August 15, 2007

Shea Johan?

Aaron Gleeman's selection of Rick Aguilera as the 18th-best Minnesota Twin ever got me thinking about an idea I had last week.

On July 31, 1989, the Twins acquired Aguilera, Kevin Tapani, David West, Tim Drummond and Jack Savage from the Mets for Frank Viola. Viola had been the key pitcher on the Twins' 1987 championship team, and, two years later, Tapani and Aguilera were key pitchers when the Twinkies did it again in '91. (West, with his postseason ERA of infinity, didn't do so much to help, but then he has a ring, so who am I to argue?)

If Johan Santana says this offseason that no, absolutely not, no way in hell will I re-sign with the Twins, how about if Minny offers to re-enact the Viola deal, once again with the Mets? If New York could start the package with Lastings Milledge and Mike Pelfrey, in addition to a pitching prospect or two, and if they've got a third baseman in the minors who's forever blocked by David Wright, toss him in too.

Santana- a multi-Cy Young-winning ace pitcher in the prime of his career- is the sort of asset that becomes available in a trade about once a decade. If the Mets want a window to negotiate an extension, I'm all for that too.

My preference is for Santana to stay in Minnesota for the rest of his career. But that's not looking too likely- and besides, the last time the Twins traded an ace pitcher to the Mets, it worked out pretty well. I don't want to see Johan on the Yankees, obviously, and after Kevin Garnett, Randy Moss, David Ortiz, Manny Fernandez, and Superintendent of Schools Carol Johnson, I'd rather Boston not steal yet another huge star from Minnesota.

Posted by Stephen Silver at August 15, 2007 02:49 PM
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