Minnesota Twins president Dave St. Peter was asked on Wednesday about the chances now of trading two-time Cy Young award winning pitcher Johan Santana. “I am not an odds maker,” St. Peter answered with a smile. Rated in a recent issue of the Sporting News as the American League’s best pitcher, Santana has been rumored as headed to any of several teams since last fall.
“We don’t think we have a deal that behooves trading the best pitcher in the game,” St. Peter said. However, the Twins executive said the situation “could change in five minutes.”
In a recent Sporting News article the publication rated the American and National League’s top pitchers. The top five in the American League were: Santana, Roy Halladay of Toronto, Josh Beckett of Boston, C.C. Sabathia of Cleveland and John Lackey of Los Angeles.
Santana confuses batters with his fast ball and changeup. He has won 70 games during the last four seasons. Sports Headliners believes Santana will be traded to the New York Mets before the season begins on March 31 at the Metrodome. The guess here is the Mets will make a good offer, plus shipping Santana to the National League’s offers a secondary benefit of not having to face him during the regular season.
Meanwhile, St. Peter and other front office executives are excited about the franchise’s annual TwinsFest for fans tonight through Sunday at the Metrodome. More than 60 current and former Twins are expected to attend including Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau who will be appearing all three days. Alumni will include Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew.
On display will be a three-dimensional model of the new ballpark. The 5-foot by 5-foot model represents the most detailed depiction of what the new 40,000 seat ballpark will look like when it opens in 2010.
Attractions include tours of the Twins’ clubhouse, national anthem tryouts, baseball cards and collectibles, kids-only player Q & A sessions, player photo stations, a baseball skills area, youth baseball clinics as well as live and silent auctions. TwinsFest hours are tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
TwinsFest is an annual fundraiser for the Twins Community Fund. Since its inception in 1989, the event has raised more than $3.6 million for programs and organizations supported by the fund. St. Peter said he hopes this year’s event, expected to draw 25,000 to 30,000 fans, will produce over $300,000 for the fund from admissions and other revenues. Past and present players donate their time to attend with no one receiving an appearance fee, he said.
Last year’s TwinsFest drew a record 35,000 attendance, the best not only for the Twins but any baseball team that stages a winter promotional event for fans, St. Peter said. Atlanta and St. Louis also draw large crowds, more than 20,000, he added.
The Twins exceeded 10,000 season tickets last season for only the second time in franchise history. St. Peter expects a renewal rate of more than 90 percent and the franchise has already sold about 750 new season tickets.