I wonder what Jared Camp is thinking these days.
His career ended in 2002 with his second minor league stint with the Erie Seawolves, the AA affiliate for the Detroit Tigers, where he earned a 10.13 ERA. These days, and all other days for that matter, Camp is more known for the man for whom he was traded in 1999.
Johan Santana.
We all know the story. Signed by the Houston Astros in 1995, but remaining in Venezuela for four more years, Johan was taken by the Florida Marlins in the 1999 Rule 5 Draft from the Astros. Just a short time later, the Marlins traded the newly acquired pitcher to the Twins for Camp.
Now, as Camp sits on his couch somewhere, Johan Santana has, in four seasons as a starter, won two Cy Young awards, been selected to three All-Star teams and developed into the best pitcher in the game, and possibly of his generation.
Certainly a good move by the Fish.
As of this very moment, he is still a member of the Minnesota Twins, but not for long. Knowing that he won't be able to sign him to the long-term deal he deserves after the 2008 season, new GM Bill Smith is entertaining offers from the Red Sox and Yankees to trade his star southpaw.
Is there some sort of impenetrable trade phone line that links downtown Minneapolis with these two cities?
There is talk of teams not being willing to "mortgage their futures" to get Santana. Let me tell you something: As a Minnesota sports fan, I know a little something about the so-called "futures" all these teams are worried about. Sometimes they just aren't as rosy as they seem.
For example, the Timberwolves, on pace to win just a shade under 11 games this season, are playing with what once was the Celtics' future.
Pretty easy to see why Danny Ainge felt comfortable trading it away.
The Vikings' future didn't look so bright six months ago, when the most talented player on the offensive side of the ball was offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson. Now, with the soon-to-be-crowned Rookie of the Year and a quarterback who has finally realized when and where to throw a slant, the future ain't looking too bad for the Purple.
The Twins, however, are always preparing for some distant future that may never come by trading away great players they can't, or think they can't, afford for prospects. With the Twins, it's always cheap potential over expensive certainty - for better or worse - and it's no different now.
For two teams claiming to have strongly rebuilt their farm systems, their worry over losing one or two great prospects - either Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester or Philip Hughes and Austin Jackson - is ludicrous when talking about acquiring the single best pitcher in the world. With the probable six-year extension he'd sign after the trade, his new team would not only have arguably the most feared pitcher in the league for six Cy Young-caliber seasons, but also a pitcher known for his unbelievable conditioning, athleticism and pre-start preparation, meaning he'll be as good, or almost as good, at age 34 as he is now at 28.
On days when Johan starts, we almost expect him to shut the opposing lineup down - a real sign of greatness. But when a pitcher does something extraordinary, and it shocks no one, that's when you've reached a whole other level.
Johan's been on that level for years, and teams vying for him would be foolish to get caught up over a prospect, no matter how good he is.
Ross Marrinson is a senior majoring in international relations. He can be reached at ross.marrinson@tufts.edu.
