Don't trade Ervin Santana

[darin617]

It would be foolish to trade Ervin Santana who is under contract for 2018 with an team option for 2019. $13.5M in 2018 & $14M in 2019 if they want to pick it up.

 

Sure he has hit a rough patch now, but for that type of money what would you get this winter in FA market? Most likey a #3 or #4 starter practically.

[wsnydes]

Not trading him because he's got a team friendly contract is a strange reason not to deal him given the context.  Don't trade him because they're already thin at pitcher.  Sure, I get that.  Don't trade him because they need him next year.  I get that too.  Don't trade him because he's the best and more reliable starter they have.  Yup, I get that too.

 

They wouldn't be trading him to dump salary and they're not cash strapped.  They'd be trading him to get something back.  I'm not sure I follow the logic here.  Frankly, I think the team friendly contract is more of a reason to deal him.  That's part of what makes him one of the more valuable assets that the team does have.

[Twinsoholic]

I agree that the Twins are likely better off with Santana as one of their 5 starters next season. You likely will not get his value in a trade this July trade deadline. Trading some other players--if you can find matches with other clubs--makes more sense to me in terms of improving the team for 2018 and beyond.

[Bill Brown69]

Most of the time a team friends/ years of control contract is easier to move in the offseason because then every team is interested instead of just the contenders. Pitching however always seems to sell though.

 

I for one would keep Santana unless I got an offer I couldn't refuse. That offer would have to be multiple pitchers with some upside because that is our most glaring need.

[wsnydes]

 

I agree that the Twins are likely better off with Santana as one of their 5 starters next season. You likely will not get his value in a trade this July trade deadline. Trading some other players--if you can find matches with other clubs--makes more sense to me in terms of improving the team for 2018 and beyond.

That's the weird part of this conversation.  The Twins are in the unenviable situation where they're pitching starved yet perhaps their most valuable asset is a pitcher.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

That's the weird part of this conversation. The Twins are in the unenviable situation where they're pitching starved yet perhaps their most valuable asset is a pitcher.

i don't think the Twins should full blown "sell". However, rumors are at the deadline, pitching is a sellers market and position players, buyers market.

 

If Santana can return a good prospect plus a gamble, maybe Levine can sign a similar mid rotation or two arm in the offseason and bolster the pitching situation significantly.

 

I guess what I'm saying is, don't pigeon hole yourself in absolutes

[spinowner]

 

 don't pigeon hole yourself in absolutes

Yep. Make any trade that you think will be a net benefit for the organization.

[nytwinsfan]

Trade Santana for a nearly ready MLB pitching prospect with upside then use the money you save from him and from Santiago/Perkins to sign a good free agent pitcher. Then instead of one good but old pitcher w/ 2 years of control who could regress at any moment you have one good younger pitcher with more years of control AND an upside pitching prospect with lots of control. Of course this assumes they can get a good pitching prospect for him. If they can't I agree don't deal him. But the logic of dealing him makes a lot of sense, PRECISELY BECAUSE we need pitching so badly. 

 

And don't say just go sign another free agent pitcher to add to Santana next year. With just the Santiago/Perkins money, that will be a #3 maybe. With the Santiago/Perkins money AND the Santana money, we can sign a #2.

[mikecgrimes]

 

 

 

Sure he has hit a rough patch now, but for that type of money what would you get this winter in FA market? Most likey a #3 or #4 starter practically.

 

Ideally you have 3 starters better then Santana all making less then 10 million.  Once you find or develop pitching you don't have to mindlessly throw money at middling pitchers hoping they have a career year.  It's hard to argue Santana has a bad contract but if you call it a good contract it means you don't think developing pitching is possible.

[mikecgrimes]

 

 

Trade Santana for a nearly ready MLB pitching prospect with upside then use the money you save from him and from Santiago/Perkins to sign a good free agent pitcher.

 

I'd argue if your gonna throw around free agent money your far better off going after position players.  The pitching market outside of one maybe 2 guys a year is guys you barley want and you sure don't want to pay.

[darin617]

 

I'd argue if your gonna throw around free agent money your far better off going after position players.  The pitching market outside of one maybe 2 guys a year is guys you barley want and you sure don't want to pay.

Nick Gordon should vastly improve the Twins shortstop position next year if not this year. The Twins are stuck with Joe Mauer for 1 more season. I would say an upgrade to left field if the Twins can find a taker at the deadline for Eddie Rosario is the only position that needs to be upgraded. 1st base is where they really need an upgrade but will have to wait.

[Thrylos]

Santana has started to return to earth.  He is 34.  He will continue to decline.  His FIP is close to 5.

 

The last month he has a 4.68 ERA, 1.400 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 and 2 K/BB.  Opponents have a .865 OPS against him.   That is Rickey Nolasco territory.

 

Plus he is half a UCL and/or another drug conviction away from not pitching another game.   If anyone is willing to offer anything of value for him, he has to go.   Heck, if anyone offers anything for him he has to go.  Romero will give the Twins better opportunity for winning games this season than Santana.

[S.]

I would like to see us trade Santana for pitching prospects and then go out and get Darvish in the offseason. Unfortunately, I'm not sure the latter is all that likely, but I can dream.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Santana's allowing a batting average on balls in play this year of .229. That's a big part of the regression to come.

[Jerr]

Some how, I think keeping some kind of veteran pitcher helps those up and coming; but , if a good trade for Santana comes up........ok.

[AZTwin]

Some how, I think keeping some kind of veteran pitcher helps those up and coming; but , if a good trade for Santana comes up........ok.

Yep. If you get a guy who slots in our top 10 prospects you have to take it. Maybe even if it's a top 15 type return