Weekend Rumors and Don Cardwell

There have been a sufficient number of words written about Johan Santana this winter to fill the pages of a Stephen King-sized novel, but the trade talks have essentially boiled down to the following reality. If the Mets relent to the Twins’ demand for outfield prospect Fernando Martinez, they (and not the Red Sox or Yankees) will be successful in acquiring Santana to head up their fragmented rotation. Martinez would headline a five-player package that also includes Aaron Heilman (who might then become Joe Nathan’s successor), young right-handers Kevin Mulvey and Philip Humber, and youthful flychaser Carlos Gomez. That would represent a pretty substantial score for new Twins GM Bill Smith: two starters, a potential closer, and two future outfielders for a pitcher they have no chance of retaining beyond 2008. As for the Mets, such a trade would basically prune the team of its few remaining prospects and leave them with the game’s worst farm system, but the price would be worthwhile given the return of Santana. Without Santana, the Mets look like a third-place team in the NL East; with him, they become the favorites within the division, and possibly in the entire league. A rotation of Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, and potentially Orlando Hernandez would rank almost lockstep in quality with the rotations featured in Arizona and San Diego…
When it comes to length of rumor, the talks surrounding Erik Bedard have lasted almost as long as those involving Johan Santana. The Mariners remain the frontrunners, but the current obstacle block could be a deal-killer. The M’s are not at all certain they want to part with super prospect Adam Jones, who would highlight the package heading to Baltimore for Bedard. According to the consensus of most scouts, Jones’ abilities would place somewhere in between two Mariners center fielders of the past, Ken Griffey Jr. (on the high side) and Ruppert Jones (on the low side). If Adam Jones is truly that good, the Mariners should think long and hard before including him as the headline piece in a package for Bedard…

Whenever you hear someone say that talent is not thinned out in the 30-team major league teams, just let them know that one team is actually entertaining the possibility of inviting Juan Gonzalez to spring training. That would be the Cardinals, who are desperate for outfielders after giving up on Jim Edmonds and learning that Juan Encarnacion’s career may be over after being hit in the eye by a batted ball. For those who have lost track, Gonzalez hasn’t played in the majors since accumulating one at-bat for the Indians in 2005. In other words, “Igor” has essentially sat out the last three years, hasn’t put in a full season since 2001, and is now 38 years old with a long history of injuries, but still has at least one team seriously considering his services for 2008. Yeesh…

Finally, a note having nothing to do with rumors. I had always regarded Don Cardwell as merely a fringe member of the 1969 Mets, but that was before I realized he won five straight starts during the team’s terrific comeback run in August and September. Cardwell, who died earlier this week at age 72 from Pick’s disease (a form of dementia), was also regarded as somewhat of a mentor by the younger members of the Mets’ staff. Upon hearing of his death, Tom Seaver praised Cardwell as being the “ultimate professional,” a veteran hurler willing to impart knowledge to the less experienced. And the Mets had plenty of the latter quality in 1969, with Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Gary Gentry, and Tug McGraw all 24 years of age or younger that summer. In addition to a solid career as a pitcher (102 wins, 17 shutouts, and a no-hitter), Cardwell also swung the bat with occasional might. He hit 15 home runs in 698 career at-bats, which would have made some light-hitting shortstops of that era envious. All in all, it was a tough week for fans of baseball in the fifties and sixties, as we lost Cardwell, Johnny Podres, and John McHale, Sr. all within the span of a few days.