Santana negotiations; Mets backup plan

[Grainbelter]

"Santana and the Mets agreed Friday to a $137.5 million, six-year contract extension"

Unbelievable!!! Hope the arm holds up for 6 more years!!! I wonder how high these contracts will keep going, twins will have to go AAA in a few years cause they won't be able to pay anyone, wait a minute new stadium coming.....hope they won't charge too much cause I'll be one of the first in line. Good luck to Johan I guess but better luck to our prospects we got!!!

[IFallsRon]

As part of his six-year, $137.5 million contract extension - the largest contract ever given a starting pitcher - Santana agreed to defer $5 million per season at 1.25 compound interest from 2008 through 2014. The 2014 salary is currently a $25 million club option with a $5.5 million buyout. Santana will defer the buyout, if exercised, at 1.25 compound interest. The 2014 salary can become a player option if Santana:

* Wins the Cy Young and places second or third in any of the next five seasons.

* Finishes second or third in Cy Young voting in any three of the next five seasons.

* Pitches 215 innings in 2013 and is on active roster during final 30 days of season.

* Pitches a combined 420 innings in 2012 and 2013 and is on active roster during final 30 days of each season.

* Pitches a combined 630 innings in 2011-2013 and is on active roster during final 30 days if each season.

Befitting his status as a superstar, Santana will receive use of a 15-person luxury suite at Shea Stadium this season, including the playoffs, for all Mets' home games. He will also donate $250,000 a year to the Mets Foundation.

[Scott K]

I dont know how he can make it on that. Its a good thing it wasnt about money!

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

It's never about the money. It is about the competition and about being on a team that is committed to winning and building a championship and respect and Blah Blah Blah........

ITS ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY!

When in doubt, always "follow the money"

Windy

[Scott K]

I would like him to tank, give up 5-6 runs his first few games and get 4 straight loses and let him see how the NY fans are and then see how much he likes NY then!

[Craig Plummer]

Did anyone see in the news paper they broke down how many pitches he throws in a season on average and then calculated how much he will be earning for each pitch?

He is making something like $6,500 for every single pitch he throws! That my friends is asinine.

[PierBridge]

If anyone is expecting Yohan to fall on his face I don't see that happening this year he will baffle the National League hitters who are not familar with his stuff.

18-5... 2.17... with many strike-outs.

[Bassman55]

I think that he should do very well in the National Leage as well. $6500 a pitch wow. I wonder what a bass fisherman makes a cast in a tournament that he a has won?

[ozzie]

I agree that Johan should do very good in the national league with the run support he should receive......but I hope he goes south and has a bad season just cause!!

[Willy]

Pier, you are right on. The NL is nowhere near as tough as the AL for one thing, also, not many guys in that league have faced him and he gets to strikeout at least 2 or 3 pitchers a game!

I am gonna predict more victories though. I think he will have at least 20 and he will lead the NL in strikeouts by quite a large margin and will be the unanimous Cy Young winner.

It actually will be a lot of fun(although it will hurt greatly) watching him pitch in the NL.

[Coach1310]

I think he will have a great year. A dominating pitcher, pitching against lineup a lot weaker then he faced in the AL. Always a pitcher in the lineup to strikeout a couple times, a pitchers park, especially for a fly ball pitcher.....but then again you never know.

[Dahitman44]

He is a great hitter for a pitcher so he will pitch deep into games. I don't think they will be as careful with him as we were.

My guess is 23-8 2.59 era and 345 Ks. I think he will get a lot more decisions, because they will not pull him much for a pinch hitter. I wonder what those extra innings will do to his $250 million arm?

He always went for a pile in our fantasy draft, this year he will still go for a lot with those Ks and the lineup they have.