Phillies Think Hamels Could Become Santana

David Murphy at The Philadelphia Daily News writes about Cole Hamels and how the Phillies believe he may one day achieve what Santana has become (reaching high aren't we Charlie?):

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is saying he expects Hamels to someday reach the superstar level of the Mets' newly acquired ace, Johan Santana. But that ascension involves a variable.

"It depends on if I stay healthy," the pitcher said.

How well he rides it could very well determine how good of a position the Phillies will enjoy during their stretch run. Hamels says his target is 35 starts. The mark is a little on the ambitious side, considering the fact that only one major leaguer achieved it last season (Dontrelle Willis, with Florida). But his point remains: to achieve a status like Santana's, one must first achieve Santana-like durability, and the two-time Cy Young award winner has made at least 33 starts in each of the last four seasons. Hamels, meanwhile, has averaged just 25 1/2 starts in his first two seasons in the majors.

"If he can ever go through a season, stay healthy, it's hard to tell. Last year was his first year in the big leagues, really," Manuel said. "He's got about a year-and-a-half in the big leagues . . . Santana right now is, if not the best pitcher in baseball, he's definitely talked about being the best. I think eventually Hamels' ceiling can be that high."

Phillies Nation Reacts to Johan Santana trade to Mets

from MetsLifer.com
Thanks to Gus for passing along this info. Check out this excerpt from philliesnation.com as they react the Mets recent deal for Johan Santana.

"Well, crap.

USA Today is reporting a four-for-one swap, as the Mets will send Phillip Humber, Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey and Deoils Guerra to the Mets for the All-World left-hander.

More on this to come, but a few knee-jerk quick thoughts:

1. The Mets stole this one. They didn’t have to give up their No. 1 prospect.
2. The Mets are suddenly the favorite to win both the East and the NL.
3. We’re in trouble."

The post goes on to hope that the Mets can't come to agreement on terms with Santana, but it's obvious that the rest of the NL East is taking notice.

I didn't think this Santana deal could get any better but after reading this, it really does get better.

Mets Get Their Man, Johan Santana

from MetsLifer.com
USAToday is reporting that the Mets have reached a deal with the Twins to trade for Johan Santana. After months of waiting and waiting, Mets nation breathes a sigh of relief and joy in one breath.

Alleluia.

While details of an extension for Santana are still to be done, the deal includes Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey.

Basically, the Mets have just stolen the best pitcher in baseball for 4 prospects while still keeping their #1 prospect, Fernando Martinez. Unreal.

I can't breathe right now I'm so excited. Unbelievable. Kudos to Omar Minaya for getting the job done. While I'm sad to see Carlos Gomez go, this deal had to be done and I now laugh in the face of all those "experts" who said the Mets didn't have the talent to get a deal done for Johan Santana.

I can now officially place the order for my Johan Santana Mets jersey.

For all the details, visit USAToday.

For a video display of what every Mets fan is feeling right now, click here.

The Waiting Game

from MetsLifer.com
This is it folks. The Waiting Game is officially in full swing.

It's Santana of bust for Omar Minaya this offseason. The Mets could potentially have the worst offseason adjustments in Major League Baseball or the best depending on what the Minnesota Twins do.

Omar has called off talks with Livan Hernandez and Kyle Lohse until Santana-gate is settled. The Twin have come out and said they want to make a decision in the next ten days. Ten days. That's an eternity for me. In 10 days the Twin can come back and say, "Sorry Omar, we want to sell out on opening day with Santana on the mound."

Or they can come back and accept the Mets offer while Mets nation finally exhales. The worst part about this is that if we don't get Johan Santana we will be getting Livan Hernandez. Omar has been coveting Livan for years and wants unite the Hernandez brothers.

Sounds like a great story except for the fact that Livan Hernandez is not very good anymore. Sure he'll give you a ton of innings, but it's not the type of arm the Mets need at this juncture.

So the fate of the '08 season potentially rests in the hands of the Minnesota Twins. It's a sad state but one that could work out for the best. But just might work out for the worst.

There's always the trading deadline.

Possible Moves for Omar

From Network Member:Tyler Florence at Mets 4 Lfe:


We have reached the slowest part of the off-season and well, there is simply nothing to write about unless the signing of Matt Clement and Josh Towers.. but that has no effect on the Mets... but I've been thinking, what smart moves could Omar make? Well, here is a few suggestions from me...

Trade for Johan Santana...

I love our prospects but we need to get an edge. I would perfer that Omar waits until he becomes a free-agent next off-season but if we can pull a trade off that doesn't include Fernando Martinez, then I'm fine with it. Although most fans would haunt Omar Minaya for years if one of those prospects backfired in our faces, just like Scott Kazmir.


Sign Freddy Garcia to an incentive-laden contract with an option for 09'...

Freddy Garcia won't be ready until near the All-Star break but we need options. Gracia seems interested and there just simply aren't any better options. Unless you count Bartolo Colon, but he isn't even touching 90 MPH in the winter leagues. If Garcia would come back to form, the fans would love Omar Minaya again.



Sign Octavio Dotel to a 1-year contract with a vesting option for 09'...

Dotel is a very good reliable reliever out of the pen, when he is healthy. The thing is, he can't stay healthy.. but when he is, he can be a Duaner Sanchez type of pitcher. We need depth in our bullpen and that is what we lacked last season. Adding Octavio to the mix would definitely help solve that problem.



Sign Kevin Mench to a 1-year deal...

The recently acquired RF Ryan Church, is a very light hitting outfielder against left-handed pitchers.. so we need a platoon partner that can absolutely mash left-handers. Kevin Mench is our man. Last season, in 156 at-bats against Left-handers, Mench hit .314 with 8 homers and 26 RBI's. Combine that with Ryan Church vs right-handers, and we have a two headed monster in RF for 2008.

Sign Jason Jennings to a 1-2 year deal...

I know most of you are totally against him but in 2006 he was very good for the Rockies... and in the first half of 2007 he was decent with a 1-4 record and 4.07 ERA in 10 games started. The reason his record is so bad is because the Houston Astros offense was anemic all of last season... but he did blow up in the second half of the season, but thats the risk that your going to have to take.


I think all of these moves would be smart, but some would be risky. Either way I still believe that Mike Pelfrey should start for a full season in Flushing. If one of these starters were to be signed, we would just simply put Orlando Hernandez in the bullpen and keep Pelfrey as our #5. In my opinion, Kevin Mench would be a very smart signing for the Mets, and we should wait for Santana to be a free-agent at the end of the season... but if Omar pulls the trigger, I'll be fine with that too, just as long as we still have Fernando Martinez.

Source: Yankees Out of Santana Race

from Network Member Tommy Marcus at The Mets Bullpen

According to a source at Newsday.com, the Yankees chances have gone down a lot of getting Johan Santana.

Johan Santana is not expected to be the Yankees’ big Christmas present, a source with knowledge of the situation said Friday.

“I don’t see it happening with us,” the source said. “We pulled out in Nashville, and we haven’t put an offer back on the table.”

Well, this is great for the Mets- it just marks that the Mets and Red Sox are getting a much better chance in getting Johan, which is great. Maybe the reason for the ticket prices going up 20% is because Wilpon thinks that the Mets chances of getting Johan Santana is increasing- which I think Mets fans would now agree with the raise.

I still think that we should give away 4 or 5 prospects for Johan, cause I really think that he is worth that.