For the Birds

I'm going to post this quick before I have to do some more boring work related business, but I wanted to mention that the speculation is still running wild on the Johan Santana trade. I've been reading just about every site under the sun just to keep up on this. Why? Because I'm at work, that's why.

According to a report I read on TwinCities.com writer Charley Walters is talking to the wildlife up in Minnesota. This is according to one of his feathered friends...

A little birdie says the Boston Red Sox have become the favorite in the Johan Santana trade sweepstakes.

The Twins would receive four players for the Twins' two-time Cy Young Award winner, including center fielder Coco Crisp, 28.

Others would be shortstop prospect Jed Lowry, 23; left-handed pitcher Jon Lester, 23; and right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson, 22.

Before a deal could be made, the Red Sox would have to have time to negotiate a contract extension with Santana, 28, who can become a free agent after next season and could have a market value as high as $150 million over six years.

Lowry did not play in the major leagues this year but is considered ready and is a good-fielding shortstop who also can hit. Lowry had a slugging percentage of .500 at Class AA and Class AAA this year.

Lester made a comeback from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a year ago and is said to be cancer-free.

Masterson, 6 feet 6, 245 pounds, had 59 strikeouts in 58 innings at Class AA Portland.

Looks fairly promising, right? I don't know, I've always been suspicious of reports like this. Who knows what the hell could happen between now and when the ink is dry on Santana's new contract for his new ballclub, that's if a trade even goes through.

The contract would be huge. $150 million over six years boils down to $25 mil a year for the mathematicians in the house. At the moment Manny Ramirez is the highest paid player on the roster at $17,016,381 per. It's still not Yankees money, but it keeps getting closer and closer.

And like I've said, you'd be an idiot to not want Santana on your team, but do the Sox really need Santana on their team? I'm still saying no. Not even with only having to give up Crisp (who's basically gone anyway), Jon Lester and two minor leaguers.