While some are hoping that Antony's comments that he is disinclined to trade Santana is just a ploy to build value, I think that is unrealistic.

 

Antony is a TR disciple. TR didn't let much out about his process, but when he did, it was signals about players he was not trading (Willingham, Suzuki).

 

Antony has mentioned Nunez, Suzuki Abad and Kintzler as likely trades. But not Santana.

 

So I am going to be very surprised if Santana moves. It's too bad, too, because he is the Twins' best trade chip. The argument that he has two moderate years left on his contract makes him just that much more valuable.

 

A Cashner-like return from the Dodgers org would be well worth it.

Oh great now the mythical Wilingham trades are being mentioned again. I like how it just becomes a 'they should have taken the best offer' without having any idea if a team was actually making an offer for a 33 yr old that had frequent back injuries.

 

I am sure the FO will be endlessly criticized about not trading Santana (assuming they don't) for some mythical offer that likely doesn't exist for a 33 yr old with steroid and a UCL issue (successfully rehabbed so far) that is due 25-30M. 

 

If a prospect similar to Adalberto Mejia is offered with the Twins picking up 3M-ish/yr of the contract I am comfortable with the deal. But there actually has to be something good offered instead of some mythical 'they should have traded him for the best offer'. That is saying that you would accept peanuts if that was the best offer.

 

Cashner's trade means nothing as far as Santana's trade value is concerned. Cashner is (just) younger than 30 and is on a one year deal. Of course he has more value.

 

Oh great now the mythical Wilingham trades are being mentioned again. I like how it just becomes a 'they should have taken the best offer' without having any idea if a team was actually making an offer for a 33 yr old that had frequent back injuries.

 

They should have taken any offer they got.  I don't even have to know what they are to sign off on them.  Just like this offseason when they should've taken whatever was on the market for Plouffe.   I don't need to know what that was.  I don't care that the return wasn't great.  It's more about getting what value you can when you can as opposed to always looking like you came out with a steal of a trade.

 

Now, I'm not sure Santana is in the same place as Willingham or Plouffe....but Abad, Suzuki, Kintzler, and Plouffe still are.  If anyone is offering anything - take the best anything you've been offered.  It's a trade win regardless.

Oh great now the mythical Wilingham trades are being mentioned again. I like how it just becomes a 'they should have taken the best offer' without having any idea if a team was actually making an offer for a 33 yr old that had frequent back injuries.

 

I am sure the FO will be endlessly criticized about not trading Santana (assuming they don't) for some mythical offer that likely doesn't exist for a 33 yr old with steroid and a UCL issue (successfully rehabbed so far) that is due 25-30M. 

 

If a prospect similar to Adalberto Mejia is offered with the Twins picking up 3M-ish/yr of the contract I am comfortable with the deal. But there actually has to be something good offered instead of some mythical 'they should have traded him for the best offer'. That is saying that you would accept peanuts if that was the best offer.

 

Cashner's trade means nothing as far as Santana's trade value is concerned. Cashner is (just) younger than 30 and is on a one year deal. Of course he has more value.

Should we assume that if Santana is not traded that there were no offers? Should we assume that the Twins called every contender and not a single one made an offer? Should we assume the same with Willingham?

 

I apparently wrongly assumed that they were worthy of an offer at 33 and having good seasons. Receiving no offers really points out how unbelievable foolish the Twins must have been to sign these two players.

 

The likelihood of decline in the mid 30s is significant. The remainder of this season is meaningless. I would take the best offer. It hadn't occurred to me that they would be of so little value that there wouldn't be one.