Sorry if this blog has turned into a “bash the Rangers with a Met related angle” lately, but I couldn’t hold off on this one. John Heyman on a deal that almost was with Johan Santana and the Texas Rangers:

Indications are that Texas’ trade discussions with the Twins progressed to the point where there was either agreement or near agreement on the young players going back to Minnesota. At that point, executives involved in the talks believed that the trade was very likely to be consummated if only Santana gave a more enthusiastic response when Twins higher ups quizzed him about whether he’d accept a trade to the Rangers. However, a diplomatic Santana is believed to have told the Twins only that he’d “consider” going to Texas, an answer that was seen as less than enthusiastic.
It was shortly after receiving Santana’s lukewarm response that the Twins stopped pursuing the trade with Texas. People familiar with the talks say they believe Minnesota wanted to avoid agreeing to a trade proposal that could eventually be rejected by Santana, whose full no-trade clause put the power in his hands. Such a scenario could have hurt their leverage in future trade talks.
Word is, Santana actually thought about the Rangers long enough to have quizzed his long-time Twins teammate Torii Hunter, a free agent, about his own intentions. But it appears that when Hunter, a resident of Prosper, Texas, and close friend of Rangers manager Ron Washington, was noncommittal about whether he’d sign with the Rangers (he eventually signed with the Angels), Santana appears to have followed Hunter’s lead.

I’m taking a day off work to attend the “We almost had Santana and Hunter Parade” scheduled in downtown Arlington. Tom Hicks is scheduled to ride the main float posed with his pockets turned out, shrugging his shoulders and sporting a perplexed look on his face.

Tom Hicks also shot and killed Jose Canseco for his role in bringing steroids into the Ranger clubhouse. Hicks didn’t have a gun and Canseco isn’t dead, but Hicks shot him dead just the same. That’s a true story.

Whatever, this is obvious spin out of The Ballpark in Arlington. Every year, the Rangers were hours away from signing or trading for the year’s biggest free agent until some selfish player queered the deal. The Ranger organization never had any intention to put a competitive offer in front of Torii Hunter, let alone trade prospects [read: low-priced talent] and sign Santana to the six to seven year, hundred and fifty-ish million dollar deal required for Santana to waive his no trade clause.

Every year, how do they seem to be in the running, without ever being in the running, for the year’s top free agent? Yet the team that touts its bronze medal in the Zito and Dice K sweepstakes still cries foul over “big market teams” pricing out the poor Rangers? Never mind Dallas Fort Worth is a top five market and the Cowboys and Mavericks seem to have no problem competing for top tier talent. Why the Ranger front office leaks hand-wringing stories of lament like this year after year in a pathetic and feeble attempt to appease an already unreceptive and resentful fan base goes beyond reason. As if Texans sweating out an August day game, watching a last place ball club will take solace that they could have had Santana and Hunter if it wasn’t for those damn Angels and Mets.

Furthermore, the Rangers supposed focus on developing young talent and fortifying the farm system runs counteractive toward trading high ceiling talent in order to sign a high priced free agent and diminishes the organization’s already dismal credibility with both fans and prospective players and trading partners.

Johan Santana and the Mets have not yet come to terms of a contract extension that would bring the two time Cy Young winner to Queens. Based on reports the two parties have a 5:00pm EST deadline to come to an agreement. For Mets fans that have anticipated an October appearance and suffered celebration withdrawal since Black Sunday, the final game of the season that cast a four month malaise over a traditionally rabid, borderline fanatical fan base, many will be holding their collective breath until an official deal is announced. For all the “can’t fall apart” reassurances by industry analysts, Mets fans did not sleep easy Thursday night, when no deal had been announced. With the monetary fortune on the table, logic decrees that this will be carefully negotiated until both parties reach satisfactory terms and the 5:00PM deadline will near before both parties agree to terms.

Don’t tell that to weary season ticket holders who’ve just been taxed another 20 percent in Shea‘s farewell voyage or SNY Subscribers and others that fill the Wilpon war chest year after year with their hard earned money. They want a deal and they don’t want to take any chances. Not after what fans in this teams 45 year existence have endured. Phrases like “can’t miss” and “sure thing” have been heard less than five months ago when the team did miss and the sure thing wasn’t. Beleaguered Mets fans don’t care about their champaign tasting any sweeter.

Here down in Texas, I’m no different. For a team that’s crushed my hopes more times than it’s fulfilled my dreams, you owe me that much. Remember seven games up with seventeen to play? Give him the 150 million over seven years and I won’t mention it again. You owe me this. The best pitcher in Baseball in a Mets uniform would be enough to mend my September heartbreak.

Superbowl? What’s that? Go lock up that staff ace for seven and let’s go to camp. I have to get on with worrying about who’s going to be backing up Delgado for God sake.

The Mets online shop won’t let me order a Johan Santana jersey quite yet but if the Mets drag this out any further I may just end up buying a “Suntana 57” jersey.