Marcus Thames = Bench player
Cameron Maybin = Top level prospect
There is a huge difference.
you are over looking a few things. Top level prospects have potential but have not done ANYTHING in the majors yet..hence why they are still in the minors. if they were that good already they would no longer be a prospect now would they?
How good are the benches of the Yanks, Red Sox, Indians, Angels hell ill even throw the Tigers in there vs other small to medium market teams starters?
From your angle to me it sounds like you think Santana should be worth half a contending team which NO PLAYER IS. MLB is'nt the NBA where 1 player can make a difference everywhere.
Let's look at the aspect of this trade. Teams trying to get him will be getting him 1 year sooner than a free agent deal but end up signing him to a free agent sized contract as they get him. So in these terms you are saying a not so good team SHOULD or WILL get a better all around contending team? Minnesota was not a contending team with Santana. Is Santana Minnesota's revenge for the Vikings Hershel Walker deal? I would say no and every day that passes Santana is worth less and less to the team that would get him after the season starts. Santana also has control WHERE he might go. Twins trade him in July they will get less they don't trade him at all they get nothing. with the $$ they save off Santana's contract what are the Twins going to get in return? They are either going to get 1 pretty good player or pull a Florida Marlin cleaning out the club house or they can turn into the midwest version of the Baltimore retirement home for former major league greats.
If someone wanted him that bad they would have already paid the price for him.
In all likelyhood Minnesota already has recieved their best deal and are just milking it to get more.
So all of your banter about what he is worth to me is that since the Tigers are not in the running for him you just want the other teams who have done better than the Tigers to give up as much as possible to offset them getting Santana //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif