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Twins Intrigued With Mets’ Johan Offer?

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Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has a new article up focused on how the ultimate package for Johan Santana may not be fan-pleasing.  That’s because the Twins "seem most intrigued" with the Mets’ offer, which doesn’t include household names.  They’re proposing some combination of Carlos Gomez, Fernando Martinez, Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey.  Seems it would be one of the outfielders plus the three pitchers.

Christensen notes the Chuck Knoblauch and A.J. Pierzynski trades as examples of deals that were derided in Minnesota at the time but ended up favoring the Twins.  However I do believe fans are better equipped to evaluate trades these days, the way prospects are followed.  (An aside – I still think we all would’ve praised Brian Sabean at the time of the Pierzynski/Liriano/Bonser/Nathan deal.)

In other Johan news, Sid Hartman has some fresh Hank quotes if you’re interested.

Mayo On Fernando Martinez and Johan Santana

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Jonathan Mayo is a prominent writer on MLB.com, focusing on the minor leagues more recently.  Mayo recently wrote a book called Facing Clemens, which "puts you right in the batter’s box against the Rocket Man."  Mayo finished the book before the steroid allegations surfaced, but it sounds like an interesting read regardless.  I asked Mayo some questions for publication on MLBTR.

MLBTR: Where do you stand on Fernando Martinez?  Would the Mets regret trading him and a few other prospects for one year of Johan Santana?

Mayo: There’s always the risk when you trade a young player with so much upside potential that you’ll regret trading him, just like the Astros probably regret leaving Santana unprotected in the Rule 5 draft several years back. But I think that things work a little differently in a market like New York. There’s such pressure to win immediately and there’s the financial ability to fix things via free agency or trading for high-priced players in the future.

I think Martinez has the chance to be a very special player, but it could take several years for him to reach that potential. I’d love to see him become a star in New York, but I think the Mets would have to consider dealing him if they felt that Santana is the piece they need to get over the hump and back to the World Series. Besides, who says it’d be for just one year of Santana. I think that any of the teams who have been rumored to be in the Santana hunt would make a serious run at re-upping Johan for several years after 2008.

Johan Santana Rumors

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It’s time for today’s dose of Johan Santana rumors and info.  It’s funny – I sense that everyone is getting sick of this stuff and would prefer a fresh rumor about, say, Brad Wilkerson. 

  • Lisa Kennelly wrote this morning that the Mets appear to be sticking to their guns with an offer of Carlos Gomez or Fernando Martinez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey, and Deolis Guerra.  However, she says the Mets prefer Erik Bedard over Santana since he will not require a huge extension.  The New York Times adds that the Mets "are not engaged in heavy discussions with the Twins."
  • MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone dives into the situation, summing up recent events and providing some insight from a roundtable that included Ken Rosenthal, Dan Graziano, and Jim Duquette.
  • Michael Silverman, with some help from Baseball America, evaluates each reported package of prospects that has been offered for Santana. 
  • An end may be in sight – the Twins lose leverage if teams truly start to pull out, writes Joe Christensen.

Mets In Lead For Santana, Yanks Out?

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UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 6:45pm: Santana’s agent says he has not demanded that the Twins trade Johan prior to pitchers and catchers reporting.

UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 5:30pm: One source told Ken Rosenthal that the Yanks "are no longer talking to the Twins about Santana."  If that’s true, perhaps Hank will just announce it soon.

UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 3:51pm: Cerrone has a bit more, including a note that Santana and his agents are in lock down.

FROM 1-11-08 at 7:53am:

MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone sums up the latest buzz around the Johan Santana trade talks.  It seems the Mets are in the lead for Santana, proactively trying to find a way to make it work.  They are Santana’s preference, they have the money for him, and they might have the players to get it done.

Cerrone says Santana would like to have this thing wrapped up before pitchers and catchers report, about five weeks from now.

David Lennon of Newsday also checks in on the situation, agreeing with most of Cerrone’s info.  It’s still not completely clear whether the Twins have stopped bringing up Jose Reyes.  Lennon adds that the Mets couldn’t complete the deal just by adding Fernando Martinez, as had been previously reported.  Kevin Kernan says the Mets won’t do a five for one deal, anyway.  There seems to be a lot of conflicting info floating about on this one.

Mets May Have Top Santana Offer; Yanks Backing Off?

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UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 11:29am: Christensen says Mets owner Fred Wilpon gave Omar Minaya the green light to try to acquire Santana, meaning he’s amenable to a contract extension exceeding $100MM.

UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 9:38am: Peter Botte of the New York Daily News has a new quote from Hank: he’s "leaning away from" from the Yankees doing a Santana deal.

FROM 1-09-08 at 10:54pm:

Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune suggests the Mets might be the best fit for Johan Santana.  He says they’re offering four players, three of them pitchers: Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey, and Phil Humber.  It’s a strong package. 

Christensen says the Twins would accept if the Mets added Fernando Martinez to the package (not sure if Martinez would replace Gomez, or it would just be five players instead of four).

Something’s got to give here in the next few weeks – how long can the Santana saga hold up the free agent pitching market?

Latest Santana Buzz From MetsBlog

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MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone has a couple of recent radio reports referencing the team’s talks for Johan Santana.  One involves Mike Francesa, the other Jon Heyman.

  • Francesa says the Twins are still demanding Jose Reyes, and the Mets will never do that.
  • According to Heyman, the Mets might be willing to give up any four of their prospects.  As in Fernando Martinez, Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, and Kevin Mulvey?  That would seemingly be impossible for the Twins to turn down.  ESPN’s Keith Law went as far to say today that he "wouldn’t deal Martinez for one year of Santana under any circumstances."

Beane Has High Asking Price For Haren

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Did you expect anything different?  Billy Beane is happy to field offers on Dan Haren and Joe Blanton, but he’ll require a king’s ransom for either pitcher.  Jayson Stark says Beane asked the Yankees for two of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy for Haren.  With the Red Sox it was two of Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, and Jacoby Ellsbury.  The Mets would have to pony up Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez.  With two starters under contract through 2010, Beane and the A’s are sitting pretty.

One source of Stark echoes the popular sentiment that Miguel Cabrera in an Angels uniform would prompt a full-on A’s firesale.  That would include Huston Street, Dan Johnson, Mark Kotsay, and Rich Harden.  You have to admit, that would be fun.  Maybe the Brewers won’t give up Rickie Weeks for Chad Cordero, but how about Street?

Heyman’s Latest: Santana, Haren, Estrada

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Jon Heyman checks in with a couple of notable points.

  • Heyman sets odds for Johan Santana, going with the Yankees and then Red Sox.  I’ll let you click through for the rest.
  • While we’d recently heard from Ken Rosenthal that the A’s had cooled on certain young Mets, perhaps Omar Minaya and Billy Beane can still work something out. Heyman indicates that Beane still covets Lastings Milledge and Mike Pelfrey.  He also likes Kevin Mulvey, Carlos Gomez, and Fernando Martinez. So maybe Keith Law was right today in his chat – the Mets can pull off a deal with the A’s despite popular belief.
  • The Mets are shopping Johnny Estrada, but it’s not known who’s on the receiving end of those calls.  Along with Estrada, the Mets aren’t jazzed about Bengie Molina.  Though he has been discussed.

Rangers Rumors: Dunn, Hamilton, Kemp

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MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan has some interesting hot stove banter surrounding the Rangers.

  • A three-year deal for Kosuke Fukudome or a two-year pact for Mike Cameron might be the most sensible options to fill the Rangers’ center field void.  Aaron Rowand is probably too expensive.
  • While the Rangers have a touch of interest in Adam Dunn and Coco Crisp, they prefer the idea of acquiring a young bat.  Names they like: Fernando Martinez, Carlos Gomez, Carlos Gonzalez, and Matt Kemp.  Sullivan notes that the Rangers have talked to the Reds about Josh Hamilton.
  • If the Rangers sign starting pitching it’s likely to be of the injury comeback variety – Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Jason Jennings.
  • Eric Gagne is still under consideration to be signed for their vacant closer role.

Clayton Kershaw Pulled After One Inning

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Dodgers fans following phenom southpaw Clayton Kershaw’s start tonight may have been disappointed.  The 19 year-old was pulled after just one inning.  Conspiracy theorists have already established that Kershaw must be involved in a trade.

Usually I’m quick to contribute to any conspiracy, but I decided to take a few minutes to listen to the Great Lakes Loons broadcast instead.  Turns out that the plan all along was to have Kershaw pitch just one inning – this plan was outlined before the game started.  Apparently the Dodgers sent down this directive to keep Kershaw’s innings count down this year.  After all, this is Kershaw’s first full pro season.

You could call BS on the Dodgers and insist Kershaw is headed to Oakland in a Joe Blanton deal.  After all, there had to be some kind of party line for the announcer to use to explain the one-inning stint.  But if he really had been traded, why let him pitch at all?  Why not just scratch him and say he has the flu?

Kershaw might be the best pitching prospect in all of baseball right now.  He’s definitely the top lefthander.  Most likely, the Dodgers are just being careful with him.

Additionally, I’m still trying to track down why Mets prospect Fernando Martinez was pulled from tonight’s game after one at-bat.  But I do know he recently came off the DL for a right hand contusion, so taking it easy with him is entirely reasonable.

One more for you: apparently Philip Humber was supposed to start tonight for the Zephyrs after being scratched Friday for food poisoning.  Adam Bostick started instead, but I’m not sure why.

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