News: Santana Offered Big Contract

The Twins offered the Left-handed All-Star Johan Santana, a Barry Zito, Carlos Zambrano type contract today. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, says that the contract is five-years and roughly 93 million dollars. Santana has been looking for a huge contract for the 2009 season because his current contract with the Twins ends after this season. The Twins would like to see if he will accept this contract by the winter meetings. If he does not accept the offer, they do not want to give him more money and will try to trade him. The Mets are looking for a ace and Santana would be a perfect fit but the price it would cost is way to high for the Mets. It would take a package of Lastings Milledge, Fernando Martinez, Phil Humber, and Mike Pelfrey to obtain a star like Santana. I do not think that Omar Minaya is ready to give up a package of that type quite yet. Santana wants to win a championship and believes he does not have that chance with the Twins. Unless the Twins come up with an Alex Rodriguez type deal, I do not think they have much of a chance to sign him. Also, it will be a challenge for the Twins General Manager, Bill Smith, to shop Santana because his price tag is way too high and teams certainly do not want to give up many high ranked prospects.