Now that I have finally started to come down from my high over the Giants being the greatest team in the land, I can firmly give my opinions about the Johan Santana trade, and where it stands in New York Mets history. Keep in mind this is a history full of miserable trades, stupid free agent singings, and in my lifetime, many disappointments. In other words, the Mets made this trade, so they better win the World Series.

First off, not only did we trade for Santana, we got him for legit highway robbery. Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey will never be anymore than mid rotation guys, and only time can tell with Deolis Guerra. OF Carlos Gomez, though fast and vastly talented, was dispensable based on the fact that Fernando Martinez is still waiting in the wings. The fact that we didn’t have to give up the super talented Martinez is still beyond me. For weeks it seems like that was the deal on the table that the Twins wouldn’t take, and then all of a sudden we get the trade done and Martinez is still a Met. Way to go Omar for pulling that one out your you-know-where.

The other main issue, and the most important issue, is that the trade puts us to the top of the class in not only the National League East, but the whole National League. For a team and fan base still bitter about the 2006 NLCS disappointment, and the 2007 late season stink bomb, this is the best news we have heard out the Mets front office since the Reagan Administration. Living down here in the South Jersey wilderness I’m pretty sure I heard an extremely loud GULP coming from somewhere towards the direction of the city of Philadelphia. Yeah the Phillies have the best infield in baseball, but their infield won’t do them any good when the mighty Santana continues to sit them down in order, one-by-one. You heard it here first; game over in the National League, as the Mets have no excuse to not win that elusive pennant this season.

Many Mets fans and Mets historians believe that this might turn out to be the biggest trade in New York Mets history. Now I think we might be getting a head of ourselves here, as there definitely needs to be a championship won before lofty claims like that can be made. The Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez trades in the mid 1980’s that set the veteran cornerstones for the 1986 squad still remain the biggest and most lopsided trades in team history. We got a future Hall of Famer in Carter, and a man who is still one of the faces of this organization in Hernandez. The short and long term effects of this deal can still be felt today, and they are by far the biggest trades in Mets history.

The series of deals leading up to the 2000 National League Pennant can be considered here also. Mike Piazza, Mike Hampton, Derek Bell, and Mike Bordick were all solid players that were acquired via trade. All of them had a significant hand in that 2000 pennant run. Mike Piazza was the face of the team for almost ten seasons, and will surely be the next Met to have his number hang from left field. Mike Hampton was the NLCS MVP. The 2000 Mets were a great overachieving squad, which will never be forgotten because of those players.

Basically Santana and the 2008 New York Mets still have a ton to prove, and the only way they can prove it to me is on the field.

Speaking of overachieving…I think there are congratulations in order to our football brothers in arms, the New York Football Giants. Unless you have been living in Omar Minaya’s cell phone for the past week, you most surely know that my beloved New York Giants defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots (18-1) 17-14 in what may go down as the greatest Super Bowl ever played. This also put a blemish on the hated city of Boston, and their miracle run of sport success this decade. Here’s to the New York Giants, for bringing the top of the sports mountain back to New York. And thank you for capping the best week in New York sports history.

That’s all I got. Later. JD

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By Reuben Mitrani

The worst thing happening for the game of baseball is the big market to small market divide, a problem that is affecting baseball far more negatively than steroids. While steroids is a problem that by a casual observer cannot always be noticed (sometimes it is even ignored), the divide between larger market teams such as the New York Yankees; New York Mets; Boston Red Sox; and Los Angeles Dodgers, and smaller market teams such as the Baltimore Orioles; Minnesota Twins; or Oakland Athletics cannot be overlooked.

The game of baseball has become so rich and the players are looking for a larger piece of the pie. This sounds fine, but the best players are beginning to require contracts so large that no small market teams can possibly afford them. This causes teams like the Twins, Orioles, or Athletics to trade away their talent before it comes time to pay the big bucks. This is seen in this winter's four biggest trades; Miquel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers for 6 prospects; Dan Haren to the D-Backs for a bundle of prospects; Johan Santana to the Mets for four prospects; and the soon be finalized Erik Bedard trade to the Mariners for prospects. The teams trading these players away cannot afford to pay them, and this creates a severe divide in opportunity for the teams with less money.

Major League Baseballl needs to do something about this problem. While I am not insinuating that they should install a salary cap, perhaps they should put a cap on maximum player contracts. The Player's Union would never agree to this though, leaving immediate options bleak for small market teams.

I am not saying that the Mets should not have paid Johan Santana, nor that the Yankees have paid Alex Rodriguez, I am simply recognizing that there is a problem in the game of baseball that is going seemingly unnoticed and some sort of attention needs to be given to it. As Mets fans, we are fortunate enough to be on the winning side of this problem, but that means that there is all the more reason to help raise awareness towards a solution. If the Mets win the National League East and the World Series this year, will Braves and Phillies fans use our far superior budget as an excuse? Maybe. Is it unfair for the Mets to take advantage of their superior resources? No. Is it fair for the Twins to have to allow their best two players to leave this season because of a lack of sufficient funds? Absolutely not.

This problem could possibly be solved by increasing the luxury tax in baseball. This and further increases in revenue sharing, would help to level the playing field in baseball. Until the owners agree on such terms, this problem in baseball will not go away and may possibly get worse with even bigger budget free agents hitting open-market next winter.

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According to Impacto Deportivo It is doubtful that Mets outfielder Carlos Gomez will play in the Caribbean World Series for the Licey Tigers.

Translation courtesy of Global Mets reader Ryan Weaver

IS DOUBTFUL THAT CARLOS GOMEZ OF THE TIGERS CAN HELP THEM IN THE CARRIBEAN WORLD SERIES

Carlos Gomez, who was selected by the Licey Tigers to help them in the world Series, has been placed as a doubtful player.

It is reported that the New York Mets will not give the Licey Tigers permission to play him.

Journalist Elías Wehber reports from Santiago revealed in his Amanecer Deportivo that Gomez’ family has said that it will be difficult for Gomez to play in the series.

The only thing left is for licey to make a formal request to the New York Mets for Gomez to play.

It is the case that it is doubtful for Gomez to play for the Licey Tigers

According to our version of the translation, the Mets are preventing the Licey Tigers from playing him. This tells me either the Mets are afraid of Gomez getting injured before a possible trade for Johan Santana is worked out, or a deal has already been agreed to in principle, and Gomez is set to fly to Minnesota for a physical.

Of course, it could just be that they want to keep Gomez healthy before spring training, and it could have nothing to do with Johan Santana at all.

Maybe it's just optimism, but I think there is more to this than simply trying to prevent an injury before spring training.
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A number of different sites are reporting that the Mets may have moved into the driver's seat in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported last night that the Twins are interested in the Mets recent offer for Santana.

The Mets' original offer included Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Phillip Humber. The Twins however were interested in Fernando Martinez as well, whom they stated could "seal the deal". The Mets seem prepared to offer Martinez in addition to the above mentioned prospects.

Metsblog is also reporting that Mets owner Fred Wilpon is willing to meet Santana's contract demands if a deal can be made.

This coupled with the Yankees announcement that they are no longer pursuing Santana, makes the mets the most likely team for Santana in 2008.

This is probably the closest the Mets have ever been to landing Santana. Keep your fingers crossed.
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