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Patrick Reusse: Johan Santana deserves even more credit for his Twins years
Torii Hunter gets much of the credit as the leader of those clubs that returned the Twins from the oblivion of eight losing seasons (1993-2000) to winning division titles in the next decade. Hunter and Johan Santana were here for the Central titles of 2002-03-04 and 2006. Torii left as a free agent after the 2007 season, and Santana was traded to the New York Mets for quantity rather than quality. Santana was the most important element to the Twins' excellence of that era, and also as much of a leader with his personality and competitiveness as Hunter. Johan still was great in New York in 2008, started having shoulder problems after that, and missed the entire 2011 season following surgery. He came back with one day of brilliance last June, pitching the first no-hitter in the Mets' 51-year-history, but those 134 pitches seemed to do him in. He wasn't good for the rest of the 2012 season, and now his left shoulder again has a tear and he needs more surgery. He turned 34 on March 13. This is the last season of his six-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets. Fierce competitor. Fantastic teammate. Dedicated prankster. And, oh yeah, the changeup. Frankie V's was fabulous. Johan's was the best.
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