PUT IT IN THE BOOKS: THE METS GET SANTANA!!!

IMAGE: TUNELOVER FROM FLICKR

The New York Metropolitans have acquired Johan Alexander Santana Araque from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for four players who have yet to be officially named, but are reportedly Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey. (USA TODAY)

The Mets will have a 72 hour window to negotiate with Santana on a contract extension. All along, the word has been that he wants a 7-year deal at about 20 million or more per year. In light of Santana's reported rejection of a Twins offer earlier in the day of a 5-yr, $100 million deal, one would have to assume that this extension will get done. The Mets were probably fully aware of Santana's unwillingness to go 5 years before they pulled the trigger on this deal, which would imply that they have no issue going 6 years on a contract with him. When all is said and done, with so much at stake, one year will not be a deal-breaker; someone will budge. 6 years at 20 mil and a 7th year player option at a lower price, perhaps?

Anyhow, there isn't much you can say to fully express the significance of this deal. Any of the Omar naysayers can cut the word "nay" out of their vocabulary for good, as he has just pulled off a masterful deal. Every move he has made here has been perfect. He has remained calm throughout, not hinting at much in any direction, and in spite of the frenzy surrounding him, he waited and waited and waited until the final right moment and got us the ace of all aces without giving up Jose Reyes, Fernando Martinez, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez or Aaron Heilman. The team as of now is the same 88-win team it was last year, essentially, plus Santana, a healthy(er) Pedro and some improved defense. Subtract a late season collapse, which you hopefully can, and you've got 100 wins. It may be early yet, but now we can really dream.

All I can say is, wow. Wow.

2008 is my year, I'll tell ya. I got my first son, the Giants in the Super Bowl playing the Patriots, and Johan a Met. Might have to start calling the kiddo Johan.

Oh, the Nationals have agreed to terms on a one year deal with Johnny Estrada, "giving them even more options on offense". Cool, dudes.