Absolutely correct. Santana was not a free agent signing at all. Brain fart on my part. Wasn't it three minor league pitchers that the Twins received?
Instead of the best free agent signing ever, I will change my statement to say that it was the best trade of the last decade.
The Mets also gave up OF Carlos Gomez to get Johan. If Johan's arm falls off next year and the Mets keep playing .500 ball.....and Gomez goes on to be a star, then this trade will have backfired. Maybe both players excel and it's a win-win.
I'm not saying any of that will happen, because you nor I have any idea what will happen.....what I'm saying is, you seem to really follow and love sports, so you should know that you cannot possibly evaluate a good or bad trade until there's some evidence compiled.
The Pierzynski for Bonser, Liriano and Nathan deal jumps at me as one of the better trades of the last decade. Of course, it looked a lot better while Liriano was healthy.
Would the Red Sox signing of David Ortiz count? The guy was cut, no, by the Twins. Pedro has been involved in two trade heists....Sox get him for Pavano and Armas Jr.....Expos got him from LA forDelino DeShields.
Sox also got Varitek and Derek Lowe for Heathcliff Slocumb in 1997, so that's just over a decade ago, sorry.
The Rangers got Michael Young from the Jays for Estaban Loaiza in 2000.
And let's not forget the Rays getting Kazmir from the Mets for Victor Zambrano. That might be your winner for the past decade.