Well another superstar has left the Twin Cities and this time people actually care!  Didn't see that comin'.  We continually watch them go.  KG, David Ortiz(granted he wasn't a star yet), Randy "Straight Cash Homie" Moss, and who could forget Jesse "The Body Mind" Ventura.  Nobody should be shocked.  What does amaze me is to how many people are trying to blame this trade on the Pohlads, Terry Ryan, Bill Smith, small market or Johan Santana.  The truth is no one is to blame.  Trades are part of the game and one of the things that makes baseball so interesting because of the way it effects everything the organization does for years to come.  Let's flesh this out a little to see how this will affect the Twinks in 2008 and beyond.

1     Did the Twinkies really try to sign Johan and did Johan really want to stay a Twin?
    
I honestly believe, for once, that Major League Baseball's richest owner Carl Pohlad actually gave the ok to spend money and try to build a winner after Johan called the organization on the carpet " because it won't do what it takes to win a title".   Look at what the Twins have done in this off season.  They traded a top flight prospect in P Matt Garza, something the Twins never do, SS Jason Bartlett and minor league P Eduardo Morlan for another top flight prospect in OF Delmon Young, minor league OF Jason Pridie(whom the Twins drafted the year before in the Rule 5 draft) and SS Brendan Harris.  They then signed1B Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer to long term contracts.  And to further make the point that the money was on the table, everyone seems to believe that the Twins offered Johan a 5 year 100 million dollar contract and that he rejected it because he wanted a 6th or 7th year.  Santana obviously didn't want to be a Twin anymore and he forced their hand. I can't blame the Twins for not going for a 6 or 7 year contract for Pitcher given the history.(see Kevin Brown, Denny Naegle, Mike Hampton, BJ Ryan and AJ Burnett) With best friend Carlos Silva and Torii Hunter leaving for ridiculous money, Santana had to feel that the Twins would never pony up any money.   I would have liked to see the Twins try a 6 or 7 year deal if it was set up like this: 


I doubt that he would have taken this kind of deal but I would have liked to seen it offered.
    

2     Did the Twins get the best deal?

The answer is NOOOOOOO!  From a pure baseball standpoint how do you give up the best pitcher in the game for only 1 MLB ready player in OF Gomez, who I actually think is going to be a stud, and 3 pitchers, 2 of whom are coming off injury in Humber and Guerra.  Not only that you didn't address your team and minors league systems greatest need, 3B, which you've proven you can't draft or develop, you just added to your greatest strength, young pitching, which you've proven you can draft and develop.  The Twins, with exception of Corey Koskie for a spilt second, haven't had a great third baseman since the Rat in 89 and there isn't anyone ready to take over until well after 2010 when the new stadium comes.  And how many Pitchers are you going to carry on your 25 man roster, 15.  The spring training battle will be great but unfortunate as the Twinks will still be punchless in too many areas.  Here's the 2008 pitcher's battling for at most 2 or 3 spots(Lirano, Baker and Bonser as the 3 for sure starters and the bullpen still intact): Perkins, Slowey, Blackburn, Duensing, Humber, Mulvaney.
Here's your battle for 3rd:  Buscher, Lamb, Harris, Punto.  Boy, doesn't sound like alot of runs!

I wish now that they's turn around and trade someone here for a viable 3rd base option.  What happened to Matt Moses anyways?

Ahhh and to think all of this will be sorted out, beginning in 2 weeks when Pitchers and Catchers report.  Well at least for 08.  Twins look like they will still be in a world of hurt in key position when the new stadium opens


Gotta love America's Favorite Pasttime!!!!