Hunter vs Santana

So now that it’s official that the Minnesota Twins won’t be playing baseball this October it’s time for Terry Ryan and the Twins to make some big decisions. Just about everyone has an opinion on if the team should resign Hunter and/or Santana. I honestly have changed my mind quite often over the season and wonder if Ryan may have as well.

My thought at the end of last year was that the Twins would let Hunter go after 2007 and extend Santana’s contract this coming off-season. Hunter’s defense was definitely showing signs of slowing and despite his good second half offensively, there was little reason to think it was any more then an extended hot streak. Of course Santana was pitching like the best pitcher in baseball and is our only real veteran starting pitcher (not counting Silva) so why wouldn’t you want to keep him around.

As the year has progressed however, I’m starting to wonder if Hunter isn’t the player the Twins should keep. Of course I think most people would agree that if money wasn’t (or somehow isn’t) an issue then the Twins should absolutely keep both players. I just don’t see that happening though on the Twins payroll, so….here is why the Twins should keep Hunter over Santana.

• Hunter is arguably the second most productive hitter for the Twins and one of the few hitters we have that opposing pitchers actually are afraid of.
  Hunter has grown up a lot as a hitter over the last two seasons and his current offense (even accounting for this year being a career year) would be hard to replace if he’s not brought back.
  
• Hunter bats right handed and hit’s homeruns.
  These are two things that are pretty rare in the Twins’ system currently
  
• Hunter is still a good defensive player.
  While defense has declined he’s still a very capable center fielder
  
• Hunter is an emotional player and a big game player.
  Is he a good leader (or are team leader even that important)? I don’t know but he cares about the game and will show emotion when playing which I think is great. And when it comes to big games he definitely steps up his game a notch.
  
• Hunter is a tough player and gives it his all.
  Hard to know if he should be calling out Mauer for not playing through injuries but regardless you know Hunter is going to do everything possible to play and when he’s out there he’ll give 110%.
  
• Santana will cost more and play less.
  Even though he’s possibly the greatest player in the game we will have to pay him royally for that reason and he still only plays every five games meaning those dollars have a smaller impact on the team.
  
• Santana likely won’t stay without Hunter.
  After Santana’s remarks at the trade deadline, it’s hard to imagine him wanting to stay in Minnesota if the Twins don’t retain Hunter. And I can’t say I blame him.
  
• Santana can be traded.
  It’s debatable how much we could get for trading Santana but the best pitcher in baseball is going to fetch something useful. Definitely more then just draft picks.
  
• Santana is replaceable (sort of).
  Ok no one can replace Santana but the Twins do have two potential ace pitchers who are major league ready and zero major league ready centerfield talent.

Well there you have it. Keep in mind that I have no doubt that Santana is the better baseball player. On a team with an average offense he could very easily be winning his fourth Cy Young award this year and is likely on his way to the Hall of Fame. Not to mention he’s a humble, big game player, and great in the community. So how can Hunter really be the be more important to the Twins? I better go back and reread my reasons again (or maybe I’ll just change my mind one more time).