Trade winds due East....and West

Well, it looks as though we are in the middle of one of the most interesting/frustrating parts of the year: trade time.

Several minor deals have already come and gone, but there are two major deals on the burner that will keep people interested in baseball for a few more weeks.

Let's start with Sandy Koufax part deux: Johan Santana.

This guy, albeit a sub-par 2007, is talented, smart and young.

He is going to cost entirely too much for the Twins, so they are thinking about trading him for some great players (at least 3).

Who are the candidates to pick him up?

1. Yankees (most likely): They have the money and they have the prospects, but do they want to part with both? Logic says that they should wait until he is a free agent, but who is to say that he will be available by then?

It looks as though the Twins would want Phil Hughes/Melkey Cabrera/Austin Jackson (highly touted 1B prospect that has a guarateed spot once Giambi is gone). If you're the Yanks, you have to think about where you will be once the trade is made and where you will be 5 years from now, when Johan will be 35 and have the GDP of Belgium.

2. Mets (tied for 2nd most likely): Like the Yanks, they have the money, but I am not too sure on the trade bait. From what I have read, they have the blue-chips, but it is going to take more of them to make the trade. Lastings Milledge is no longer the stud of the pack, but I could see him being thrown in there given that he will probably have a chance to play in the OF.


T-2 Red Sox (tied for 2nd most likely): I have no idea why they would do this, but I keep hearing the Sox mentioned when it comes to Santana rumors. While it is probably mentioned just to keep pace with the Yankees, I believe this would be a terrible move because of what it would cost.

It would require a package built around Clay Bucholtz. A no-hitter in your 2nd MLB start is badass, but I am not ready to build a shrine around him. At the same time, I really want to see what he can do in a full season. He has loads of potential and I could see a lot of classic Bucholtz vs Hughes matchups in the future. On top of this, there is talk that Jacoby Ellsbury would have to be thrown in. To this I would have to say "NO!!". Jacoby is going to be a star in the future and he is grounded enough to handle it.

So let's assume that the Sox pull this one off and in the process, they lose Bucholtz/Hansen/Ellsbury. You have a rotation of Santana/Beckett/Dice-K/Schilling/Lester/Wake. You are paying 2 guys over 20 mil a year and you gave up a lot of talent. On top of that, Beckett will need a contract that is equally as ridiculous. While Theo is creative, I still cannot see it work for the future.

3. Chicago Cubs: Why not? Once this ownership crap goes away, they will have money and they will want to win.



Thoughts?