If Gomez turns into a solid everyday player in 2 to 3 years and one of those pitchers becomes a 200-inning, No. 2 starter, then the trade will be a good one.

So we won't know how this trade ends up for a few years.

I'm excited for the Twins now. A lot of new faces for opening day. Mathias, what's the lineup look like on opening day.

CF - Carlos Gomez
C - Joe Mauer
RF - Michael Cuddyer
1B - Justin Morneau
LF - Delmon Young
3B - Mile Lamb
DH - Jason Kubel
SS - Adam Everett
2B - Nick Punto

On the mound: Francisco Lirano......

I cried when I heard that Johan was gone. I love the Twins but hate the business of trading players. The Twins organization helps bring up great players only to lose them to other teams. I am pleased that Morneau and Cuddyer will be with them for a long time.

It was great to watch Johan pitch. He is a classy player.

I know that the Twins did not get enough for Santana. There is no number of players that would equal his talent or ability to set the table for a Twins win.

Most news outlets are reporting that it seems like a lopsided trade, but that the Twins and the team’s fans will have to wait and see. They’re saying that history is on the Twins side when it comes to identifying prospects that will pan out in trades like this. (Again, I have very little baseball knowledge, so I don’t know if that’s the case or not.)

I do feel for all those die-hard Twins fans out there, though. I’d hate to see the best player on my favorite team get traded away. But goldengopher is right – only time will tell if the Twins made the right decision salary-wise.

Just another disgruntled quasi-star athlete who can't get the miserly ownership of the Twin Cities sports teams to spend the dime to build a championship caliber team. I don't expect the Mets to do any better at winning a World Series but if he was becoming that sort of malcontent as Tom stated then good riddance is the kindest words I can come up with as well.

Johan Santana never was in the press for wild antics off the field. He always conducted himself in a professional manner. He wants to win. I can not blame him for that.

With so few role models in sports today, Johan Santana was a player that I was proud to have on my favorite team.

I hope I get to watch a Mets game on TV when he is pitching.

Yeah, as someone who has talked to Johan numerous times over the past several years, I really thought he was different.

Yet, the way things transpired here lately, I have learned some things about him. I am really surprised at some of the things he has done, and/or "reportedly" said.

Now its to the point he is even having trouble getting the deal done with the Mets. I don't know if his agent is doing all of this or not, but right now it really sounds bush...

I am one that is willing to wait and see how things transpire to see if the Twins made a good deal, but I really can't get past the fact that at the winter meetings they could have had Hughes, Cabrera and 1 or 2 other guys.

(Brian Hall is the Sports Editor for the Jordan Independent and Shakopee Valley News, and can be reached at bhall@swpub.com.)

No way would that deal fall through. The Mets couldn't let it happen.

And Gomez should likely win the CF job, and if he does he will liekly hit leadoff is my guess. Harris is not a leadoff hitter.

Also, I would expect Delmon to hit third and Cuddyer fifth.

And, I bet Baker is the opening day starter. There is also word of the Twins signing a pitcher, maybe Josh Fogg. That must mean either, they want insurance in case Liriano isn't ready, or they don't want Perkins in the rotation.

(Brian Hall is the Sports Editor for the Jordan Independent and Shakopee Valley News, and can be reached at bhall@swpub.com.)