By JOEL SHERMAN
The Mets today completed a trade with the Twins for Johan Santana for four prospects. The deal is pending a contract extension for the ace left-hander, who also must pass a physical. By being persistent and hanging around while the Yankees dropped out and the Red Sox grew more tepid in their interest, the Mets landed the biggest trade prize of a busy trade season, if they can sign Santana.
The lefty has the right to veto any trade and has indicated he wants a six- or seven-year contract for as much as $25 million a season.
The Mets have said they will not go beyond five years in any package.
But there is probably middle ground if the Mets are willing to add option years that are easily obtainable. That the Mets have a strong relationship with Santana’s agent, Peter Greenberg, who also represents Jose Reyes, also is beneficial.
The Mets surrender Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber. The Twins initially told the Mets there would be no trade without Reyes included.
In recent weeks, they insisted that both Gomez and Martinez must be in the package. The Mets refused both of those offers, but aggressive Omar Minaya stayed in constant contact with the Twins and the Mets won out because the atmosphere was right.
Santana apparently was applying pressure for a deal to be made before spring training. The Twins, with no belief they could sign Santana long-term, knew they had to deal him. And the Yankees and the Red Sox almost always seemed more interested in keeping Santana from the other than in actually obtaining him.
That combination allowed the Mets to obtain arguably the majors’ best starter, a two-time Cy Young winner, who turns 29 next month.