3-year deal offered to Ervin Santana

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I have to admit I don't get it, guys. Seems like it sends a bad message to a whole lot of interesting prospects (Meyer, Gibson, May, Berrios, et al) if there are too many long-term contracts ahead of them. I know Pelfrey isn't popular with anyone on this board except me, but he is a favorite of Anderson and Gardy and seems to be a lock for the rotation...and his 3 hitless innings yesterday didn't hurt. And Deduno is healthy and pitching well too, and is another favorite of Gardy (see his comments after his outing yesterday).

Unless the front office has a current deal in place to move Correia or Pelfrey, count me out on the Santana deal.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm not a fan of it either. I just don't want to give up a pick for the guy when our rotation is kinda set. Yeah, he makes us better right now, but I value a rotation spot and the second round draft pick more for this franchise's future. I hope he takes the one year deal in Balty or Toronto.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Apparently Deduno had some really funky movement going yesterday, cam. When he's healthy and on, it's almost impossible to square up on him. I'm optimistic about this staff this season. Lineup still needs work though.

[Jester1534]

LST I actually watched the game and Deduno was straight up filthy, his fastball had so much movement. He can be so good if he can stay healthy, but like I stated before he just is so injury prone.

I don't get the Santana offered contract, so your gonna have Nolasco Hughes and Santana Pelfrey locked up for 2 years with guys like Meyer Gibson Berrios May and even Kohl Stewart doesn't make since to me either. Also they've some interesting guys to like Gonsalves and Lewis Thorpe, I just don't think we need another middle of the rotation starter.

Luckily I heard Ervin wants a 1 year deal so he can prove himself and get a better contract next year

[Jester1534]

Thank god Ervin signed with the Braves. I feel super bad for Kris Medlen most likely gonna have his second tommy john, to good of a pitcher to have this much arm trouble early in his career.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

LST I actually watched the game and Deduno was straight up filthy, his fastball had so much movement. He can be so good if he can stay healthy, but like I stated before he just is so injury prone.

I don't get the Santana offered contract, so your gonna have Nolasco Hughes and Santana Pelfrey locked up for 2 years with guys like Meyer Gibson Berrios May and even Kohl Stewart doesn't make since to me either. Also they've some interesting guys to like Gonsalves and Lewis Thorpe, I just don't think we need another middle of the rotation starter.

Luckily I heard Ervin wants a 1 year deal so he can prove himself and get a better contract next year

Based on Gardy's comments after the game, I wish I had seen it. Deduno has so much movement on his pitches, he is unique as a pitcher...and I think that is why it took him so long to make it to the majors. If you look at his minor league record, I have to credit the Twins organization for seeing his potential. This guy had to learn how to harness his fastball, and it has taken him several years to do it. His ERA improved at every level as he moved up. mid-5's in A ball, upper 3's in AA, and finally low 3's in AAA. While most big league pitchers need to live on the corners, Deduno has so much late movement on his ball, pitching this way led to way too many walks. Now his approach seems to be to aim for the middle of the strike zone and let the movement do its work. As a result, both his BB/9 and K/9 numbers have plummeted, but he gives up a ridiculously low percentage of well hit balls. If he stays with this approach and stays healthy, he has the potential to be the ace of a much improved staff (even though he is battling for the 5th spot now). I don't think an ERA in the low 3's is out of the question this year...he's that tough to hit.

Santana's move was the right one for him and for the Twins. It allows Deduno to show what he can do, and Ervin will dominate the National League and earn a nice long-term contract next year.