Santana deadline extended
Posted on February 1st, 2008 – 4:18 PMBy Joe Christensen
The Twins and Major League Baseball have granted the New York Mets a two-hour extension to work out a new contract with Johan Santana, the Star Tribune has confirmed. The new deadline is 6 p.m. (Central).
MLB would only grant the extension if the Mets were very close to an agreement with Santana. It’s a good bet that Santana will have his new contract agreement tonight, and the only thing holding up this trade will be the physicals for the five players involved.
Stay tuned.
Update: ESPN is reporting that the Mets have reached agreement with Santana, though no terms were announced.
125 Responses to "Santana deadline extended"
PULL BACK TWINS! CANCEL THE DEAL! TAKE JOHAN BACK! WHY ARE WE GRANTING AN EXTENSION???? LETS GO BACK AND TAKE HUGHES AND CABRERA!!!
As excited as I am to see Carlos Gomez in CF for us, I hope Johan the greedy bastard tears his elbow. Mets fans are too ignorant to see he is a declining pitcher the past few years.
I wish nothing but pain, misery, heartbreak and deportation on Santana and his family.
How nice of the Twins to grant an extension after Santana was so flexible with his own.
THis is cruel, i can’t get any work done.
Make the Mets include another player for extending the deadline.
I think we should keep in mind that it’s the agents that are asking for those ridiculous terms ($28M, opt-out, 7 yrs, etc.) They know they have the Mets over the barrel so why not ask for the sky? You don’t know what’s possible unless you ask. Santana likely has nothing to do with dictating terms other than “Go get me the best deal possible.” And it might not even be him. It’s probably more Don Fehr than Santana.
Suby,
You can’t go back and take a deal that isn’t offered.
Dan,
Wow. Harsh. And he is not even close to a declining pitcher. You’re just being silly.
GOMEZ FOR PREZ! Sign on the dotted line so we can have our new players.
We need a salary cap in baseball, and a salary floor.
straight with 55 million dollar floor, and a 110 million dollar ceiling. 10% of all that money that is generated above that will go into an MLB stadium account. 10% of the money above that will go to building new high school, and city baseball fields around AMERICA!
That will include coaching, and equipment with that size of a check.
Right on the money, Bay. I’m guessing Santana has little involvement, even though he’s there.
sad stat. since june of 2004 Twins went 87-35 with santana starting, 232-237 when he didn’t. Troubling times ahead, I fear.
Taffe,
Or substitue Martinez in for Humber for the extension.
Screw it. BC Beneke for PREZ!
Dan Serafini’s Syringe, I’m hoping you’re not serious.
hurry up and get the deal done! i am sick and tired of hearing about the greedy bastard that is santana. he use to be my favorite player but i could care less about him now. i am really excited for are team now and in the futre. we prob wont win as many games without santana. but we will better off in the long run. so long santana thanks for nothung really…….
Bay Area, there in lies the problem. $antana’$ agents work for him and they have to do as he says. If $antana is uncomfortable with something all he has to do is say the word. He has final say in EVERYTHING, not the agent and not the Union.
Tony Gwynn royally ticked the Union off in when he signed his last contract because it was for WAAAY less than he could have signed for. But, Gwynn felt that the deal was more than fair and basically told the Union to take a hike. It is the players call and no one else’s.
Why is Johan the Greedy refusing to waive his no-trade clause mid season? Does he realize he is screwing his fellow (former) teammates? I guess its water under the bridge now. I hope he breaks Bert’s imfamous 50 homeruns allowed record when he leaves. Overall I still blame Poland for not ponying up the Benjamin’s to keep him. If you see smoke to the west, its my #57 jersey burning.
Urrggh. Just get the bloody deal done so I can get the mourning process over with!
FYI, it was MLB that granted the extension, not the Twins.
Once the trade was agreed to on Tuesday it was turned over to the league. The Twins have no say in what is happening.
I don’t think the other Twins players ever really liked Santana. He came from outside the organization. He was a star almost instantly. Ever wonder why the Twins could never score any runs behind him? Santana had everone uptight, because if you didn’t go out an get runs for the “superstar” he was going to rip you in the press the next day.
How can you still blame Pohlad for not ponying up at the same time you are ripping Santana for being unreasonable?
This size of a contract isn’t good for any team and there are only 3 teams that can do it anyway. Almost every other team in MLB would have done the same thing as the Twins.
I wouldn’t trade two Kevin Lohses for Santana.
FYI, it’s not the Twins who granted the negotiation extension, it was Major League Baseball.
Can people stop ripping Santana as though they’ve never liked him and he was a bad teammate. No one ever said a bad thing about him while he was here and most people spent the whole winter complaining about why we would not sign him.
It’s just sour-grapes.
Another thing that is really ticking me off about this whole mess is where would $antana be if Rick Anderson hadn’t taught him a change-up?
Who is Kevin Lohse and why is he being traded for Santana?
Of course his teammates never said an unkind word about “the greatest pitcher ever”. They knew they didn’t want to win as badly as him.
KB, I lost respect for him the second he demanded a $28mil a year contract.
So, wanting to win badly is a bad thing?
All I can say is in 2 years we could be lookin at one of the worst contracts ever.
From Rand’s blog… yes, let’s talk about Grunge bands, I’d rather deal with that than the anger I’m feeling right now with the whole Santana situation and the botch job that it appears that Bill Smith and company at Puckett Place have done.
Looking at the 2008 roster it kind of looks like a phrase that rhymes with Puckett place.
I’m not defending his contract demands, but that doesn’t mean he was a bad teammate or bad pitcher while he was here.
And, Clemens got essentially 28 mil for one year when he was old and worthless.
Okay then, I wouldn’t trade two Brad Oelkers for him. 
$28 mill per year?
I thought only pitchers on steroids got that kind of money.
I’ll take the 4 guys we got for 160 million less.
I heard on ESPN that the extension was granted by MLB and NOT the Twins. The Twins had no say in the extension.
Let’s not blame them….now….if the extension passes and Johan is a Twin again….do we sign him for the projected 6 year $168 million…$28 million per year?
No way.
And I was one who wanted to keep Johan, but now I see it was never going to happen. He wanted the big stage and big money all along. I hope the Mets choke on that contract.
Mike no way we sign him to that ridiculous number.
I blame the Phillies. If they hadn’t made that late season comeback, then the mets would not be so desperate, and then Santana would have no choice but to come back here and accept our offer. Damn you Phillies!
The Yankees and the Red Sox knew that this was going to be the demand and this is why they both basically pulled out of the talks.
The Mets….well….I don’t know what they were thinking. Santana was clear on his 6 years or more guaranteed thing.
So if he comes back to MN and we keep him through the season…and becomes a free agent…who will sign him? My guess is that he will either come down in his years demands at that point…or he is in for a rude awakening.
never happen. Mets will sign him
How do you spell greed? J O H A N
So, any player who leaves a team because another team is willing to pay significantly more is too greedy? I’d leave my job in a heartbeat if someone would guarantee me significantly more money as I’m making, and I’m making a confortable living now. Does that make me a bad employee? Greedy? Disloyal? I don’t understand knocking Santana for getting the best deal he can. I apologize if that offends anyone.
I think Bill Smith screwed up by insisting that a centerfielder be included in the deal. I understand we needed to replace Hunter. But, Smith could have used a player he got for Santana to trade with another team for a centerfielder.
True, the Mets will definitely sign him.
But, I think both the Yanks or Sox would sign him to that contract next year, since it won’t come with having to give up big-time prospects.
I don’t blame him. But I don’t think I… or we as fans… owe him any particular goodwill either.
He’s no different to me now than Sabathia, Peavy, Bedard or any other front line pitcher on another team. I don’t care if he’s out of baseball by April 1. He’s nothing to me.
I’m a Twins fan. He’s not a Twin. End of story.
BC, I agree with the need to have a salary cap in MLB. With the revenues available to east coast teams, etc. something needs to be done to introduce some leveling of the playing field. Seems to work o.k. in the other three major sports.
Why did he screw up by getting a CF, some of the top prospects from each team were CF’ers.
I agree with Boneyard’s feelings.
But Faith, do you really think Santana or anyone in his position is going to do what Tony (and Kirby and Hrbek) did? I can see that conversation would go.
JS: Ok. Go in there and make me a good deal. But not too good a deal. I’d be comfortable with something in the $110M range.
Agent: But we have them over a barrel. I can get $150M. Their fans will revolt if they don’t sign you.
JS. Look I’m willing to go up to $120M but not a penny more. Anything over $120M and my Q rating is going to plummet in MN and I can’t have that.
Agent: Ok. But I’m asking for an opt-out.
JS: No dice on the opt-out. Look what that did to ARod. Nothing but trouble and bad PR. And what did he get from it? An extra $100M in guaranteed money? Not worth it. Ixnay on the opt-out. You hear?
Agent: You’re the boss.
JS: And if Don asks, we never had this conversation.
Agreed, Crikket. We owe him nothing, but by the same token, I don’t think we should be hoping his elbow blows up.
Maybe Johans family eats twice as much as Spreewells family.
This stuff cracks me up! $28 million/year? How much security does one need?
If Santana is the best pitcher of the 21st. century, why did Sabathia win the Warren Spahn award for being the best lefthander in baseball last year? Shouldn’t ol’ Johan be a lock for that award year after year? Or for just the next six/seven?
And really, why was he 15-13 last year? That seems awful mediocre, don’t you think?
And lastly, just so I understand this, Santana comes back to the Twins if there’s no agreement with the Mets, right?
I’m still going to enjoy watching him pitch….he’s amazing, no matter what jersey he is wearing.
With our young pitching staff how would you guys feel about an innings eater like Levan Hernadez or takeing a flyer on Fogg,F. Garcia or even B. Colon.
Once he’s got his contract, what does it matter if his elbow blows up? It’s not like anyone is wishing him dead or anything. If his elbow blows up, he still gets his money. He goes home and buys half of Venezuela. Big deal.
What I hope is that the Mets have to choke on that contract… and as soon as possible. The “how it happens” is of no consequence to me.
He was 15-13 because we scored about 1-2 runs per start for him last year.
Oh yeah, that was because they didn’t try because they were scared of him, right?
Let the young pitch no more Ponson’s
JimCrikket, I have always been a Johan fan, but I certainly think he is open to blame and criticism now. I suppose I am naive to think that occasionally and athlete will not get consumed with greed, but it must have happened again with Johan. I wish no harm on him at all, but I’ve reached a point now where I sure won’t have any sympathy for him if it doesn’t go well in NY. Also, both Johan and the Mets are complicit with driving up future free agent costs for mid and small market teams. It’s insane, but there seems to be no end in sight.
Orbit,
You got to look beyond the won-loss record. A pitcher can throw 7 innings, igve up less than 3 runs and lose the game; either his team scores less than 2 runs or the bullpen blows it. Santana didn’t have a Santana year (compared to presvious 3) but his walks-hits remained under 1; his Ks were up there.
Look at Don Drysdale’s record with a bad hitting team.
Sabathia had a great year - Santana was just as good..
Need to be an agent, 3% would be awful nice.
Dave,
I’m in favor of Fogg, but only at a good price for 1-2 years. Just so we have one pitcher that has completed a full season.
He would be much less of a risk than Ponson or Ortiz. He’s pretty consistant, and about the same as Silva.
Because, KB, we didn’t want Crisp and Boston didn’t want to give up Ellsbury AND their best prospects. Take out Ellsbury and maybe, MAYBE, Smith could have actually gotten more. It’s like in the NFL draft. Do you draft to fill a need or do you draft talent? Take the Yankees - they are in desperate need of starting pitching. Smith wanted all of their best pitching prospects. Maybe that’s the best talent NY had, maybe not. Smith was looking for starting pitching and a CF. Fine. Did it HAVE to all be in the one trade for Johan. That’s all I’m saying.
Who is a better prospect on the Sox than Ellsbury, that they would have possibly traded.
BC: I like your thinking. MLB can send some of this extra $$$ to help cities build decent Little League facilities. That’sa great idea. I think the ceilings and floors would probably be higher, especially the ceilings. But guys like Loria, they would put up or get out. When can we start the lock-out?
BTW: I agree with everyone who says its not a good idea to wish an injury on anyone. I dont care for the way this thing has played out, but JS is doing the minimal thing here, maxxing out his advantage. Good for him I guess. If the Mets are stupid enough to pay it, why not take it. Maybe a future cap would be like having a stupidity clause in insurance policies…we are just going to make sure everybody else doesnt have to pay because somebody else is incredibly stupid.
Every free agent and club who signs him has been complicit in rasing the bar on salaries. Also, as revenues rise, why wouldn’t the players want a piece of the pie? MLB generated over $6 billion in revenue. The players get their (collective) 40%, and I don’t blame them. And as far as Santana goes, blame the Giants for signing Zito to that ridiculous contract if you must blame someone.
KB bucholtz
Boneyard, I think Johan has the right to get what he wants, but at some point it just gets ridiculous. The rising cost of ball players means rising ticket prices, hats, jerseys, hot dogs, beer, etc. I’m in my 50’s so I can go to game when I want to, but I think of families trying to afford a fun day at the ball park and it’s darn expensive. I agree that I would consider going to a new employer to for a better offer, but there are other things to consider also. Especially in an athlete like Johan’s position where he will be able to guarantee his families finances for decades to come. When is enough enough?
Let me just clarify… I’m not WISHING injury on anyone. The reason I want this contract to blow up in the Mets’ faces is that the ONLY way these deals ever come to an end (short of the revenue sharing we’ve discussed), is if EVERY insane deal turns out to be a disaster as soon as possible.
If that means a guy I’ve enjoyed watch pitch ends his career prematurely because he was intent on getting one of those deals… so be it.
I do not mind Fogg, but here is some info on Livan Hernadez in 351 MLB games he has averaged 6.7 innings pitched, and with such a young pitching staff it would be good for the bullpen to know that every fith day your pitcher should go about 7 innings according to his history. If the Twins go with all the young guys I’m good with that I think taking their lumps in the bigs would be a good thing.
BayareaTwinsFan - How about this:
Agent - Johan, I think I can get you $170M if we can wangle a deal to the Mets.
Johan - But the Twins will pay me $100M over five years. I’ll never be able to spend that no matter how hard I try.
Agent - But Johan, $170M. You have to take it. It’s money. That’s all that counts.
Johan - No, it’s not. I also value loyalty, and I owe the Twins fans. They’ve been behind me all these years. And I like Gardy and my teammates. And Minnesota isn’t a bad place to be.
Agent - But it’s MONEY. Money, money, money. Nothing else is more important than money.
Johan - You’re fired.
Boneyard, I agree with your 5:18 post. Like I used to tell my kids. Do you know why they charge that much for it? Because they can. People continue to pay the price. And your explanation is exactly why I am against tax dollars for stadiums even though I’m a huge sports fan. The owners and players won’t police themselves, then ultimately the public is asked to pony up for fear of losing the team. It ain’t right.
JimC,
I agree with you about this being the only way contracts like this will stop. Don’t worry, it will blow up on them as some point if they give him 6 years.
I think they know that, too. It’s mostly for the next few years hoping they will win a series.
Well folks, it’s been fun, but I have to run. Have a great weekend. Good luck Johan. Good luck Mets. It’s ridiculous, but it’s reality. Best way for this deal to blow up in the Mets’ face: Gomez turns into Alex Rios, and Humber pitches the clinching game in the ‘08 WS. Now that would be wicked fun!
wertbellik: enough is enough when we (the fans) stop paying the ridiculous prices and stop watching on TV. If attendance, ratings, and revenues start falling, guess what will happen to salaries? They won’t decline (they don’t in any industry), but they would level off and you would probably see shorter contracts.
David, I like the idea of signing an innings eater. Our bullpen will need a break every so often this year.
1. Why couldn’t / didn’t the Twins demand another player for extending the deadline? or otherwise just hang up the phone when the Mets asked for the extension.
2. If (and it’s a big if) Santana comes back to the Twins… I’d tell Gardy to superglue his backside to the bench when Santana is pitching. He goes 9 innings every start… After all he was always grumbling about being yanked early.
Dennis, we can only wish more conversations like that would take place. I guess I’m part of the problem because I love baseball too much to stop going or stop watching. I try to live by the idea that I should not complain without offering a solution, but I don’t have a solution for this one.
werbellik: Amen to your 5:22 post. Amen.
The Twins had the say on whether to ask MLB to give the Extension. BS could have killed the deal right at 4:00.
MLB grants/allows the extension but we had to agree to it.
Can’t believe BS let them off the hook for FREE!!
Now I am even more mad then at the original trade announcement
It’s fruitless to rail about rising baseball salaries in a market economy. If you really want to bring down the salaries, don’t go to the games. Don’t watch it on TV or the Internet. Don’t buy products they advertise during the games. Don’t buy any team gear and for God’s sake don’t read baseball blogs. Either that or hope that the US switches to a communist economy down the road.
After Santana owns the Mets, will he move them to Minnesota or Caracas?
The players certainly deserve their share of the profits. But that’s exactly why there should be a salary cap. The players get a set amount of the profits every year. No more, no less. All teams are on the same playing field.
Another point for those who think Johan and others should get every last penny, even if the amount he gets is more than all of us posting here will make in our lifetimes combined. Who ultimately pays that $170M to Santana??? It’s you and I and all the other fans, regular people.
boneyard, we’re on the same page. I can only watch so much softball to get my jollies. I guess I could just play more golf…
werbellik, what time do we tee off?
Werbellik - I wish all problems had solutions this simple: salary cap and revenue sharing.
BFE,
You wanted BS to kill the deal, give back Gomez and the three pitchers for a chance at two draft picks?
You are mad. But not as you meant it.
I’m thinking Johan might have enough money with his new contract to overthrow Hugo Chavez and run the Venezuala?
I don’t begrudge anyone getting the money they can get. It may not be yours or my values but the system is what it is.
If I could get someone to pay me that kind of cash I would take it. Depending on the person getting the cash there is a lot of good that can be done with it. Better then being in the owners pockets right?
boneyard, early April, the Refuge. Got me new putter this week…I digress.
BayAreaTwinsFan - It’s not a market economy if it’s a monopoly with an exemption from anti-trust laws.
i heard the mets asked for an extension from mlb and they gave him 2 hours.. the mets were looking for 2 days.. thats really funny.. i guess we will get him back after all…
Sane,
You are right it is a little crazy to give up the prospects but it would have been nice to see the players/and the union eat crow a little bit. They forced the issue on this large contract and held the Twins up to get the deal done now.
But you are correct I would rather have the 4 prospects then the two picks and a fruitless year with Santana
Fans don’t bring all of the money into MLB. There is also advertising. Star players bring those bucks in.
Horrible deal, for a horrible person. 100 million for 5 years. 150 million for 6 years. Agents are ruining everything. You think 20 million a year for throwing a ball is not enough? Then screw you, I wouldn’t want him for free now. Same with Hunter.
And I realize we have the worst owner in professional sports, but still, it’s out of hand now. This sport needs a salary cap or get ready for another strike in 5 years.
BFE - Salary cap, revenue sharing. And I know you well enough, Bill, to know that you do have loyalty. You wouldn’t make a decision SOLELY on the basis of money, especially if the alternative was also more money than you could ever spend.
JoJo, the advertisers pay because we watch and attend.
jojo,
yes they do… the fans watch these “advertisements…” thats how the mlb gets money.. if people didnt watch them they wouldnt be worth anything…
Metsblog is saying it just got done.
deal is offical.. mlb.com..
I was trying to defend this deal when it first happened, but now I’m actually fine with taking Santana back and getting two draft picks for him. It could be a watershed moment in professional sports.
Dennis,
You are correct I wouldn’t base my sole decision on money. As I don’t think Santana is either. Just because the numbers are so unreal doesn’t mean he is thinking of other things.
IE…family (larger latino community in NYC), better chance of winning a ring (even if we did sign him at 20M per year with Pohlad we would be cash strapped), better chance for the HOF..ie.pitching in the NL and on the east coast.
At least I am hoping not.
werbellik, I don’t think I can wait until early April. I got a new set of clubs for Christmas . . .
Dennis, I definitely like your version of the conversation better than mine. And I can see that as being a realistic scenario for some players. But unforunately I don’t think it went down like that with Johann.
This situation reminds me of when Thome was a free-agent. From all accounts I hear he’s a pretty stand up guy and liked playing Cleveland and grew up in the Mid-West. But when Philly offered him the bucks, he felt he owed it to the Players Union to set a benchmark deal and took the money. How can we expect Johann who’s not from here, doesn’t live here, has no roots anywhere near here to want to stay and take less money.
DARN 
this makes me sad…..
though… just watch…. this deal will fall through cause humber wont pass his physical… 
deal is done
All I can say is BS blew it by giving the extension and not getting anymore compensation.
Both teams have to agree to the extension and then get permission from MLB.
Oh well on to the next topic of signing Nathan, a CF, and SP
Now that the deal is official, can we move onto the Twins and not Mets players? I don’t think we’ll be much, but with Young blooming, if Pridie and Gomez blossom, if the young pitchers come through, and with Mr. Smith’s willingness to make bold moves, this club could be quite interesting in 2010 when the new park opens. Am I wrong to hope?
If Humber fails his physical we better get either Martinez or Pelfry.
I meant, I don’t think we’ll be much in 2008. Sorry.
On the Santana deal, dont forget all the extra money Santna will make playing in New York on endorsements and apperances. Many many millions more on top of the contract he is getting from the Mets. I think I might adopt the Mets as my second team for the next couple of years untill the Twins get back in the playoffs.
Good point, BFE. What happens if one of the kids fails their physical and we can’t agree on a replacement? Is the deal scuttled? Ugh.
Trade Mauer Guy — once off the bandwagon stay off.
JoJo, And who gets sucked into the overly expensive products they advertise? I know it’s business, that means I have the right to get upset when the team is not doing good, because they are playing for money!
I would bet it would take a lot of work to agree on another guy to complete the deal. Unless the Mets wish to write us a check as well
Trade Mauer Guy, I hope you were joking about pulling for the Mets. Go Twins!!
BayAreaTwinsFan - That whole “I owe it to the other players” thing is really frustrating to me. If I were Johan I would have taken the $100M and stayed here. (Of course I was raised near here and like the area.) To me $100M and $170M are exactly the same. I could live a life of luxury I never dreamed of, and STILL have millions and millions left over. And if the union or anyone else told me I HAD to take more to raise the overall salary structure they would certainly get an earful that would include language I rarely use.
BFE - The Twins are my first team but they are obviously in a rebuild/reload mode and it will be a few years for them to be playing meaningful baseball in Sept and Oct. I would still like to watch a good team late in the season so my SECOND team might be the Mets.
Boneyard,
The Mets and Twins WILL COMPROMISE on a replacement because neither team wants out of the deal.
The Twins won’t torpedo the deal and give back Gomez and the three pitchers; in order to get two draft picks.
At least now Bill Smith will be able to talk about his thinking and maybe give us some insight into the whole process.
OK, I’m off to across the street here in beautiful downtown St. Paul for some skating, and then to the bar….
6 years @ about $22MM/yr
$7MM bonus for this year on top of existing $13.25MM salary
So just over $150MM for 7 years
switch to other thread.. joe came in
All it comes down to is we lost one guy who only plays once every five games…and saved 150 million dollars. The money was better spent keeping Morneau, Cuddy, and Mauer.
” And I realize we have the worst owner in professional sports, but still, it’s out of hand now. This sport needs a salary cap or get ready for another strike in 5 years. ”
The imposition of a desperately needed salary cap is what would cause the strike. Which at this point would matter to me not at all. I’ve been a Twins fan since I was five and I’m just about tapped out.
Baseball needs to be clear-cut and fixed from the ground up. A pox on all their houses.
