How do you feel about Santana now?

by Ed Valentine on Aug 25, 2009 2:26 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

Great note from Baseball Musings today about why the Yankees and Red Sox shied away from Johan Santana.

With Santana shelved by an elbow injury, how do you feel now about GM Brian Cashman passing on a Santana deal a couple of winters ago?

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think we should still fire Cashman

Just kidding.

by 3460kuri on Aug 25, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Never wanted him anyway...

…still don’t.

Cashman got one right. Let’s strike up the band.

by New York Sports Jerk on Aug 25, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

Why can't this happen to CC next year?

Just asking. Both have been pitching for a long time with relatively few major injuries. It’s a little early to be gloating, eh?

by Toxicadam on Aug 25, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Not gloating

But, this was a good move for the Yanks. Got CC for just money, instead of big-time prospects AND money. A good call.

by Ed Valentine on Aug 25, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

This - "we got CC for just money, instead of big-time prospects AND money"

by 3460kuri on Aug 25, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

CC is what, 4 years younger?

But yes, it could happen to anyone. At least if it happens to CC, we still have Joba and Phranchise

by waw on Aug 25, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Santana’s skinny. A bigger younger guy is a better bet to last longer. And, of course, no bodies given up. Just better all around, even though I think Santana’s better than CC in that he pitches more gems.

by dorkus mcforkus on Aug 25, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

it CAN

but it’s less likely (knock on wood) to happen with CC. when the Mets got Johan, his stats were declining, his velocity was declining, his slider was less frequent and less effective, all things that point toward potential injury/breakdown.

CC improved 06-08 – his FIPs: 3.30, 3.14, 2.91. Santana declined 05-07 – 2.80, 3.04, 3.82.

now i dont blame the Mets for making the trade – they only had to give up four middling to good prospects, hardly the package they were asking for from the Yanks. i would’ve given up Melky, Kennedy and Wang for Johan, but it was Joba/Hughes that made it too costly.

by Travis G on Aug 25, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

disagree

cc’s 6’7 300 pounds you really think he’ll never have injury trouble? towards the tail end of his career its highly likely someone of his size will have back problems, similar to what randy johnson’s dealt with.

by Jon F on Aug 25, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Randy Johnson

has HORRIBLE pitching mechanics. That’s why it took so long for him to get to the bigs.

CC might be large, but he’s a very good athlete.

Do what Jerry Hairston do

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 25, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

To be honest

I never wanted him then. Keep the prospects. Yes, Santana would have gotten us to the playoffs last year. But this year, we still have a dominant setup man who has solidified our bullpen. We also have a good center fielder who has been one of our most clutch players. And we probably wouldn’t have signed all three of Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira this offseason. What if we didn’t get Teixeira because of the money we invested in Santana? I’m fine with what Cashman did. I’m glad we never got Santana. We are the best in baseball this year WITHOUT giving up our top talent.

by nyyrocks29 on Aug 25, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

Never wanted him for what they were asking.

Imagine if Hughes and Joba were lighting it up for the Mets and we had Johan on the DL. OUCH.

by Rumplestiltskin02 on Aug 25, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah....

Brian Cashman is so smart!! He knew last year that on Tuesday August 25th, 2009 that Santana was going to go down with a season ending elbow injury that is why he didn’t make the trade. Lets be honest, 2 months ago everyone was wondering why we didn’t make this trade. While Cabrera and Hughes have been big time contributors, you have to be dumb not to make that trade…. we could’ve made the postseason last year with him. And lets not forget his career isn’t over, it’s bone chips not Tommy John surgery.

by pedro316 on Aug 25, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

what if making that trade

prevents the Yanks from signing CC?

by Travis G on Aug 25, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Hardly nobody goes there whole career without injuries that force them to miss time.You can make an argument either way because they are both good pitchers,right now the timing of his injury makes Cash look like a genius.BUT WHAT IF next yr we face the mets in the series and he dominates 3 games clinching game seven?Then he looks like a dumbass,chances are very low but just putting it out there.We all have to remember the Mets didnt have to give near as much as the yanks would have.

by cashman bashman on Aug 25, 2009 8:50 PM EDT reply actions

"WHAT IF next yr we face the mets in the series"

you mean like the World Series?

i’d give the Mets about a 5% chance of getting to the fall classic next year – and that may be generous.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Aug 26, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

yea...

that’s a pretty big what if…..

Do what Jerry Hairston do

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 26, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

get off your high horse ed!

ill still take js

by Static Shock on Aug 25, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

I feel like I'd rather have

Santana in the hospital than Joba on the mound.

(aww, still luv ya Job — just want you right!)

by rosebud on Aug 26, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

yea me to lol

by bennyboy on Aug 26, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions

I feel

the same way about this as I did about Pavano. Nobody knew he would get injured. Yes you can point to signs that he COULD get injured. But they all COULD. Pitching is just a very dangerous thing to put your body thru.

If you want to talk body types, fat twinkie eater David Wells was throwing effectively into his 40’s. Granted all he had left was a nasty curve and CC will be in that boat someday too.

by Jaybat on Aug 26, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions