***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***

[wisehandpoker]

1) Is he still the best pitcher in baseball?
2) Is one year of him really worth more than five years each of Cabrera/Hughes or Ellesbury/Bucholz?

The Twins' leverage comes from the trading partner's ability to negotiate with Santana, but it's partially nullified by Santana's no-trade clause. Getting ten years worth of major league ready, high celing talent doesn't seem that far off to me.

[Vyse]

1. lol
2. it's a good thing you get more than one year of him. and for the yankees and sox it most likely is.

there's no pitcher in baseball who is as likely as santana to be an elite performer for the next five years. that's worth almost any price to pay. and considering we're talking about the best pitcher in baseball, not just "any" performer...

[wisehandpoker]

On 1, there are arguments to be made concerning declining stats and Josh Beckett. Just floating the question though.

[Vyse]

Not very many reasonable ones, unless you like to tremendously overrate one season and ignore things like consistency and never getting injured and pitching a lot of innings.

[wisehandpoker]

meh, he's turning 29 in the offseason and his numbers are trending downwards (granted, not drastically) to the point where he's come back to the pack a bit. With both Beckett and CC's numbers trending the other direction and being two years younger, it's feasible they'll be better investments. Santana's probably still the best, but two years ago I wouldn't have thought to question it. I just don't think he's the 2004 johan any more.

By the way, was there any noticable change in Santana's peripheral numbers that would explain the sudden increase in HRs allowed this year?

edit: One other consideration: While I'd rather have Johan for the regular season, I can't say I choose him to pitch the one-game playoff game for my life over Beckett. If the decision makers feel the same way, that has to be a consideration for teams like the Yanks/Sox, for whom making the playoffs isn't enough. Am I off in any of this?

[rwperu34]

[ QUOTE ]
the way, was there any noticable change in Santana's peripheral numbers that would explain the sudden increase in HRs allowed this year?


[/ QUOTE ]

No.