Well, it finally happened. Johan Santana is (tentatively) a New York Met. I can’t speak for everyone but all of a sudden the grass is greener and the sky is bluer than it was a couple of days ago. All that stands in the way is a contract extension and all of the players passing their physicals, which shouldn’t be a problem. Neither the Mets nor Twins would try to bargain with players they knew weren’t healthy and the Mets certainly would not have traded for a guy they KNEW was going to command the money Johan will. I look for a press conference to be announced shortly and Johan to be holding up his new home whites flanked by Omar and Jeff Wilpon sometime Thursday or Friday. It will be a day that will be seared into Mets fans consciousnesses for a long time.

Can somebody tell me what Billy Wagner’s problem is? Okay, I realize the Mets choked last season and up until a day or so ago the Mets might not have been better than a 3rd place team. Tell me though; what does Omar have to do for our own closer to believe in the team? In my humble opinion, getting the best pitcher this decade is a pretty big deal. Maybe Billy is like that kid who lashes out because his best friends (LoDuca and Glavine) moved away. Baseball is a business like it or not so he needs to just support his team and earn that insane contract Omar handed to him a few winters ago. I can tell you that as good as Billy is, if he is going to be a cancer, I would happily welcome Chad Cordero, Huston Street, or Joe Nathan in his place.

It’s been a roller coaster of emotion these past couple of days as a Mets fan with the magnitude of this trade. It fits right in there with the Gary Carter and Mike Piazza trades that led to two pennants and a World Series championship. The fact of the matter is the Mets finally have a difference maker. There are no other pitchers in MLB that come to my mind who could transform a team like Johan Santana will. Omar has served notice to the whole National League that the Mets are coming out with guns blazing. John Donavan wrote on SI.com concerning the trade:

“With Santana in tow, there’s no question that the Mets, incredibly to many, are again the class of the East. And of the league, too. Snicker at that.”

Yes indeed, Braves, Phillies, Marlins and Nats… snicker at THAT!