Stories are starting to circulate out of Minnesota, That GM Bill Smith, is starting to slowly begin to pull the trigger on a Johan Santana trade. The three teams who were rumored all winter to be in the runnings, Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox, have not budged on what they offered initially. It seems that the Yankees and General Manager Brian Cashman are starting to sour on giving up some blue chip prospects as well as having to pay Santana what he wants after the season. The Red Sox, who were believed to be close to getting Santana in December, seem to be content with the defending championship team that they have. This leads up to the New York Mets. The Mets have coveted a starter of Santana's caliber for years. Santana would instantly bring the Mets back to a championshiop contender. The question has been, Do the Twins like what the Mets are offering? At first, the initial reports did not seem so, now the tune looks like it has changed. The Mets, who do not have a Philip Huges or a Clay Bucholz, would have to win the Twins over with Quantity more than quality. The names mentioned in a rumored deal to Minnesota are Pitchers Phillip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra and speedy young outfielder Carlos Gomez. Fernando Martinez, the five tool outfielder,and Mets number one prospect, seems to be off the table.
The Twins realize that they cannot afford to give Santana the hefty pay raise he will most certainly desire after this season. The window is closing, with spring training just a little under three weeks away. The ball is in Bill Smith's hands....
