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Mets, Santana Finalize $137.5M Deal

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The Associated Press

Published: February 3, 2008

NEW YORK - Johan Santana was right there in the room as his agent and the New York Mets haggled over a colossal contract.

After three straight days of negotiating, the sides were $5 million apart - and time had run out.

Maybe this blockbuster trade between the Mets and Minnesota Twins was going to crumble, just as New York did during the pennant race last September.

"We talked about a worst-case scenario," Mets general manager Omar Minaya recalled, thinking of the team's eager fan base. "What are we going to say?"

So agent Peter Greenberg and the Mets asked Minnesota for an extension, a request that was granted by the Twins and approved by the commissioner's office. The deadline for talks was pushed back two hours to 7 p.m. Friday, and that was enough time to reach a deal.

Santana passed his physical Saturday, finalizing the ballyhooed swap that sent him to New York for four prospects: outfielder Carlos Gomez and right-handers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.

"We've been lacking what we consider a true No. 1 starter," Minaya said on a conference call. "It doesn't get much better than Johan Santana."

The Mets and Twins announced the deal one day after Santana agreed to a $137.5 million, six-year contract with New York - record riches for a pitcher.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner gets $19 million this year, $20 million in 2009, $21 million in 2010, $22.5 million in 2011, $24 million in 2012 and $25.5 million in 2013.

The Mets have a $25 million option for 2014 with a $5.5 million buyout, and the option could become guaranteed depending on Santana's performance. Of each year's salary, including the option season, $5 million will be deferred.

As negotiations dragged on, the Mets thought it might help for Santana to meet owner Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff, the club's chief operating officer. So the pitcher traveled to New York and was in the room where the talks took place.

The Mets were at $135 million and Greenberg at $140 million as Friday's original deadline approached. After the sides were given an extra two hours, the Mets announced about 30 minutes before the new deadline that negotiations had concluded.

"He's extremely happy. We're all very happy," Greenberg said. "We're still kind of pinching ourselves to make sure this is really true. This is a match made in heaven."

Santana is 93-44 with a 3.22 ERA in eight major-league seasons, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2004 and 2006 with the Twins. He has been less successful in the playoffs, going 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA.

NATIONALS: Reliever Jon Rauch agreed to a $3.2 million, two-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

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