My thoughts on the Twins' effort to trade Johan Santana? Frustration.
It seems as though this will be in vain, as talks seem to be close with the Red Sox to trade Santana for either Jacoby Ellsbury or Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, and some other prospect. I don't exactly know, Ellsbury or Lester are the main sweeteners, as well as Crisp. Whatever, that's not the point. The point is this. I feel it is time for the Twins to make a statement. Don't get me wrong, I don't think rebuilding is wrong. Every team goes through rebuilding phases. My sticking point is that the Twins seemingly rebuild aimlessly. In essence, Minnesota is always rebuilding. Certainty and stability are not the core virtues of the Minnesota Twins.
The people of Minnesota have made a commitment to the Twins. Hennepin County has a sales tax in effect right now to build a $522 million dollar stadium in downtown Minneapolis. Public citizens are paying for a new ballpark, a new ballpark promised to GENERATE REVENUE. The Twins franchise is currently riding a tremendous wave of popularity, in large part due to the contributions and popularity of such players as Santana, Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau. Their owner is a billionaire. They are untainted from the scandal of other Minnesota sports, and have a good reputation in the community and baseball business. Minnesotans are making a commitment to the team, and expect a commitment in turn. I expect every effort to put the Twins in the World Series.
Obviously, the return for a Santana trade would be huge. No doubt. But this is a symbolic act. He would be just the latest in a long line of Minnesota athletes to leave town (ie. Kevin Garnett, Randy Moss, Torii Hunter). It's time for the Twins to make a commitment to their team and their fans and resign Santana. Yes, it will be very expensive. But he's the best pitcher on the planet. One must pay for good things. More importantly, Twins fans have a certain connection to Santana. He is an upstanding citizen, a good person. The Twins found him, developed his talent, and brought him to the fore. It's just wrong that he should pitch for any other team, least of all the soulless baseball forces of the East Coast. No, it is time for Minnesota to make a mark as a team committed to winning and staying competitive. It is time for the Twins to make a stand as their own team, to firmly create an identity apart from 1987 and 1991.
The latest front office incompetence has been so damn frustrating, stemming from the Twins' failure last offseason to sign Hunter and Santana to extensions. That bullshit trade of Luis Castillo to the Mets in the middle of the 2007 season was worse. The fact that the Twins twiddled their thumbs during the season to sign Hunter and Santana was another negative. Now, I liked the trade for Delmon Young. But the way the Santana situation has been dealt with just irritates me. The fact that its come to this irritates me most of all. Obviously, I'm no expert on baseball economics. I know that 20 million dollars a year is ridiculous, especially for a mid market team like us. It shouldn't have come to this anyway. But it's my opinion that the Twins, with their new stadium looming and all that revenue coming their way, their payroll freed of Torii's salary, should make a point.
Resign him. I don't care how much it costs. You owe it to us.
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