Santana soon to be available? Cubs interested?

[E.J.]

Sports Illustrated[/url]"]

The Twins recently reopened negotiations with star pitcher Johan Santana, and in the likely event that the cost-conscious, small-market team fails to sign him soon, it is expected that baseball's best pitcher will hit the trade market.

 

Several competing general managers here said they are awaiting such a scenario and implied that they are ready to pounce on such a rare opportunity to land a clear ace.

 

The Twins recently have made Santana an offer, and the buzz going around the general manger meetings here is that Santana is unlikely to come to a quick agreement and much more likely to be traded. The availability of Santana would resurrect a weak pitching market.

 

Should Santana become available, the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox, Cubs and Mariners would be expected to be among the chief pursuers. The Twins, who have done a terrific scouting job over the years, would be expected to request a stash of young players in return.

 

Heyman lists us as one of the chief pursuers, but I just don't see it happening.

[Mephistopheles]

id love santana, it just will not happen

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

I would hate to give up alot considering the Yankees will throw the bank at him next year.

[UMFan83]

I doubt the Cubs could come up with a package to match some of those other teams.

[USSoccer]

I wish we had the assets needed to make a run at this.

[Backtobanks]

Sports Illustrated[/url]"]

The Twins recently reopened negotiations with star pitcher Johan Santana, and in the likely event that the cost-conscious, small-market team fails to sign him soon, it is expected that baseball's best pitcher will hit the trade market.

 

Several competing general managers here said they are awaiting such a scenario and implied that they are ready to pounce on such a rare opportunity to land a clear ace.

 

The Twins recently have made Santana an offer, and the buzz going around the general manger meetings here is that Santana is unlikely to come to a quick agreement and much more likely to be traded. The availability of Santana would resurrect a weak pitching market.

 

Should Santana become available, the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox, Cubs and Mariners would be expected to be among the chief pursuers. The Twins, who have done a terrific scouting job over the years, would be expected to request a stash of young players in return.

 

Heyman lists us as one of the chief pursuers, but I just don't see it happening.

 

Not unless you are going to give up Hill, Pie, Marmol, Cedeno, and Gallagher. Probably the same package for Cabrera. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Mephistopheles]

id do that package if we had a 72 hour window to sign him to an extension and signed him

[E.J.]

id do that package if we had a 72 hour window to sign him to an extension and signed him

 

That's the question though. Can we afford to sign him to an extension? We've got quite a few big-money contracts now. I don't know if we'd be able to afford him.

[Outshined_One]

id do that package if we had a 72 hour window to sign him to an extension and signed him

 

If Santana were open to the idea, I'd be all for it.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

id do that package if we had a 72 hour window to sign him to an extension and signed him

 

That's the question though. Can we afford to sign him to an extension? We've got quite a few big-money contracts now. I don't know if we'd be able to afford him.

 

Doubt it. If I'm Santana I want a deal bigger than Zito got last offseason.

[David]

The Twins recently reopened negotiations with star pitcher Johan Santana, and in the likely event that the cost-conscious, small-market team fails to sign him soon, it is expected that baseball's best pitcher will hit the trade market.

 

Several competing general managers here said they are awaiting such a scenario and implied that they are ready to pounce on such a rare opportunity to land a clear ace.

 

The Twins recently have made Santana an offer, and the buzz going around the general manger meetings here is that Santana is unlikely to come to a quick agreement and much more likely to be traded. The availability of Santana would resurrect a weak pitching market.

 

Should Santana become available, the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox, Cubs and Mariners would be expected to be among the chief pursuers. The Twins, who have done a terrific scouting job over the years, would be expected to request a stash of young players in return.

 

Heyman lists us as one of the chief pursuers, but I just don't see it happening.

 

Not unless you are going to give up Hill, Pie, Marmol, Cedeno, and Gallagher. Probably the same package for Cabrera. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

I'd give that up in a heartbeat, particularly if, like Meph suggested, we got a window for extension talks.

 

The only player I'd even miss significantly is Marmol (who is really just a reliever) and maybe Pie.

Edited November 8, 2007 by David

[CuseCubFan69]

I think writers are just saying the Cubs because they have spent money in the past. They seem to mention them with every free agent or trade of late.

[UMFan83]

Is there anyway we could get a deal done if we included Z? Z, Pie, Hill... Would we even want to do that?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is there anyway we could get a deal done if we included Z? Z, Pie, Hill... Would we even want to do that?

 

No is the answer you're looking for.

 

And honestly, I wouldn't do that previous deal for Santana, and I wouldn't sign him to the extension he wanted. If he was the same age as someone like Z or Beltran when he hit free agency, most definitely. But there's a large difference between having someone for their 27-30 years and their 34-37 years, which is essentially the difference when comparing potential long term contracts.

[SouthSideRyan]

If you trade for Santana without an extension you're a dope.

[frostwyrm]

Santana could get $150M in free agency. I wouldn't be against trading for him if we had money for an extension, but I really doubt the money is there. I'd rather look at Cabrera.

[rawaction]

I'd trade that package (Hill, Cedeno, Pie, Gallagher) for 1 year of Santana and the compensation when he walks. He would make the Cubs so much better, it's ridiculous.

[javy knows my name]

Heyman is an idiot. All he did was list the top six markets with no attention paid to needs or possible packages. The Cubs are, by far, the least likely of those six to sign Santana.

[frostwyrm]

I'd trade that package (Hill, Cedeno, Pie, Gallagher) for 1 year of Santana and the compensation when he walks. He would make the Cubs so much better, it's ridiculous.

 

Cabrera is under control for 2 years. If it turns out the new owner can't afford to extend him he can be traded for a nice return next offseason. If we get Santana and the new owner can't afford an extension then he'll walk and all we get is a draft pick. I'll take Cabrera.

[rawaction]

I'd trade that package (Hill, Cedeno, Pie, Gallagher) for 1 year of Santana and the compensation when he walks. He would make the Cubs so much better, it's ridiculous.

 

Cabrera is under control for 2 years. If it turns out the new owner can't afford to extend him he can be traded for a nice return next offseason. If we get Santana and the new owner can't afford an extension then he'll walk and all we get is a draft pick. I'll take Cabrera.

 

I didn't think this thread was about Cabrera or Cabrera vs. Santana.

[Electron Blue]

I'd trade that package (Hill, Cedeno, Pie, Gallagher) for 1 year of Santana and the compensation when he walks. He would make the Cubs so much better, it's ridiculous.

 

Cabrera is under control for 2 years. If it turns out the new owner can't afford to extend him he can be traded for a nice return next offseason. If we get Santana and the new owner can't afford an extension then he'll walk and all we get is a draft pick. I'll take Cabrera.

 

I didn't think this thread was about Cabrera or Cabrera vs. Santana.

 

It's a relevant offshoot of the conversation -- sometimes that happens.

 

I'd rather have cabrera, too, btw. Someone always has to say it: when it comes down to a huge bat or an ACE arm, you gotta go with the everyday player... and the contract situation is icing on the cake, for cabrera's side.

[frostwyrm]

I'd trade that package (Hill, Cedeno, Pie, Gallagher) for 1 year of Santana and the compensation when he walks. He would make the Cubs so much better, it's ridiculous.

 

Cabrera is under control for 2 years. If it turns out the new owner can't afford to extend him he can be traded for a nice return next offseason. If we get Santana and the new owner can't afford an extension then he'll walk and all we get is a draft pick. I'll take Cabrera.

 

I didn't think this thread was about Cabrera or Cabrera vs. Santana.

 

Of course it is. We don't have enough trade bait to get both Santana and Cabrera. If one of them is a better choice then that's totally relevant to the discussion.