Ervin Santana: Should the Red Sox sign him?

[RedOctober3829]

If the Blue Jays don't sign Ervin Santana to a long-term deal, what are his options? Does anyone else feel the Red Sox should think about signing Ervin Santana to a 1-year pillow-type deal if his options are that limited? Yes, I realize that doing that would be duplicating the pre-Dempster-retiring scenario of 6 major league-caliber starters for 5 spots.  Doubront is a legit question mark given his inconsistency as well.  He could be the long man/spot starter out of the pen if he doesn't perform well in the spring.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Giving up a pick for a guy who would be the team's 5th starter doesn't make sense, IMO. He's a pretty average pitcher who had a nice year last year.
 
I would think TOR, CLE, and even returning to KC are better options. Or what about a team like the Mets? Padres? Yankees?
 
For a pillow contract, I can't see how this would be a good situation for him even if the Sox were interested.

Yes, I did not realize he had a QO attached to him.  That would make the decision easier to not sign him.  Just the thought of adding more talent to the staff is tempting.

 

[MakMan44]

If there wasn't a pick involved, it wouldn't be a bad idea. Doesn't seem smart to give up a pick to sign him to a one year deal and I don't think he'll end up being worth the money it'll take to sign him to a long term deal. 

 

[foulkehampshire]

I remember when half of this board wanted to trade Manny Ramirez for Ervin Santana back in 2006. Thank God that didn't happen.
 
Hard pass.

 

[ivanvamp]

What about Johan Santana?  I know he's 35, coming off an injury.  But for an inexpensive, one-year deal, he could provide some veteran SP insurance, and he wouldn't cost a pick.  

 

[DanoooME]

If the Blue Jays don't sign Ervin Santana to a long-term deal, what are his options? Does anyone else feel the Red Sox should think about signing Ervin Santana to a 1-year pillow-type deal if his options are that limited? Yes, I realize that doing that would be duplicating the pre-Dempster-retiring scenario of 6 major league-caliber starters for 5 spots.  Doubront is a legit question mark given his inconsistency as well.  He could be the long man/spot starter out of the pen if he doesn't perform well in the spring.

 
Wait, you're worried about Doubront's inconsistency, but you want to sign Ervin Santana, the poster child for inconsistency?
 
Santana's career ERA+s: 91, 106, 79, 127, 87, 102, 111, 74, 127.
 
Are you hoping one of them has a good year?  What if both don't?  And pay $10M+ for the privilege?  No thanks.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I don't get this.... right now I think the Sox are pretty much built to go.  With the Dempster money, they'll be able to either make a long term comittment to Lester now or use it to address a weakness by June.  Personally I don't think the weakness will be in the rotation or bullpen.  Most likely with a solid infielder that can play as well as a starter at SS and 3B but be okay with mostly being a backup at those two spots and occasionally at 2nd.  Tough one.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

What about Johan Santana?  I know he's 35, coming off an injury.  But for an inexpensive, one-year deal, he could provide some veteran SP insurance, and he wouldn't cost a pick.  

 
The trouble with any veteran "insurance" is that you only get a limited window in which the insurance can pay off.  If everyone is healthy on Opening Day, your insurance has to start in AAA.  All well and good in April, but then the opt-outs start and if there's no place for him on the big league roster, he's gone.
 
If the fifth spot was in question, or if they were planning to hand it to an unproven young pitcher, a veteran like Santana might see signing with the Sox as a good opportunity, or at least worth taking the shot.  The five rotation spots here aren't in question provided everyone is healthy, and the youth in reserve at Pawtucket should be more than adequate to survive anything short of catastrophic injuries in the rotation.

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

 
The trouble with any veteran "insurance" is that you only get a limited window in which the insurance can pay off.  If everyone is healthy on Opening Day, your insurance has to start in AAA.  All well and good in April, but then the opt-outs start and if there's no place for him on the big league roster, he's gone.

Your insurance is also worthless if your insurance company turns out to be bankrupt when you need to make a claim.  What good is having a hurt Santana when one of our top five goes down?

 

[InsideTheParker]

I really like Brandon Workman for injury insurance.

 

[jimbobim]

No. Ubaldo's upside may have intrigued them if they weren't so well acquainted with his aversion to the strike zone but Santanna is not particularly intriguing at all which probably explains why he has yet to find a home. 

 

[Trlicek's Whip]

I really like Brandon Workman for injury insurance.

 
Such a prime opportunity to make the "Workman's Comp" reference here.
 
Pass on Santana. The AAA depth with Workman and Webster works in the 5th starter spot if there's attrition. And as stated, giving up a pick for Santana isn't worth it. Nor is committing a two year Dempster-type deal for him or more when he's reasonably arguing for more money based on his 2013 season.
 
The term "pillow" is officially the "twizzle" of SoSH.  I don't think Ervin Santana qualifies nor would settle for a make good, one-year deal. A less deep staff than the Sox will lose a starter during ST then will quickly wrap him up for more than a year. 

 

[Drek717]

Santana isn't taking a one year pillow deal.  He did his job last year, had a big season right before going to FA.  He isn't going to roll the dice again and he's certainly not going to do that with an AL East team.
 
He's unsigned because he wants too much money.  As his demands come down more and more teams will test the waters.  That'll probably happen quickly now that Ubaldo Jimenez likely set his ceiling with a 4/$50M deal.  His floor is something north of what the Royals gave Jason Vargas (4/$32M).  Once he and his agent accept that 5/$80M isn't happening he'll have a whole bunch of teams kicking the tires on 3/$33M or 4/$40M, and his agent will likely talk one of them up to 4/$44M or so and he'll sign.

 

[ivanvamp]

I know that professional sports is just another universe altogether than where most of us live.  But can you imagine having to "settle" for a mere $48 million for 4-years worth of work?  

 

[StuckOnYouk]

Save the Dempster money for a potential Cliff Lee trade at the half-way mark.
 
I keep salivating over the idea of throwing Lee, Lester, Doubront and Buchholz against a NY team, especially those lefties in that ballpark.

 

[ivanvamp]

In 2012 Cliff Lee threw 211 innings over 31 starts, with a 3.16 era (128 era+), 1.11 whip, and 8.8 k/9.  And yet he went 6-9.
 
How in the world could he throw that many innings over that many starts, with such good numbers, and only have *SIX* wins to show for it?  
 
That's unbelievable.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

In 2012 Cliff Lee threw 211 innings over 31 starts, with a 3.16 era (128 era+), 1.11 whip, and 8.8 k/9.  And yet he went 6-9.
 
How in the world could he throw that many innings over that many starts, with such good numbers, and only have *SIX* wins to show for it?  
 
That's unbelievable.

 
Absolutely no run support. It was odd.

 

[uncannymanny]

I know that professional sports is just another universe altogether than where most of us live.  But can you imagine having to "settle" for a mere $48 million for 4-years worth of work?  

Guaranteed, too.