108 Stitches

I have more respect for ESPN’s Buster Olney than many baseball analysts in the world, but I’m not sure if he has a complete picture of the latest developments in the Johan Santana trade negotiations. In today’s blog entry he cites Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, who claims that a Santana deal is imminent in the next 10 days. Olney adds fuel to the fire by claiming Walters has been “dead on” in his coverage of and predictions of what the Twins do next in regards to personnel decisions this off season.

While I’m not skeptical the deal will eventually happen, I have seen and heard evidence of Walters stretching the truth as someone who lives in the Minneapolis area. It’s actually evident in his coverage of the local NBA Developmental League team, the Minnesota Timberwolves (what…you say they’re a real NBA team?). Regardless, I’m gauging Walters Nostradamus-like skill set after I see what transpires over the next two weeks.

I’m in the camp that the Twins benefit as a franchise more by trading Johan than keeping him. Fortunately I have more faith in Twinkies management to get a deal done than I have in any of the other Minnesota franchises.

Stay tuned, because all the reports in papers in New York and Minnesota lead me to believe something goes down before the team heads north from Spring Training.