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From SI.com

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano has agreed to a five-year, $91.5 million contract extension to remain with Chicago, SI.com has confirmed.

A source told SI.com the contract includes a complete no-trade clause.

Zambrano's per-year salary will be slightly higher than Barry Zito's $18 milllion deal. Zito set the standard with a seven-year $126 million contract last winter.

Santana is rated #1 in any poll/fantasyleague. Zambrano is around #7. You'd have to be riding the HS-Denial to think he will be a Twin next year. It got me to thinking, (scary, I'm aware) can we "sell" the right to negotiate with him like Dice K's team did? Would we still get the draft picks when he leaves? What would it take, re-signing him for a year first? Any lawyers troll these waters?

If Dice K brought 51 Mega Cajones, what would a 28 year old Santana be worth?

Santana is under contract for next year for 13.25 million so he won't be able to leave untill after the 2008 season. Also, because he won the Cy Young last season he has a full no trade clause in his contract for 2007 and 2008 which means the Twins can't trade him. The Twins really have 2 options: 1) sign him, or 2) release him

It's really a make or break off season for the Twins; Morneau and Cuddyer are arbitration eligible, Silva and Hunter are potential free agents, Bartlett, Bonser, Neshak, Garza, Baker, Tyner, Liriano, Kubel, Rodriguez, and others are all under 1 year deals that expire at the end of this season. Basically the only Twins with contracts for 2008 are Santana, Mauer, Redmond, Punto, Nathan (the Twins have an option on him), and Reyes. That's 6 of the 25 man roster, Terry Ryan will have to earn his pay this off season.

Not much to say but wow. We're 19th in the league in spending. Not wanting to get anywhere close to the Yankees, but we have the 18th best record and spend the 19th most. Hmmm... With what we have, spending a little more would go a long way.

I am probably wrong, but in my opinion, to let go of arguably the best pitcher in baseball, would be a mistake.
There are a ton of variables- will Liriano be the same when he returns? Will Garza and Baker continue to pitch as of late? How about Bonser and Silva?
I can almost guarantee that Santana will be great for a few more years.
I agree with goldy- Ryan will have to be a genius the next couple of years.

You are right, it's like with Garnett. We had the best player in the game and we couldn't win because one player doesn't win a game. Instead of trading away our good players, we need to acquire new power.

If Liriano is half the pitcher he was (it's hard to match being the best pitcher in the league) we'll be fine. With him, Santana, Garza, Baker, and Silva, we'll have a monster rotation with a monster bullpen. On top of that, if we can acquire (I know, it's a lot to ask) one or two better bats, we could easily be a top team. And we don't even have to crack the top ten in spending.

Don't expect Liriano to help much next year. It will take next year just to trust the elbow and he will proably have a shoulder problem at some point for over compensating. That is pretty much a given when a pitcher goes through Tommy John surgery.

Just curious of other's opinions, but with how Bonser's been doing, why don't we go to a 4 pitcher rotation?

Yes, the starters would be playing more games, but with a top bull pen, we wouldn't need more than 5 or 6 innings out of them.

Bonser has his games just like Silva. He's more boom or bust, but I would still give him the ball every 5 days.

He hasn't had a win in his last 12 starts. I will be the first to admit that the pitcher isn't the only one who has control over wins (like a pitcher giving up 1 run, or not even giving up an ER, and losing) but in 12 games, c'mon.

I was at Twins game yesterday, Santana with 17 K's was awesome. I spoke with some people "in the know" who say despite what you may here from KFAN or Sid (the 2 most UNreliable sources) that the Twins will get Santana signed, it may just take awhile, and they DO realize it is costing them more money everyday. Letting him go to free agency IS NOT an option. Hunter is another thing though they were saying, but we'll see. Hopefully they keep them both.

The Twins can't sign him.

They shouldn't.

He is too expensive.

They need to spread it around.

Bye Bye Johan.

Too expensive? We're 18th in the league in spending. I think we can spend a little money. What's next; telling us he didn't pitch well enough yesterday?

Pack up all your Cys and dough
Here I go, keep it low
Bye, bye Johan

The Yankees they will all await me
Cant wait for a trade or my free agency
Bye, bye Johan

No one here can love or understand me
I tell the GM what is but he don't do diddly
Make mey bed and light the light
Ill arrive late tonight
Johan, bye bye