In an article for ESPN, Jayson Stark lists the top 10 most influential trades from this winter.

Ranking 1st is the Diamondback’s trade for ace Dan Haren, but ranking 2nd is the Mets’ trade for Johan Santana.

Stark writes:

True, this deal hasn’t propelled the Mets into first place. Also true: Santana is “only” 3-2, with a 2.91 ERA. But he’s also tied for the league lead in strikeouts. And his bullpen has already blown two saves for him. And he left one of those two losses trailing the Braves, 1-0, in the eighth inning. So he ought to be 6-1. But even at 3-2, he’s still been a definite upgrade on, say, Brian Lawrence.

As an honorable mention, he lists the deal for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church.

Yes, we are not in first place. But I’m having a really tough time imagining our rotation without the idea of Johan going out there every fifth day and giving us a shot to win. He anchors our staff, and I’d be a lot less confident in our squad if Jorge Sosa or Tony Armas Jr. were in the rotation.

And while I was uncomfortable with trading Lastings Milledge initially, and now even if he does develop into a guy that makes the All-Star game for a few years, having Church in our lineup has made so much of a difference. Especially with Beltran being so passive at the plate, Church has been there to get on base, drive runs home and he’s been phenomenal in the field. Not to mention, I enjoy the way Schneider calls a game and when he catches I have more faith in whomever is pitching.