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.

In addition having the 3rd highest ERA in Major League Baseball, the Diamondbacks pitching staff leads the league in facial hair.

Led by ace Dan Haren, the team sports impressive forms of beards, mustaches and combinations of the two.

However, fellow members of the Diamondbacks pitching staff rival Haren’s caveman like beard. Fellow ace Brandon Webb, sports a more clean cut and suave goatee.

Micah Owings wears a beard that covers the bottom of his chin, similar to a bicycle helmet strap. Randy Johnson’s bold facial hair is almost legendary, and while the facial hair can be called ugly - it only masks an uglier face.

Unreported however, is the clubhouse issues that might arise with phenom Max Scherzer entering the rotation. Apparently, he is not destined to be a D’backs starter as he lacks facial hair or anything of the sort. In a cultish meeting, Haren, Webb, Owings and Johnson have decided that Scherzer has until his next start to grow an equally bold beard, or else…

The East Valley Tribune reports that the Oakland A’s are bringing a group of major league players to the Valley this week for physical evaluations. A’s general manager Billy Beane said the gathering will help shape his plans.

The article also reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks have put an offer on the table for Dan Haren, which includes Carlos Gonzalez, Emilio Bonifacio, and Brett Anderson.

Dayn Perry on Gotham Sports Radio Tonight at 7pm

Dayn Perry of FoxSports.com and the book “Winners” will be joining me to talk hot stove tonight. As always we will have the chat room set up for questions and comments. Last week it was a great way to interact with other fans as well. To listen live at 7pm or to the replay click here.

Among some of the topics are a Johan Santana update, the price of middle relief, and the impact of the Florida- Detroit Trade. Earlier today I talked about how Omar must pull out all stops to acquire Santana, just like Frank Cashen did with another Minnesota LHP back in the late eighties. To read click here.

Here are some links from newspapers today:

• According to the Daily News, the Mets have interest in Yankees reliever Luis Vizcaino but he is expected to sign elsewhere this week. The Mets also reportedly have interest in soon to be 45 reliever Jeff Fassero, who’s planning a comeback.
• At Newsday, Kevin Davidoff takes a look at what the Mets’ have to do to improve their farm system. He says that teams like the Yankees have consistently restocked the system because they are not afraid to sign their players with above the recommended bonuses, while the Mets strictly adhere to the MLB recommendations for bonuses. He also writes that the Mets’ have hope that the Twins’ focus more on scouting than statistics and that’s why they’d have heavy interest in Carlos Gomez and Mike Pelfrey. Then he poses the question, “But what if the Twins’ scouts just don’t care for the Mets’ prospects? That’s what appears to be occurring.”
• At the San Francisco Chronicle, Susan Slusser writes that the A’s are considering more and more trading Joe Blanton and Dan Haren and that the Mets’ among other teams have expressed interest.

Well, please stay away from Fassero. He wasn’t particularly good when he was 35, and its been 10 years since then.

This Johan Santana roller-coaster is crazy. One day we hear he wants to play for the Mets, next day the Twins don’t want Gomez or Pelfrey according to Davidoff.

Over at MLB Trade Rumors, the following trade has been rumored according to “a trusted New York sportswriter.”

Mets send Jose Reyes, Kevin Mulvey, and Hector Pellot to A’s
A’s send Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson to Mets
A’s send Dan Haren to Twins
Twins send Johan Santana to Mets

Mets get Johan Santana, Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson
A’s get Jose Reyes and Kevin Mulvey
Twins get Dan Haren and Hector Pellot

Wow, I mean, I dont even know where to start with this one. I can see both the A’s and Twins saying yes, but I have a hard time seeing the Mets pulling the trigger.

Relaying information from Michael Silverman, the Boston Herald is reporting that the Diamondbacks and Athletics have had constructive talks about a deal that would send Dan Haren to Arizona and Conor Jackson, Carlos Gonzalez and two other players to Oakland.

Joel Sherman at the New York Post writes that the Mets do not have the chips to get Dan Haren, as Billy Beane sees his value equal to that of Johan Santana, considering he will be under the team’s control who he is traded to for the next three years for under $20 million. Sherman says Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, and Kevin Mulvey.

Beane is looking for young pitching in return. In a deal with the Yankees, he is not interested in Melky Cabrera. He wants a package starting with Phil Hughes and one of Ian Kennedy or Alan Horne.

The Dodgers have more to offer in terms of young pitching than the Yankees, Mets or Diamondbacks. In terms of Joe Blanton, Beane views him as equal in value to Brad Penny.

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com is reporting that the Twins and Yankees were getting nowhere in discussions in their attempt to complete a deal for Johan Santana. The Yankees are contemplating pulling out of the race for the left-hander.

The report states that the Twins again asked the Yankees for Ian Kennedy as the third-player in the deal for Santana that also included Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera. The Yankees may look to the bay and a possible deal for Oakland ace Dan Haren.