Johan Santana's Price Just Went Up

We know that the Dan Haren trade means that the Diamondbacks are going to have an impressive top of the rotation next year. And we know that it means the A's are pretty set on rebuilding. The remaining question is a big one: what does this trade mean for the Johan Santana derby?

During all of the Santana trade talks this winter, it kind of felt like both the Yankees and Red Sox felt like they could hold out on Santana because the A's were waiting in the wings to deal Haren to whoever lost out on the Santana sweepstakes. Now Haren is off the market (unless the D'Backs are planning something really crazy) and best second option is Erik Bedard, who'd older than Haren with more questions about durability and consistency (though he does have more of a track record against the AL East).

All this adds up to is little cash register noises going off in Twins' GM Bill Smith's head yesterday when the Haren trade went down. Without Haren around, he now may well be able to extract Jon Lester and Jacoby Ellsbury from the Sox or Phillip Hughes and Ian Kennedy from the Yankees. Without Haren out there, whichever of the two picks up Santana won't just be upgrading their pitching staff, they'll be keeping the other team from doing the same.

Previously at FanHouse
D'Backs Get Dan Haren, Trade Jose Valverde
Prepare For a Rebuilding Process, Oakland

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-15-2007 @ 4:47PM

pookiemang69 said...

Please sox don't spend the great talent we have on a needless pitcher aqusition. We have a solid roster in that feild. However Ellsbury was very productive for us in the last few W.S. games we need him.

12-15-2007 @ 4:39PM

paulmurp6 said...

MY,personal feeling,is simple.We,crrently,have the best,pitchching staff,in the whole major leagues.Why,risk,giving up,on players,that you developed,that,will haunt you,down road,like,Jeff Bagwell.We,need Manny delcarmen,to step up,this year,giving all hes got,in middle relief,then,the redsox make a trade,even up,Jon Lester,and cocoa Crisp,for someone who can pitch,200 plus innings for your team.May Tavarez,in this deal,as well.

12-15-2007 @ 4:46PM

leo said...

it's too bad the Red Sox are ruining baseball.

12-15-2007 @ 5:37PM

Maxxx said...

Red Sox ruining baseball? What a hoot. They're only doing what the Yankees have been doing for years. Thay have to as they are competing in the same dividion as the Yanks.

12-15-2007 @ 5:58PM

bob jones said...

Do you really think Santana is worth $12,600.00 a year more than Lester? I would not trade him for a pitcher who last year was 15/14, and only lasted 3 innings his last game of the season. Please keep Lester AND Ellsbury, don't get pressured by media hype to make this deal. It likely will bite you on the butt.

12-15-2007 @ 7:12PM

Mike said...

To heck with Bill Smith. "Doesn't give other teams deadlines" my foot. Theo Epstien is being played by the Twins. Discuss this!!! It's takes less time to build a freaking house. Santana is NOT worth $140 mil. Time for Theo to move on, solidify his bullpen and the team's reserves, before decent players go elsewhere.

12-15-2007 @ 11:30PM

carmen said...

As a huge Yankee fan I would LOVE Johan Santana. That being said, the deal we offered the Twins was very fair. They turned it down. If they think that they can get MORE, then more power to them. The Sox offered a deal that was almost as good as the Yanks and the Twins turned that down too. I think the Twins were playing a high priced game of chicken and both the Yanks and the Sox didn't blink. If they are going to trade Santana to either team, it will only be for the deals that were originally on the table. I think both teams will wait it out and wait until the deadline or even the off season next year now. Maybe just maybe, the Twins overplayed their hand; or maybe they REALLY weren't interested in trading Santana after all. The best thing for BASEBALL would be Johan staying in Minnesota. We'll just wait and see.

12-18-2007 @ 9:56PM

wrong said...

The Yankees cheated to win years ago PETTITE and CLEMENS. IF anyone ruined baseball it is NY.

Red Sox don't need Santana and we aren't giving up the farm for him so NY can have him

The Yankees wish their deal was better then the Red Sox.
Look what Ellsbury and Lester proved in the world series and playoffs vs what Joba the fat hog proved in Cleveland.
Nuff said. Minny wants the moon and stars and no one is going to give it to them especially not Boston

12-16-2007 @ 10:10PM

john said...

I love the Leo-vs Max thing....The Red Sox are ruining baseball....I had to laugh...it seems that the shoe is on the other foot now doesn't it?..(Yes I know that the Yankees started this whole free agent thing with Catfish Hunter), but I hope the Twins keep Santanna and both Bost and NY can get on with who out spends who!!!My problem with the Yankees is that they are only concentrating on pitching....I and many fans think that the outfield (without Melky)..is old, armless, injury prone and should be cleaned out ..The Yankees don't have many positional players down on the farm to step in and start. Abreau is day to day mediocre...Matsui is a walking x-ray and Damon couldn't reach home plate from shortstop....and thats after his x-rays ..they also need a solid, stable first baseman. Giambi needs to DH and thats all. Duncan has yet to prove anything except that he is always happy and Phillips is a FA. So I would think that a quiet Cashman would have a hell of alot of work to do except call Bill Smith once a week for a Red Sox update on Santanna. I don't think signing a 33 yr old journyman pitcher..(Hawkins) was the answer to anything. I'm seeing a NYG Jerry Reese here....poor judgement of talent!!!I'm almost to the point that I think Cashman isn't allowed to make a move at all. The Yankees are ready to spend 140 million on a pitcher...why can't they spend half of that on quaility positional players that they need????that are under 30???

12-16-2007 @ 11:32AM

Reyes said...

hey red sox and yankee fan stop your dream. santana is going to the mets.

12-23-2007 @ 9:10AM

Time for the Sox to give the Twins "the finger". The longer they wait, the more time is lost in filling out the rest of their roster needs. "No time table", "ongoing trade discussions"? Theo, my house was built in less time. How much can you "talk" before it dawns on you that you're being "played". Let the Yanks have Santana at
$150 mil. You're sitting on 6 major league caliber starting pitchers. How many more games is Santana going to win over a Lester/Buckholz combo in the five slot? Heck, Santana could get "racked" in Fenway.