Johan’s Hundred Million Dollar Dream: Nerdingler Figures Out Mets Best Place For Twins To Trade Santana

As much as people would like to put the emphasis on the players in the Johan Trade Sweepstakes, when you look at it from an owner’s perspective, it’s all about the money. While the players are the cogs that make the trade go, it’s how their performance translates into dollars that make the brass drool. So economist Vince Gennaro took the time to see who would make the most in return on a hypothetical Johan exchange, and figured the Mets would make about $100 million over six years on the deal. Makes us not feel so bad for sneaking in a soda and some peanuts at the game.

Acquiring Santana and signing him to a long-term deal is economically viable for the Mets because they have a new stadium in the works, their revenue would spike if they reach the postseason and they could remain under the luxury tax threshold.

Santana’s potential revenue value to the Mets would average an estimated $40 million per year and would exceed his cost by about $100 million over six years… If three of the five prospects materialize into a number three pitcher in the rotation, a starting outfielder and a solid relief pitcher, then the Twins and the Mets receive about the same value in the trade.

If we learned anything from playing fantasy baseball, it’s the 3-for-1 trades never work-someone’s always getting stiffed. The Twins should just take the trade and be happy it’s not their cousin screwing them over. And also, that the next GM summer picnic isn’t a cauldron of tension from the dreaded Pujols for Cordero/Youklis/Liriano trade of the year before. Veeerrry happy.
Santana not worth the tariff [Yahoo]
Image [Google]