O/T: Santana Trade

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

"Don't shed any tears for the Twins, they'll be competitive next year and with a few breaks and players coming through (and Punto on the bench) they will be a wild card contender."

You tell 'em T'Bob, although I've completely soured on Nick Punto--all the effort, hustle and determination in the world doesn't alter the fact that the guy sucks.

The comparison to the Viola trade is interesting. Frankie was 29, coming off a Cy Young and a little more than a year removed from a World Series MVP. He was the primo leftie of his time. He would win 20 games in his first season for the Mets, however, he only lasted as a starter for 4 years after leaving Minnesota, and only stayed with the Mets for less than three seasons.

Viola was 57-47 as a starter after leaving the Twins. One of the players the Twins got in return was nobody Kevin Tapani. His record during the same four-year stretch was 56-44, the same as or better than Viola by himself. He won a World Series game, and David West, another nobody acquired for Viola, won an ALCS game. Viola pitched in no more playoff games after leaving Minnesota. And then there was Rick Aguilera, mis-used by the Mets, who became a three-time All Star closer in Minnesota and who won a World Series game and saved two more.

So Twins fans will be just fine, thank you.

Pay your $1M+ per win for Johann, assuming he wins 137 games (nearly 23 EVERY year). If he pans out like Frankie V, you're paying over $2 million per win. Such a deal.