Santana for Lester/Jacoby Revisited

[Orange Juiced]

In the offseason after the 2007 season, the Sox and Twins were discussing Johan Santana for Jon Lester + Jacoby Ellsbury. That is, if I recall, what the Twins were looking for. At the time, Santana was easily one of the best pitchers in baseball, just 28 years old, lefty (well, he's still lefty, obviously), winner of 2 Cy Young Awards in the previous 4 seasons.

 

Meanwhile, Lester and Ellsbury were just prospects, really, not having done much in the majors. Each had played for the 2007 WS winning team, but neither played very much during the course of the season. We all saw potential in those two guys, but it was just that - potential.

 

Just focusing on Lester and Santana, here's what each guy did from 2008-12:

 

TOTALS

Lester: 161 g, 74-46 (.617), 1018.2 ip, 3.63 era, 123 era+, 1.27 whip, 8.4 k/9

Santana: 109 g, 46-34 (.575), 717.0 ip, 3.18 era, 127 era+, 1.20 whip, 7.6 k/9

 

AVERAGE SEASON

Lester: 32 g, 15-9, 3.63 era, 204.0 ip, 123 era+, 1.27 whip, 8.4 k/9

Santana: 22 g, 9-7, 143.4 ip, 3.18 era, 127 era+, 1.20 whip, 7.6 k/9

 

And now Santana is out for the year, and who knows if he'll ever pitch again. Meanwhile, Lester enters his age 29 season, as the #1 starter for the Red Sox.

 

I loved Santana and really wanted him to pitch for the Red Sox, but that turned out to be a great non-trade for them. Obviously adding in the fact that Ellsbury is a heck of a bonus, the non-trade was even better for Boston.

[Northern Star]

It's not just who the Red Sox would give up; they would have to give him a contract extension similar to the Mets' $137.5mil.

[SoxSport]

Another overpriced FA strikeout for the Mets--which explains where they are right now.

 

The days when Epstein still had his head between his ears.

[User Name]

He was not a free agent signing for the Mets, as the original post clearly explains.

[Spitball]

Cliche' alert: Sometimes the best trades are the ones a team doesn't make.

[Bellhorn04]

I remember at one point the Yankees supposedly offered Hughes and Melky Cabrera.

[Orange Juiced]

It's not just who the Red Sox would give up; they would have to give him a contract extension similar to the Mets' $137.5mil.

 

Well, I forgot to mention the payroll implications. From 2008-12, here's what the players cost each team:

 

Lester: 18.5 million

Jacoby: 11.8 million

- - - - -

Santana: 101.6 million

 

And Santana will cost the Mets $25 mil a year for 2013 and 2014. Meanwhile, the Sox are on the hook for $9 million in 2013 for Ellsbury, and then $24.6 million in 2013-14 for Lester. Thus, the total $$ figures come to:

 

Lester: 43.1 million

Jacoby: 20.8 million

TOT: 63.9 million

- - - - -

Santana: 151.6 million

 

Holy smokes.

[italstallianion]

I think the Rangers had wanted Youkilis/Ellsbury for Teixeira.

[jacksonianmarch]

I remember at one point the Yankees supposedly offered Hughes and Melky Cabrera.

 

Well, Stein Jr offered that. Cashman stuck to his guns and didnt make the offer, instead opting to wait a yr and sign CC, which won him a title and still has a functional ace on his roster

[Behindenemylines]

Well, I forgot to mention the payroll implications. From 2008-12, here's what the players cost each team:

 

Lester: 18.5 million

Jacoby: 11.8 million

- - - - -

Santana: 101.6 million

 

And Santana will cost the Mets $25 mil a year for 2013 and 2014. Meanwhile, the Sox are on the hook for $9 million in 2013 for Ellsbury, and then $24.6 million in 2013-14 for Lester. Thus, the total $$ figures come to:

 

Lester: 43.1 million

Jacoby: 20.8 million

TOT: 63.9 million

- - - - -

Santana: 151.6 million

 

Holy smokes.

 

Thank God that trade never happened. Besides the $$$$ savings the Sox won a championship with Lester and Ellsbury.

[mvp 78]

Thank God that trade never happened. Besides the $$$$ savings the Sox won a championship with Lester and Ellsbury.

 

The trade would have been made after the 07 series.

 

Maybe Johan puts them over the top and they win in 08 too, who knows?