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Question 4: Did Sox do right thing in nixing Santana trade?

Apr 1st, 2008 by Bill Burt

That’s right. Another loaded question.
Johan Santana looks like a Cy Young Award winner on opening day and the Sox have questions marks at the starting pitcher position. His 100 pitches in seven innings is something we haven’t seen much of around here outside of Josh Beckett.
The answer, in my opinion, is still yes.
The upside of Jon Lester, Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz is too high, not to mention the $137.5 million contract Santana received.
The Red Sox would have been better in 2008 with Santana. I’m not so sure about 2009 and beyond.
Theo Epstein may take a hit on this one this season, but in the long run it was the right thing. Plus, there will be other opportunities to get other potentially great players in July or next season.
What do you think?

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  • Steve

    I believe they blew it. Santana is a sure thing. Forget about the money. It doesn’t matter. He is going to be a Cy Young kind a guy for six years. Sox would have sealed the deal this year and next with Santana.

  • Marcel

    No pitcher is a sure thing. Santana is 29 years old and his stuff has already started to diminish. Couple that with worriesome mechanics and a 7 year deal is just a bad idea. While it would nice to win another WS this year, there is no reason to give up key prospects and financial flexibility to do it. The core of under 30 year old players plus the solid farm system mean that this team will have a good chance to win a world series every year for quite a while. Trading away several of those players and prospects for a pitcher that would likely only be a couple of wins above whomever he replaces just isn’t good management. What happens if he blows out his elbow? You just traded all of the depth to get him. Also, if the Sox are paying Santana 20+ million a year, do you really think they’d even consider picking up Ramirez’ option? Where would you like them to replace that production? The Sox lineup is Ortiz/Ramirez and 7 very good complimentary players. Lars Anderson could certainly equal his numbers, but not until 2009 at the very earliest and it’s not even guaranteed that he’ll develop power. So, all that being said, I’m glad we kept the kids and I have no problem with Santana going somewhere else.

  • jim-red sox nation west

    If bucholz pitches like he did in spring training then the sox should have traded for santana. If he wins his next 2 games then they are genius’. Thats Baseball.

  • Max Kliman

    I don’t know yet. It all depends on how good the young players do. If they are good: great non-move, if they are bad: horrible move. I agree with Jim: That’s baseball.

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