To Santana, Or Not Santana, Part I
December 5th, 2007 by Lucas DwyerThe Sports Truth founder, Levi Matthews, and senior editor, Lucas Dwyer, Yankees and Red Sox fans, respectively, spent two days debating the merits of their teams’ efforts to trade for superstar pitcher Johan Santana. The debaters started their discussion on November 27th and concluded it on December 4th. For the second part, click here.
The rumor of rampant trade speculation, Johan Santana, could bring a World Series title to the team he’s traded to. However, the left-handed ace comes at an expensive price.
November 27th …
Levi: I’ve crafted a debate in my head between Santana and Haren. Do you know how cheap Haren is?? $15 million over the next three years. What if the Yanks can get him and keep either Hughes or Kennedy? Is that not better than Santana?
Luke: Why is he available?
Levi: Because the A’s are giving up, apparently. They’re starting completely over… without young, cheap pitching somehow.
Luke: How are they going to get Haren without giving up Hughes or Kennedy or Joba?
Levi: They’d give up one. I’m guessing it takes Melky, Kennedy and Hughes to get Santana, plus maybe one of their minor league pitchers. What if you can keep either, especially Hughes, and get Haren?
Luke: I would say that makes more sense. I don’t think the $ has much to do with it.
Levi: No, just the fan in me who wants to see young players and doesnt wanna hear the nonsense about the Yankees buying their championships makes it an issue.
Luke: I don’t think Haren would solve that because they’d sign him to a lucrative extension anyways.
Levi: I guess so… still no extension will be equal to the $130 Santana will get.
Luke: Well, no, but the Devil Rays likely can’t make that trade.
Levi: If I’m the Sox, I just go ahead and trade for Haren.
Luke: That’s the thought I had. I’m not sure what it’d take, but I’d trade Lester or Buchholz for Haren.
Levi: no way they can get Santana without giving up Ellsbury, right? The Twins need a CF and he’s the third best player in baseball.
Jacoby Ellsbury, rumored to be involved in the Santana-to-Boston trade talks.
Luke: Who’s 1 and 2?
Levi: A-Rod and Pujols, I guess.
Luke: I don’t know what to make of Ellsbury’s trade value. It’s seemingly astronomical, but is it accurate?
Levi: Probably not. He probably won’t hit .450 next year. Trade him and Bucholz for Santana would be a no-brainer in reality - one has three career starts, the other is fun and exciting, but will hit .300 with 50 steals probably. Compared to Crisp hitting .275 with 25 steals? For Johan frickin Santana?
Luke: So odd that Haren’s available.
Levi: And Joe Blanton too.
Luke: They’re blowing up a team of young, cheap pitching?
Levi: I think the Twins need to trade Santana now, if only b/c of how desperate the Yankees are. Two top pitching prospects and I’m guessing they could even get one of the Yanks supposedly solid minor league pitchers.
Luke: Do you think they’d trade Melky as well?
Levi: H’s the poor man’s Ellsbury. He’s fun to root for, but will give them what over a full season? .280, 20 steals… possibly 47 outfield assists, though…I just don’t think Melky Cabrera is the reason you don’t get Johan Santana. Maybe he can hit .300 in a season, but he’s fast, a good fielder and a better than average hitter is all.
Luke: I think it’s easier to trade Melky than Ellsbury.
Levi: Agreed.
