YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
twins/mlb
Don't count on Twins getting maximum value in trade
- Article by: Twins Insider Joe Christensen
- Updated: November 26, 2007 - 10:10 PM
All signs are pointing to Johan Santana getting traded this offseason. But a variety of factors might prevent the Twins from being able to get as good a deal as they would like in return.
Johan Santana can veto any trade, so he likely will demand a contract extension of at least $120 million before any deal happens.
- 0
- comments
resize text 
- buy reprints
Do I think Johan Santana will get traded this offseason?
Yes.
But that is just a gut feeling based on recent conversations with Twins officials and others from around the game.
So far, the Twins seem to be in a fact-finding mode. They are learning which teams are interested, though as of Monday, they said they had yet to receive a specific offer.
They are canvassing their coaches and scouts for opinions on players from other organizations, preparing themselves for every scenario.
Since Santana can veto any trade, he likely will demand a contract extension of at least $120 million. At that price, only a few teams are in the running.
We keep hearing the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Angels and Dodgers. Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press on Monday that his team has started talking with the Twins about a Santana trade, saying, "It's preliminary right now."
This is a crucial phase. The Twins expect to know whether they will trade Santana by the end of the winter meetings, which run Dec. 3-6.
Remember: They don't have to trade him now. Publicly, they say they haven't given up hope of signing him beyond 2008.
No matter how unlikely that sounds, they still can wait to move him until the July 31 trade deadline.
I think the trade will happen soon. But it's going to take some real guts because the offers probably are not going to be as impressive as Twins fans hope.
Other trades have spoiled them.
If the Twins could get Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser and Francisco Liriano for A.J. Pierzynski -- an above-average catcher -- what might they get for Santana?
He has two Cy Young Awards. He never has had a serious arm injury. And he doesn't turn 30 until March 2009.
But this isn't that simple because he is eligible for free agency after next season.
Think about what the Twins are really offering.
Santana, yes, but for only one season, only about 34 starts. That, plus the exclusive right to pay him that bulky contract extension.
How much is that worth to teams?
- 0
- comments
- resize text
- buy reprints
explore the Twins/MLB
ADVERTISEMENT
| LA Lakers | 88 | FINAL |
| Boston | 87 |
| Golden State | 109 | FINAL |
| Denver | 101 |
| Houston | 96 | FINAL |
| Phoenix | 89 |
| Oklahoma City | 101 | FINAL |
| Sacramento | 106 |
| St. Louis | 4 | FINAL(SO) |
| New Jersey | 3 |
| Montreal | 4 | FINAL |
| NY Islanders | 2 |
| Tampa Bay | 3 | FINAL(OT) |
| NY Rangers | 4 |
| Toronto | 3 | FINAL |
| Philadelphia | 4 |
| Winnipeg | 3 | FINAL(SO) |
| Washington | 2 |
| Dallas | 4 | FINAL |
| Columbus | 2 |
| Nashville | 3 | FINAL |
| Ottawa | 4 |
| Los Angeles | 1 | FINAL |
| Florida | 3 |
| Vancouver | 5 | FINAL |
| Minnesota | 2 |
| Calgary | 1 | FINAL(OT) |
| Phoenix | 2 |
| (21) Wisconsin | 68 | FINAL |
| Minnesota | 61 |
| Ole Miss | 60 | FINAL |
| (20) Miss State | 70 |
| Illinois | 71 | FINAL |
| (23) Indiana | 84 |
| Tennessee St | 72 | FINAL |
| (9) Murray State | 68 |
| (16) St Marys-CA | 59 | FINAL |
| Gonzaga | 73 |
| Old Dominion | 63 | FINAL |
| (12) Delaware | 76 |
| Wisconsin | 54 | FINAL |
| (18) Penn State | 69 |
| (5) Duke | 71 | FINAL |
| Boston College | 62 |
| (8) Maryland | 91 | FINAL |
| Clemson | 61 |
| Detroit | 70 | FINAL |
| (9) Green Bay | 58 |
| (10) Ohio State | 65 | FINAL |
| Illinois | 66 |
| (24) South Carolina | 47 | FINAL |
| Arkansas | 68 |
| Michigan | 63 | FINAL |
| (13) Nebraska | 52 |
| U-S-C | 52 | FINAL |
| (4) Stanford | 69 |
| (19) Gonzaga | 40 | FINAL |
| B-Y-U | 70 |
| (11) Tennessee | 79 | FINAL |
| Vanderbilt | 93 |
- Twins cut Vasquez to make room for Mastroianni
- Souhan blog: Sampson's career: It is what it is
- TwinsCentric: So thirsty for relief
- Twins claim minor-league outfielder from Blue Jays
- Neal : Another attempt to rank farm systems
- TwinsCentric: Nick Nelson's top ten prospects for 2012
- Twins will broadcast 25 spring training games from Florida
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2012 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters
