Fantasy Baseball: Johan Santana Update Via Will Carroll

Baseball Prospectus | Under The Knife: Don't Panic:

"Santana is headed back to New York for an MRI and a visit with David Altchek. It's his elbow that's going to be checked out, and the worry about velocity indicates that he's not able to get full extension due to pain. He's had no control issues, so the easy guess is that he's had a recurrence of bone spurs. We don't know this yet, and we won't until the MRI's results become known, but the panic gripping Mets fans is based on less. Santana is likely to be shut down and could be done for the season based on the findings"

Day 63 And Counting

Francisco Liriano reports himself to be back fully from November 2006's Tommy John Surgery. Will this affect the Johan Santana talks? With feeling congealing around the twins having blown the chance to land major league ready players for Johan, maybe the appeal of Santana and Liriano at the top of the rotation will offer hope (false?) that the Twinkies can compete with Cleveland and Detroit.

TwinCities.com - Twins' Francisco Liriano says his arm feels great:
"His velocity? 'It's back. The past two weeks, I was (at) 95, 94 (mph),' the 24-year-old Dominican said.

His endurance? 'I'm throwing bullpens the same length as before surgery. I'm in shape.'

His pitch selection? 'I'm throwing all my pitches now. Sliders, changeups, everything - no problem.'"

Day 117 And Counting

The Boston Herald reports the Minnesota Twins are deciding between two trade packages for Johan Santana. One package involves LHP Jon Lester and CF Coco Crisp. The other is headlined by CF Jacoby Ellsbury. "The [additional] names, in some combo, minus one or two, include starter Justin Masterson and shortstop Jed Lowrie."

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com fleshes out the two packages:
"...believed they would accept a swap of him, Coco Crisp, shortstop prospect Jed Lowrie and either highly regarded pitching prospect Justin Masterson or another player.

Or if the Twins reversed field and decided they wanted center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury instead, it's believed that would be a 3-for-1 trade -- with only Ellsbury, Masterson and Lowrie going to Minnesota."

Ellsbury equals Jon Lester and Coco Crisp? There seems to be an inflated on the left side of the equation, isn't there?

In other trade rumors, The Dallas Morning News reports the Rangers have interest in bringing back Eric Gagne to close games. Depending on how much tima and capital needs to be invested, this looks like a decent move for the Rangers. Worst case, gagne breaks down for good, and the Rangers go back to the CJ Wilson/Joaquin Benoit tandem that closed out games last season after Gagne was dealt to the Red Sox for Kason Gabbard, David Murphy and Engel Beltre.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, there 1B hole looks more challenging to address via free agency. Mike Lamb, Tony Clark and Sean Casey all scream, "We stink and need to fill 1B with an aging veteran even though we are going to finish in last!"

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports a huge trade is brewing between the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers. In exchange for SP Dontrelle Willis and 3B Miguel Cabrera, the Marlins will receive OF Cameron Maybin and SP Andrew Miller as the headliners in a package full of young players. While this is exciting, I don't see how the two Tigers prospects are better than the three the Angels offered - Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis and a pitcher with the possibility of CF Reggie Willits.

This doesn't account for the Dontrelle Willis portion either. This is an exciting rumor, but seems more like an attempt for attention than a serious deal.


Unfortunately for the Rangers, there 1B hole looks more challenging to address via free agency. Mike Lamb, Tony Clark and Sean Casey all scream, "We stink and need to fill 1B with an aging veteran even though we are going to finish in last!"

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports a huge trade is brewing between the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers. In exchange for SP Dontrelle Willis and 3B Miguel Cabrera, the Marlins will receive OF Cameron Maybin and SP Andrew Miller as the headliners in a package full of young players. While this is exciting, I don't see how the two Tigers prospects are better than the three the Angels offered - Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis and a pitcher with the possibility of CF Reggie Willits.

This doesn't account for the Dontrelle Willis portion either. This is an exciting rumor, but seems more like an attempt for attention than a serious deal.

Day 136 And Counting

ARod is almost officially off the free agent market. The next big frenzy will build towards the 12/3 Winter Meetings and focus on Twins' pitcher Johan Santana. Given Johan is a free agent next winter, I suspect the ability to work out a long-term deal will be a necessity if the Twins want fair value.