Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Mets agree to Santana deal, pending extension agreement
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ESPN.com news services
The Mets have agreed to a trade with the Minnesota Twins to acquire Johan Santana for four prospects, pending the left-hander working out an extension with New York.
The Mets have been granted a 48- to 72-hour window to work out a new contract with Santana.
If New York can work out a contract agreement with Minnesota, the Mets will send outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey to the Twins.
The trade agreement was first reported by USA Today on its Web site.
"Right now, the Twins have no comment," the Twins' head of communications, Mike Herman, told 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand. Mets vice president of media relations Jay Horwitz also had no comment.
Santana, who completely controls his fate because of the full no-trade clause he possesses, asked the Twins to make a decision, which is why Minnesota imposed a Tuesday deadline for offers from the interested teams.
The Red Sox also made offers, while the Yankees appeared to be out of the Santana talks altogether before the Twins accepted the Mets' offer.
The agent for Santana, Peter Greenberg, would not comment on whether he has been told the Mets have worked out a trade for his client, or about Santana's request for resolution.
It is not known if Santana, who turns 29 on March 13, explicitly informed the Twins that he would invoke his no-trade clause and then file for free agency after the 2008 season, but that has always been his right. It appears the Twins have taken his request seriously.
Among the three suitors for Santana, the Mets have the strongest need for a frontline starter, as well as the greatest willingness to pay him the enormous extension he will demand in order to waive his no-trade clause. It is expected that Santana's request will be for a deal in the range of six years for $150 million.
The Twins extended a four-year, $80 million offer to Santana, which he rejected this offseason. The offer was well beyond the $13.25 million he is scheduled to make in 2008.
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