Make It A Blockbuster Night

I can use that headline because I gave five years of my life to that company...anyway...


It only took a little over three months, but left-hander Johan Santana finally changed his address. On Friday, January 31, the Mets officially acquired the two-time Cy Young Award winner, and signed him to a six year, $137 million contract extension, which includes an option for the 2014 season.

In return, the Minnesota Twins received sparkplug outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitching prospects Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. This group of players, as talented as they might be, is considered the third or fourth package the Twins could have gotten for Santana.

The Twins had offers from the Red Sox and Yankees. The Boston had two separate packages on the table, one featuring young World Series hero Jon Lester, and another featuring blue-chipper Jacoby Ellsbury. Meanwhile, the Bronx Bombers were offering a group including Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera and there were reports of the Yanks even offering ace Chin Mien-Wang.

But the Twins accepted the Mets' offer - and the Mets were most certainly the club with the most to gain from acquiring Santana, as they were lacking an ace starter to anchor the rotation. And perhaps just as significant, the Metropolitans did not have to give up former number one pick Fernando Martinez. Earlier reports suggested the Twins would not accept any deal that did not include Martinez, yet the Mets were able to retain the 19-year old phenom, who will likely see a call up at some point in 2008.

Gomez, who is slated to be the opening day center fielder, played in 58 games for the Mets in '07 and showed some of his high potential. The speedy outfielder swiped 12 bases, while driving in 12 runs last season. The Twins were in need of a center fielder after Torii Hunter signed with the Angels, and they now have a 22-year old who should become the next Hunter.

Humber, 25, also had some time with the Mets in his short career, albeit a small sample (five games combined in '06 and '07). But he is a former first round pick (third overall), and accumulated a k/bb ratio of 120/44 in his three minor league seasons.

Mulvey was the Mets' 2nd round pick in 2006, and is still a couple of years away from making his mark in the major leagues - but when he does, the Twins may have themselves a sure-fire ace. Guerra spent 2007 in St. Lucie, the Mets' Class High A ball. He started 20 games, striking out 66 hitters and ending with an ERA of 4.01.








A week later, the Orioles and Mariners have pulled off their own blockbuster trade.

The Orioles sent lefty ace Erik Bedard to the Mariners in exchange for the highly talented outfielder Adam Jones, reliever George Sherrill, and minor league pitchers Chris Tillman, Tony Bulter, and Kam Mickolio.

This deal had been boiling on the Hot Stove just about as long as the Santana trade. There was much speculation over whether or not this trade was even going to get done, or end up like the A-Rod for Manny Ramirez deal that never happened a few years ago. On January 27, Jones had told a Venezuelan reporter that he had been traded, and was on his way to Baltimore for his physical. This caused a panic between both sides, and almost put a halt on the whole thing. But Bedard traveled to Seattle to take his physical Thursday, and the deal was announced Friday afternoon.

Bedard, 28, further bolsters a rotation that already looked like one of the best in baseball. He joins "King" Felix Hernandez, free agent acquisition Carlos Silva, and holdovers Jarod Washburn and Miguel Batista, and gives Seattle a very dangerous 1-2 punch. Bedard finished 2007 with a 13-5 record and a 3.16 ERA on a very bad Orioles team. He also was third in the American League with 221 strikeouts (a franchise record according to ESPN.com), finishing behind Santana and league leader Scott Kazmir. But Bedard missed the last month of the season with a rib injury, and still managed to finish fourth in the league in ERA.

Jones, 22, can play all three outfield positions, and can play them extremely well. The former first-round pick made his debut in 2006, and since then has accumulated 139 major league at-bats. So he has some experience, and has five-tool potential. He has pop in his bat - he hit 25 home runs for Tacoma in 2007. He's got wheels and a superb glove.

Sherrill will turn 31 in April, and was a key part of the M's bullpen last season. He finished the year with three saves and an ERA of 2.36. He will give the Orioles some much needed stability at the back end of their bullpen, and may even have a shot at being their closer.

Tillman, the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007, Mickolio, and Butler have no major league experience, but all have some upside (particularly Tillman and Butler).