The Twins continue to be patient in their attempt to trade two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana. But you wonder how much longer can they wait with pitchers and catchers set to report to spring training in less than a month.

The Red Sox, Mets and Yankees remain interested - yes, I mentioned the Yanks because no one believes they are out of it until Santana changes uniforms. 

Today, I feel like trying to swing a deal with the Mets, who need Santana the most. I’ve spent the past few days throwing out a trade scenario to people with knowledge of negotiations.

The Mets are trying to nab Santana with a package of prospects because they can’t afford to trade one of their established major leaguers. They have offered center fielder  Carlos Gomez, and three pitchers: Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber.

This package lacks major league ready players. According to scouts, Gomez has a chance to be a Alex Rios-type player if he hits - which is a big question mark. Guerra is a top prospect but is still a couple years away.  Mulvey can be a middle of the rotation starter. Humber is considered a No. 4 or 5 starter.

But the Twins are willing to take a prospect-laden package if  super prospect Fernando Martinez is added to the deal. The Mets are against this deal because it would clean out their farm system.

How do you break the deadlock?

One MLB scout I spoke with Sunday feels that the Twins should throw a prospect into the deal to get the Mets to add Martinez. The question is what caliber of prospect would the Mets want in return. The Twins have several pitching prospects and a few position players to choose from. 

Here’s my suggestion: Tell the Mets to keep Gomez (since there are questions about his ceiling) but add Martinez, then either sign a free agent to start in center this year (Kenny Lofton? Corey Patterson?) or trade for Coco Crisp.

I admit there are a couple issues with my approach. One, are you willing to accept a deal for Santana that doesn’t return someone ready to step into the lineup?

It also suggests that I don’t think the Twins are contenders next season because I’m looking for a stop-gap center fielder until Denard Span steps up or Ben Revere or Joe Benson develop. And I really do wonder how the Twins can compete next season when Scott Baker is the No. 1 starter, when no one knows how much rust Francisco Liriano will have to knock off and when Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland look formidable on paper.

Are Twins fans O.K. with a Santana-for-prospects deal? It’s an interesting question. The Twins won’t get fair talent back because of Santana’s contract demands. They have to make the best deal they can. Do you like what the Mets are offering versus one of the packages the Red Sox are willing to offer or a Phillip Hughes-Melky Cabrera led package from the Yankees (once they get back in this thing)?

Chew on that, and I’ll leave you with one more thought:

Being a Bears fan, any day the Packers lose is a good day

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This entry was posted on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 1:44 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.