NEW YORK (AFP) — Venezuelan star pitcher Johan Sanatana will be traded from the Minnesota Twins to the New York Mets provided the two-time Cy Young Award winner agrees to a six- or seven-year deal with the Mets.
Reports on both Major League Baseball clubs' websites said a conditional deal had been done, with ESPN and USA Today indicating Santana is seeking around 150 million dollars for a long-term extension that would seal the deal.
Southpaw Santana would have to waive his no-trade contract clause and pass a physical to complete the transfer, reportedly in exchange for four prospects from the Mets development system.
Santana has gone 93-44 in eight seasons with the Twins, going 15-13 last year with a 3.33 earned-run average.
According to the report, New York has been granted a 48-to-72-hour window to reach a deal with Santana.
Santana, who won the American League Cy Young in 2004 and 2006, is arguably the game's best pitcher and is only 28 years old.
Possessing a devastating changeup and above-average fastball, the 6-foot, 208-pound Santana has finished with at least 235 strikeouts in each of the past four seasons.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
