The Bleacher Bums: April 11, 2007 Archive

Pay Johan...or else.....

Posted at 8:05 PM on April 11, 2007 by David Zingler

Sports Illustrated claims Johan Santana has cut off contract extension talks with the Twins, the Star Tribune, with a denial from Santana, says no.

The real question is; how much is he worth? Would and, more importantly, could the Twins pay him $20+ million for five years or more?

He’ll only be 29 when next season ends, I say pay him and pay him big – whatever it takes. That means Torii Hunter is gone after this season and Joe Nathan will likely have to go to sometime in the not-to-distant future. Then there’s also Justin Morneau, can they pay him too?

Santana is a once-in-a-generation pitcher; you can’t let him go during the prime of his career. Giving him fair market value for his services for the next 5-7 seasons will greatly help the Twins ability to field a contending team and will ensure the two-time Cy Young winner is wearing a Twins cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.