The Twins sent pitchers Matt Garza and minor leaguer Eduardo Morlan, along with shortstop Jason Bartlett to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays on the other hand sent 22 year old Delmon Young, along with shortstop Brendan Harris and outfielder Jason Pridie to the Twins.
The Twins now have filled their void in center with the up and coming Young who has a sweet swing and should need to own a firearm permit because he has a gun for an arm.The Twins’ outfield now has Jason Kubel in right field, Delmon Young patrolling center, and Michael Cuddyer in right, with recently acquired Craig Monroe able to take over in right and left field as well as taking some at bats as a DH.
Jason Pridie and Jason Tyner can both take over in center and right as well.
Shortstop is pretty much filled with the Brendan Harris and first base is safe in the hands of Justin Morneau with Michael Cuddyer as the back-up.
Joe Mauer will remain a sure thing behind the plate for years to come in a Twins uniform.
The hot corner is currently being played by youngster Brian Buscher and second base is being controlled by Nick Punto and Alexi Casilla. Punto is also the back-up third baseman.
Other than Santana who will be traded and with Garza gone, the pitching staff is thin. Currently the Twins rotation includes Boof Bonser, Scott Baker, and Kevin Slowey.
So, what do the Twins want in exchange now for the coveted lefty, Santana?
The answer seems simple. They need pitching and they probably want to upgrade their infield, especially at second and third base, maybe even short at short despite acquiring Harris in the Garza trade.
So, who can give Santana $25 million dollars a season for the next seven seasons and who has pitching prospects and major infield prospects?
You got it; it is “The Evil Empire,” the New York Yankees.
The Yankees do have Robinson Cano but are unlikely to trade him away.
The Yankees do have switch hitting Wilson Betemit who can play all infield positions and has great power, especially from the left side.
The Yankees also have a major prospect at shortstop themselves in Alberto Gonzalez, whose hands are as soft as silk and could earn a gold glove one day soon.
His bat has yet to catch up to his glove, however, soft hands are important, especially on a hard to play turf field like the Twins have.Gonzalez can battle Harris for the shortstop position or may move one of them to third or second and can plug in Betemit at the last open infield position.
Now, of course a pitcher will be needed to be included in this trade which is where Ian Kennedy and/or Philip Hughes come in.
The Yankees have portrayed Hughes as their future ace and may not want to let him go, although they may have to part with him for Santana.
However, the Yankees can sweeten the deal with another pitching prospect to keep Hughes, by maybe even throwing in another starter, which would also allow the Twins to get a fifth starter.
Some of the Yankees other major pitching prospects include starters Alan Horne and Steven White who are top of the line prospects just below a Kennedy or Hughes. They also have Matt DeSalvo, Tyler Clippard, Jeff Marquez, and Christian Garcia.
The Yankees also have starters that can also be used as long relievers in Darrell Rasner, Jeff Karstens, and Sean Henn.
As far as top relievers, the Yankees have Ross Ohlendorf, Humberto Sanchez, Jose Veras, and Edwar Ramirez, but are all expected to be part of the Yankees bullpen in 2008, but for a pitcher the quality of Santana, plans can change in an instant.
If the Twins still insist on an outfielder the Yankees have some highly talented outfielders in players such as Austin Jackson, Brett Gardner, Jose Tabata, and Bronson Sardinha
So, the Yankees can offer the Twins quite a nice package that will cost them next to nothing and serve them well for years to come in Kennedy, Gonzalez, Betemit, and one (or possibly even two) of the other pitchers and maybe even an outfield prospect.
Sounds like an offer that the Twins can’t refuse and no other team can match.
The Yankees have portrayed Hughes as their future ace and may not want to let him go, although they may have to part with him for Santana.
However, the Yankees can sweeten the deal with another pitching prospect to keep Hughes, by maybe even throwing in another starter, which would also allow the Twins to get a fifth starter.
Some of the Yankees other major pitching prospects include starters Alan Horne and Steven White who are top of the line prospects just below a Kennedy or Hughes. They also have Matt DeSalvo, Tyler Clippard, Jeff Marquez, and Christian Garcia.
The Yankees also have starters that can also be used as long relievers in Darrell Rasner, Jeff Karstens, and Sean Henn.
As far as top relievers, the Yankees have Ross Ohlendorf, Humberto Sanchez, Jose Veras, and Edwar Ramirez, but are all expected to be part of the Yankees bullpen in 2008, but for a pitcher the quality of Santana, plans can change in an instant.
If the Twins still insist on an outfielder the Yankees have some highly talented outfielders in players such as Austin Jackson, Brett Gardner, Jose Tabata, and Bronson Sardinha
So, the Yankees can offer the Twins quite a nice package that will cost them next to nothing and serve them well for years to come in Kennedy, Gonzalez, Betemit, and one (or possibly even two) of the other pitchers and maybe even an outfield prospect.Sounds like an offer that the Twins can’t refuse and no other team can match.
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