Back when the madness that is the "Santana Sweepstakes" began, a buddy of mine Phil, a Yankee fan and a co-contributor over at the Fantasy Sports Experience, told me flatly that the Mets would land Santana. He reasoned that the offers made by the Yankees and Red Sox were merely done for posturing. Essentially, the two teams were (to borrow a great line from season 2 of The Wire) "pissing on each other's leg" as they engaged in a high stakes game of keep-away.

Looking back objectively we all should have seen this coming. Baseball has clearly entered a new age where the prospect has more value than ever and the behaviors of the Yanks and Sox over the past 2 years exemplify this fact. Both teams are actively funneling more money than ever into buidling dominant farm systems rather than blowing money on the free agent market and it is working. Yankee and Red Sox pitching prospects have enjoyed a lot of success at the minor and more importantly major league level. Thus, it would stand to reason that there would be no need for either team to meet the hefty price tag it would take to land Santana from both a prospect or fiscal standpoint.

Naturally, the Twins have waited it out because let's be honest the Yanks and Sox can definately offer the best package of prospects if they wanted to. But amidst all of the smoke screens that were thrown up by the AL East rivals - offers that were nearly completed/reported to be complete, half-hearted deadlines, withdrawals from talks, re-entering talks, lowered interest, raised interest, etc. - the Mets and Omar Minaya always sat with a quiet confidence on the sidelines. They looked on as the media and experts poked holes in all of their prospects and made cases against potential offers knowing their day at the forefront of the sweepstakes lay ahead when the posturing was done.

Following the controversal Ryan Church trade, I wrote that although I liked what the trade did for our current roster, it's overall effect would be marginal unless we landed a frontline starter. As time wore on after that trade with the Nats and no Santana deal had been made, I slowly became a believer that the Mets would bring him to New York.

Overall, the Mets have been the best fit for Santana all along:

• Have the money to sign him long-term for big money (he wants 6 years-150 Million). 
• Biggest need coming into the offseason was for an inning-eating front-line stater to slot in front of Pedro, Maine and Perez.
• This need is exasperated by the fact that the Mets have a deceptively old roster. While they have great young players like Reyes and Wright, this team also has many vets and aging stars at several key positions including Delgado (1B), Castillo (2B), Alou (LF) and of course the ever-important Pedro Martinez who is in the last year of his deal. Their best chance to contend for a World Series is this year.  
• The Mets play in the National League, which means the Twins don't have to worry about Santana coming back to haunt them a few times a year.
• Santana wants to play in New York.
• Most importantly, despite all of the reports about the Mets not having the prospects of the Yankees or Red Sox, they have what the Twins need: Top-tier corner outfield & center field prospects (Fernando Martinez & Carlos Gomez) with power and speed as well a selection of young pitcher with relief and starting pitching upside (Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, Phil Humber, Mike Pelfrey)

All of this aside, I did not want to write about Santana until we saw what the Mets would be willing to offer, as I was still concerned about two things. The Mets weren't willing to give Santana the long extension or big money deal and/or although our prospects are good, we were overvaluing them and wouldn't make a legit offer.

After news broke mid-week that Fred Wilpon had publically given Omar Minaya the financial green light to bring Santana on board, my cautious optimism and lingering traces of skepticism melted away and now I firmly believe the Mets will complete a trade for Santana by month's end. The current package reportedly being offered include Deolis Guerra, Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber. While this is a decent haul for the Twins, I don't think this deal happens unless the mets include their top prospect Fernando Martinez who some claim is the heir apparent at the plate to Juan Gonzalez and could be up by the age of 20.

I am pretty sure the Mets will give in eventually and include Fernando Martinez in order to get Santana and personally I am all for it. While the farm system would be depleted, the Mets would retain Arron Heilman in the bullpen (for better or worse) and keep their top pitching prospect, Mike Pelfrey, who could slot in as a 5th starter or a power bullpen arm depending on how we use El Duque. This provides Willy with added options and some good flexibility throughout the pitching staff. Also, keep in mind we have 3 first round picks this season, so the opportunity is there to begin restocking the farm system.

Most importantly we will be filling our biggest need, getting a pitcher who has dominated the American League for the last 4 seasons, posting a win-loss record of 70-32 with an ERA well under 3.00 during that time. Not to mention he has picked up two Cy Young's in that span. Coming to the lighter-hitting National League, to a great pitcher's park, backed up by a solid defense and good offense, Santana would immediately be the front-runner for the Cy Young award and the Mets instantly become the NL favorite to reach the World Series.

Remember Mets fans, for every Jose Reyes there is a "5-tool prospect" like Alex Escobar and for every Josh Becket, AJ Burnett and Dontrelle Willis a Generation K. Given the makeup of this roster, it is time to surrender to our inhibitions and live in the now. With Johan aboard, the pieces are in place for 2008 to be the year we bring a World Series championship back to Queens.