north of $20 million annually.

Please note that the following is just me throwing numbers out there, and that I don’t necessarily think that Santana is in some kind of decline. But his batting average, OBP, and SLG against have risen from year to year since 2004. He also gave us a career-high 33 homers in 2007 in 219 innings, his lowest total since he was split between the rotation and bullpen in 2003. His WHIP also broke 1.00 for the first time since 2003 (oh, heavens no, not above 1.00!).

The Red Sox, Dodgers, and Yankees have been the most actively linked to Santana, but every team likely has some level of interest in trading for the two-time Cy Young winner.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.

Odds And Ends: Cordero, Torrealba, Koskie, Clement

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Just browsing the web this morning:

  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post speculates that the Mets deal with Yorvit Torrealba might have fallen apart because of the catcher’s shoulder issues. This is based on Torrealba having missed time in 2006 with two shoulder injuries. The deal fell apart when it was thought to be complete, with only the physical remaining.
  • The Rockies have also inquired on Matt Clement. Renck mentions the Diamondbacks as also having interest in the 33-year-old righty, adding them to the aforementioned Padres and Royals. Clement has thrown just 65.1 innings in the past two years.
  • The Yankees have identified Francisco Cordero as their Plan B closer, should talks with Mariano Rivera fall apart. It should be moot, though, as Rivera is expected to sign this week. Cordero has not made any significant strides in talks with the Brewers.
  • The Twins, who could use an upgrade at third base, aren’t interested in Corey Koskie, who was drafted by the team in 1994 and played with them until he reached free agency after the 2004 season. Koskie missed 2006 with symptoms related to post-concussion syndrome.
  • It is unclear whether the Marlins are still interested in Yorvit Torrealba, writes Joe Capozzi. The price tag could be prohibitive. If the Marlins gave Torrealba the same three-year, $14.4 million deal he was to get with the Mets, he would become their second highest paid player. A catcher was the Marlins highest paid player last year, but they look to be severing ties with Miguel Olivo. I’m not sure Torrealba is much of an upgrade, though. At least Olivo has some pop, having hit 16 homers in each of the last two years.

    Remember, Torrealba hit just .212/.292/.326 away from Coors Field. Then again, Olivo had some pretty severe home/road splits: .247/.277/.493 at home, .228/.249/.325 on the road. You can decide for yourself what that could mean.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.

Odds and Ends: Glavine, Rowand, A-Rod Clark, LoDuca

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Hi. I’m Joe. Tim is busy today, so I’ll be filling in. You can send any tips right to my email. So onto a few morning tidbits.

  • Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution hears that the Braves are "close" to a deal with

    Tom Glavine. His agent, Gregg Clifton, thinks "it’s a good possibility" that a deal gets done today.

  • Aaron Rowand’s agent Craig Landis says that the "interest is definitely mutual" between his client and the Dodgers.
  • Since I run a Yankees site, I suppose I can’t finish an odds and ends post without a mention of Alex Rodriguez. Ed Price of the Star Ledger says that the soon-to-be MVP’s deal is "intricate," and that we shouldn’t expect a deal until "perhaps after Thanksgiving."
  • The Twins are said to be interested in Tony Clark. Not quire sure adding another low-OBP bad in addition to Craig Monroe is very smart here. Plus, this would make Clark the de-facto DH, and we know he’s looking for a starting gig.
  • Mike Puma of the New York Post speculates that recently displaced Paul LoDuca could swap with Yorvit Torrealba and catch on as the Rockies’ starter for 2008.

    •  

Joe Pawlikowski is a co-author of River Ave. Blues, a New York Yankees blog.

Odds and Ends: Kuroda, Hunter, Crede

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What’d I miss recently?  Here are some odds and ends.

  • The Tigers have expressed interest in Hiroki Kuroda.  They join the Phillies, Mariners, Dodgers, Royals, Rangers, Cubs, and Mets in that pursuit.
  • 10 teams are interested in Aaron Rowand!  That’s almost 1/3 of all baseball teams!
  • Torii Hunter is after a seven-year deal.  Most feel he’s saying that because he wants six.  Clever!
  • The Twins are taking a look at Tony Clark as a cheap DH option.  He’s supposedly looking for something like two years, $4MM and more playing time.  This would be a very Twins-like signing. 
  • T.R. Sullivan has a Rangers update.  Apparently Jon Daniels is checking in on big names like Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, and Miguel Cabrera.  More realistically Daniels may go out to Japan for players such as Kosuke Fukudome and Hiroki Kuroda (we knew that already).  We also knew the Rangers had Kerry Wood and Eric Gagne on their radar.  Sullivan speculates that Scott Linebrink and LaTroy Hawkins could also be in the mix.
  • Barry Rozner expects Joe Crede to be traded. It seems like Crede is a Plan B or C for a lot of teams and Kenny Williams may have to wait til a few dominoes fall first. 

Cafardo’s Latest: Crawford, Haren

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo has a new colum up this morning; let’s check it out.

  • The Carl Crawford/Cubs thing won’t die.  Cafardo says the Cubs are after him, possibly offering a package starting with Rich Hill and Carlos Marmol.  This rumor originated with Bruce Levine a few days ago, though Roger Mooney dismissed it yesterday.
  • While the Red Sox have discussed Miguel Cabrera with the Marlins, Cafardo believes they might instead be eyeing a blockbuster for Johan Santana or Dan Haren.  As if the Red Sox need more pitching.

Rumor Roundup: Colon, Barrett, Clement, Monroe

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Rounding up some of today’s rumors…

Twins After Craig Monroe?

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UPDATE: The deal is official.

This is odd: Joe Christensen reports that the Cubs may send Craig Monroe to the Twins for a player to be named later, perhaps today.  For the Cubs, getting something for Monroe is gravy since they would non-tender him otherwise.  I guess the Twins like the idea of Monroe on a one-year, $5MM commitment as opposed to the free agent options in left field.

I wonder if any other non-tender candidates might be moved?  Guys like Ben Broussard, Joe Crede, Morgan Ensberg, Kevin Mench, Mark Prior, Josh Towers, and Claudio Vargas are possibilities. 

Mariners Searching For Starters

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John Hickey has an update on the Mariners’ starting pitching targets.  The options look grim.

As far as trade targets, there’s always Johan Santana and Dontrelle Willis.  The Mariners have long had their eye on Dontrelle, so maybe they’d offer a Wladimir Balentien/Jeff Clement package.

Carlos Silva might be on the radar, but Hickey says the vibe is that he could get north of $12MM per season.  A better deal might be Hiroki Kuroda, who is estimated to earn $7-9MM annually by Hickey.  The Mariners may have the edge on Kuroda because of their location and Japanese catcher.  I keep reading that Kuroda throws in the mid-90s…forgive me if I’m skeptical. 

Hickey notes that Bartolo Colon might also be on the radar, and implies that they could pick up Carl Pavano on a whim if he’s released.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Cabrera, Haren, Barrett

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Rumor guru Ken Rosenthal checks in with a new column this afternoon.

  • The White Sox are legitimately in the mix for Miguel Cabrera, but many stars would have to align for it to get done.  Suitors with better prospects would have to balk, and the Sox would have to part with Josh Fields and Gio Gonzalez.  Kenny Williams might even have to cash Jon Garland in and turn around and flip that prospect in a Cabrera deal.  Regardless, it’s clear that Williams is once again thinking big.
  • Let’s face it: the Twins aren’t retaining free agents Torii Hunter or Carlos Silva.  You gotta know when to fold ’em – maybe it’s best to punt 2008 and trade both Johan Santana and Joe Nathan now.  Rosenthal says that philosophy is gaining some steam in the organization.  Both Santana and Nathan are only under contract for one year, but both are signed well below market prices.  That means that any mildly competitive team could entertain the notion of acquiring one of them for a big boost.  Baseball Prospectus values Santana at $25MM and 8.1 wins next year (he earns $13.25MM).  They put Nathan at $15MM and 6 wins (he earns $6MM).
  • The A’s are another team that could take one step back in order to take two steps forward.  Billy Beane has Joe Blanton and Dan Haren, two solid young pitchers each under team control for three seasons.  That’s a big advantage over the other frontline names who might be available.  Santana and A.J. Burnett have one year.  Jake Peavy and Erik Bedard have two.  Haren for three years is huge.  Blanton is under team control but Haren is actually under contract.
  • The Rays have gotten in touch with Michael Barrett’s people.  Will Barrett’s Type A status become an issue?  Only if the Padres dare offer him arbitration.  If I had to guess I’d say they won’t offer, but it’s a close call.  Troy E. Renck recently mentioned Barrett has drawn interest from six clubs, perhaps including the Rockies and Marlins.  I’m sure the Rockies would not give up their #25 overall pick to the Padres just to sign Barrett.  The Marlins’ sixth overall pick next year is protected. 

Yankees May Require Cano For Santana

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How about Ken Davidoff this winter?  The Newsday reporter has been digging up some great hot stove rumors so far.  Today, he has some new info about Johan Santana.

While Santana isn’t up for bidding quite yet, he should be soon after the Twins make their token offer.  The Yankees will certainly be in on him.  Davidoff says a package of Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and a prospect wouldn’t cut it, even though those players are very valuable.  The Twins are one of few teams that actually feel good about their pitching, so the focus is on acquiring a star position player.  With that in mind, they’d demand Robinson Cano from the Yankees.  Cano is more expensive than a Hughes or Cabrera, but the Twins would free up $13MM by dealing Santana.  Plus you have to think Cano would be better for public relations/damage control.

Random speculation on players the Twins might covet for Santana: Josh Hamilton, Chris Young of Arizona, Jacoby Ellsbury, Delmon Young, Carlos Gomez, or Garrett Atkins.

In contrast to all of this, Ken Rosenthal speculates that the Twins would want "elite pitching" in return for Santana.

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