As I’m sure many of you know by now, the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins have agreed on a deal to send two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana from Minnesota to Queens, for four prospects. The prospects that the Mets are trading include hot-shot outfielder Carlos Gomez, up-and-coming pitcher Kevin Mulvey, youngster Deolis Guerra, and Philip Humber.
Carlos Gomez reached the majors last year and was off to a solid, but rocky start, before an injury sidelined him. Gomez is a great fielder and may end up as one of the fastest guys in the bigs one day. Gomez was the main piece in this trade. Kevin Mulvey is still young, but had a great year, and was recently honored by the New Jersey Sportswriters Association as the Mets’ Minor League Player of the Year. Mulvey should develop into a steady number two or three starter. Philip Humber is a bit of a mystery. He was a big-timer coming out of Rice and was the third pick in the draft just a few years ago. Humber has falied to live up to expectataions, and may not become more than a fourth or fifth starter. Deolis Guerra was the least known player in the deal, but has lots of potential. The pitcher is just 18, and if he can stay on the path is he on now, Guerra could be a future star.
All said, the Twins should have taken a deal elsewhere when they had the chance. The Yankees had a deal on the table that included a top-notch pitching prospect, either Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy, as well as future stud outfielder Melky Cabrera. The Twins balked at the offer, thinking that a better deal was yet to come, but when it didn’t they were forced to settle for less. The Mets got a great deal, and were able to keep some of their main prospects, such as OF Fernando Martinez and SP Mike Pelfrey.
The addition of Johan Santana gives the Mets a very imposing pitching staff, with Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez. When your fifth starter is a proven winner and playoff vet, it says a lot about the quality of your rotation. The Mets have got to be the favorites in the NL, though they probably aren’t on the level of the best teams in the AL: the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, and maybe the New York Yankees. Regardless, the Mets are a top five MLB club with a great shot at a World Series run. Hmmm… sounds familiar…
Meanwhile, on the Twins’ end, they may not have gotten a good deal for their ace, but they are set up nicely for the future. The Twins always have a great farm system, and now their youngsters are even better, both in the majors and minors. Minnesota boasts fromer number one pick Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez in the outfield. As well, their pitching staff should be grat in a few years, led by Francisco Liriano, Kevin Mulvey, and Deolis Guerra. In addition, Minnesota locked up fromer AL MVP Justin Morneau with a six-year extension, and gave Michael Cuddyer a three-year extension of his own.
Only time will tell how the prospects turn out for the Twins. One thing is certain though, the Mets just found the ace of their staff and should have him for the next six to eight years.
Posted by schwartzsports 
Posted by schwartzsports 