Baseball! The mercury catapulted to the 50 mark today, and I couldn’t get the thought of a hanging curve being ripped into the left-centerfield gap for a double out of my head. Not only that, but the wonderful MLB hot stove that keeps baseball fanatics warm and cozy all winter long had its fire stoked today by two overpowering left-handed pitchers being discussed in trade talks. Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins and Erik Bedard of the Baltimore Orioles each pitch for teams without a shade of a chance at reaching the playoffs in the loaded American League. And since both players are eligible for free agency soon (after the ‘08 season for Santana, and the ‘09 season for Bedard), and each team is in a situation where they can’t keep them (not enough money in Minnesota, and no chance of winning in Baltimore), it’s time they search for the best deal of top prospects and pull the trigger. For one of these teams, the time may have passed.
Rumors throughout baseball have both of these superstars moving to different teams by the end of this week, just in time for the players to get acclamated with their new teams prior to the start of Spring Training. Parting ways sooner rather than later also allows the trading teams to make subsequent moves to complete their offseason plans (i.e. Brian Roberts, speedy 2B for the Orioles, possibly ending up in a Cubs uniform). For Johan Santana, for whom talks stalled after a white hot early December that had both the Yankees and Red Sox in heavy pursuit of the two-time Cy Young award winner, his destination may just be with the other team from New York. The Mets, who are without a legitimate #1 or #2 starter (Pedro doesn’t fit that bill anymore), have offered the farm to get Santana to Queens. The stopping point for this trade is that the Mets prospects being offered aren’t nearly as talented as the stock of talent the Yankees and Red Sox offered more than a month ago. Minnesota may have made the mistake of holding their cards for a bit too long, letting some of the best deals pass them by. They felt at the time that both the Yankees and Red Sox were holding back for the best pitcher in baseball. Rightfully so when looking at it from the Yanks and Sox perspective. Santana struggled after the All-Star break in 2007, and will command well over $125 million dollars in any extension he’s offered. The trading team would also require a 72-hour window to negotiate an extension with him. That’s a lot of money and years to a pitcher – players who can break down much easier than position players. Plus, both the Yankees and Red Sox would rather see how he performs this year, than just go by him come November when they don’t have to give up any prospects (only a first round draft pick). New York offered a package centered around current Yankee outfielder Melky Cabrera, along with pitcher Phil Hughes along with a couple other young prospects, while the Red Sox countered with World Series stars Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester (along with a Major League ready shortstop in Jed Lowrie). In my humble opinion…if it was true that Boston offered Lester and Ellsbury…I would’ve pulled the trigger. Even if the offer was Lester and CF Coco Crisp, I would’ve settled for that too. Crisp had a bad year with the lumber, but was once the mainstream CF in Cleveland before he was traded to make room for superstar Grady Sizemore. Now, it sounds like the Yanks and Sox have both pulled their best deals off the table, leaving teams such as the Mets with inferior talent, to be the only major suitors. If I’m the Twins, I gamble here. Don’t settle for the middling deal. Take a chance at a full return to form for Santana, and trade him when the Yanks or Sox are ready to make a knee-jerk reaction to the sight of being 8 games behind the other two months into the season. It’s inevitable baby – just like Justin getting panicky that first week of July!
As for Erik Bedard, the situation with him is a touch different. He has two years of team control left (before he hits free agency) but doesn’t have the glamourous awards that Santana possesses. He also has a history of tiny injuries that keep him out of a start or two. Not a thing you wanna trade the house for. Nonetheless, suitors lined up at Andy MacPhail’s door to see the price. Apparently, the Seattle Mariners are willing to pay the steep price. The deal will cost them “sure-thing” prospect Adam “I swear to God if someone calls me Pac Man again I’m going to kill them” Jones. He’s a five-tool (for those of you new to this…the five baseball tools for position players are speed, defense, hitting for average, hitting for power, and arm strength/accuracy) centerfielder that lost his position when Ichiro moved there during last offseason. The Orioles need to make this move because they have no shot at winning a title with him, and so they might as well cash-in on his immense value. Trading him for four or five players with six years of Major League service time each is worth it because the salaries of those players stay incredibly low before they are eligible for free agency. The trade would help Baltimore in the long-run, and turn Seattle into an instant contender…with two aces to lead their staff, while featuring a lineup with immense power, but maybe one too many free-swingers.
For the Twinkies, my recommendation is to gamble and wait for someone to panic…because it always happens. As sure as the sun rising in the east every morning. For Baltimore, get the deal done, and get control of the service time of the players coming their way.
As for my non-baseball thoughts on the evening, I must agree with Justin’s take on Shaun White. In his gold medal run, he landed back-to-back 1080’s with incredible style, along with an unheardof 1260 on his last hit in the driving snow. The conditions were all wrong for him to do it, yet he pulled it off and made it look stunningly good for the brave souls that withstood the Aspen cold. Justin is right…he is going to lead the revolution…if he hasn’t already.
That’s enough for tonight. Rumor has it that Justin and I will have our Super Bowl studder-fest coming to a computer near you on Thursday. At that point, I will unveil the picture of the award I received for my 2007 Fantasy Football League Championship. I’m stoked.
-CR
