Johan Santana Forced the Trade

Fellow FanHouse blogger Josh Alper recently posed the question of how Twins GM Bill Smith could trade Johan Santana to the Mets without getting Fernando Martinez in return. It's a very good question, and one I was asking myself when I found out about the trade on Tuesday.

Well, it turns out that Smith may not have had a choice. According to the Pioneer Press' Charley Walters, who told us recently that Santana would be traded within 10 days, Johan forced the Twins to make the deal.

Johan Santana forced his trade to the New York Mets.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner told the Twins that unless they traded him by Tuesday, he would not waive his no-trade contract clause, he would go to spring training and play this season with the Twins, then become a free agent at season's end. That would mean the Twins' only compensation for him would be two draft picks.

As I've said before, Walters is somebody whose word I trust, and I don't doubt for a second that he's telling what he believes is the truth here. At the same time, it's entirely possible that Walters' source for this is someone within the Twins organization that's trying to spin the deal. After all, if I were a Twins fan I wouldn't be happy at all with what the team got in return for the greatest pitcher in organization history, and finding this out may turn the focus of my anger from the team to Santana.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-30-2008 @ 9:34PM

leo G said...

Bill Smith...................MORON.................end of story.

1-31-2008 @ 11:37PM

enissen said...

did they sign him yet

2-01-2008 @ 7:28AM

joe cardillo said...

The mets has to sign santana or back to the twins. And after the season the yankees will sign him. The moose giambi pavano off the payroll.The agent knows it so i say 140 million for 6 years. GO METS.

2-01-2008 @ 1:28PM

BOB said...

THE YANKEES ARE IDOITS FOR NOT DOING WHATEVER IT TOOK TO SIGN HIM. THANKS YANKEES!!! GO METS!!!!!

2-01-2008 @ 1:55PM

CARL said...

As a devout Red Sox fan, I am glad that the Red Sox did not sign Santana. Also glad that the skankees did not get him either. Santana alone cannot carry the Mets. Pedro's best years are gone. Best home for the Red Sox is with the Mets.

Guido

2-01-2008 @ 1:57PM

EDIT CORRECTION. Best place for Santana is with the Mets!

Guido

2-01-2008 @ 7:01PM

NeonDon said...

Remember you heard it here first, eght months from now...Santana is NOT the Santana you think. Why do you guys think everything is as it seems???? It will turn out to be a dud deal for the Mets. Twins know exactly what they are doing. Santana will not win more than 12 IF he does manage to stay healthy.

2-01-2008 @ 7:22PM

victor said...

Its Done. Lets go Mets!!!!!

2-02-2008 @ 11:10AM

joey said...

I love the new york mets they are the best they made a great deal with the twins the METS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! will win the WORLD SERIES WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!