As it has been widely reported, the Twins and the Rays agreed to a trade swapping young phenoms.

While I could spend a while here breaking down the trade in favor of the Twins or Rays, I won’t. However, this trade could be tipping Minnesota’s hand in regards to what they plan to do with our everyday rumor, Johan Santana.

Despite the trade, I still expect the Twins to trade Johan, however what they’re looking for in a deal where they trade Johan might drastically change. Ever since the departure of Torii Hunter, taking $90 million to go play for the Angels, the Twins were in the market for outfield help. Even with the star power of Hunter roaming CF, the Twins outfield was suspect.

Hunter logged the most innings of any Twins’ OF with 1315.2 innings in CF. Michael Cuddyer came in 2nd with 1224.1 innings in RF. Jason Kubel played the most innings of any Twins’ ball player in LF, logging 700.1 innings. Also recieving significant playing time in LF was former Mets’ 1st round pick Jason Tyner, who played 300.1 innings in LF, while also playing 144.1 in RF and 85.0 in CF.

So even with Hunger patrolling CF, left field and right field would be a concern to any team. The Twins’ immediate need to replace Hunter made the Mets a more likely trade partner. Without Delmon Young, the Twins would need to be actively pursing an OF replacement, and the Mets certainly can supply a few of those. Many reports have suggested that the Twins are enamored with Carlos Gomez as their CF of the future, even though many regard Lastings Milledge as a greater talent.

In addition to Young, the Twins also acquired OF Jason Pridie. A 2nd round pick of the Rays in 2002, Pridie was caught in the shuffle of Rays’ OF prospects which included Josh Hamilton, Delmon Young, Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Joey Gathright, Jonny Gomes and Pridie. The Twins selected Pridie in the Rule V draft, but decided not to keep him on their 25 man roster, so by rule he was returned to the Rays.

So adding not only Young, but Pridie as well, to the Twins’ OF makes the Mets’ and their stock of young outfield talent (Milledge, Gomez, Fernando Martinez) a less suitable trade partner. While the Mets do have other young talent to offer such as Mike Pelfrey, Phillip Humber and Kevin Mulvey, other teams such as the Yankees have more in terms of pitching prospects (Ian Kennedy, Phillip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain to name just a few) as well as position players such as Robinson Cano.

I still think the Twins will try and trade Mr. Santana just as actively as they are now. Just as a result of the deal, the Mets may seem like a less appealing option compared to teams with more pitching talent. By no means am I ruling the Mets out of the Johan sweepstakes, because you never know what Omar can pull out of his hat. However, this move makes me think that in a trade involving Johan Santana, the Twins will be focusing on pitching talent, something that doesn’t play into the Mets’ strengths.

According to St. Petersburg Times blog, The Heater, the deal trading trading OF Delmon Young to the Twins in exchange for RHP Matt Garza has become official.

Here’s how the trade breaks down (age in parenthesis)

Rays Get:

RHP Matt Garza (23)
SS Jason Bartlett (28)
RHP Eduardo Morlan (21)

Twins Get:

OF Delmon Young (22)
IF Brendan Harris (27)
OF Jason Pridie (24)

Analysis to come tomorrow

Updating a previous report from earlier today, Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline is reporting that the deal that was to send Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie to the Twins for Jason Bartlett, Juan Rincon and Matt Garza to the Rays is currently on hold due to an medical issue. Multiple sources tell Miller that the deal was close, though the Rays are said to be “holding things up because of concerns regarding reports on Rincon’s elbow.”

According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Star-Tribune, the Minnesota Twins are close to acquiring OF Delmon Young, SS Brendan Harris and OF Jason Pridie from the Devil Rays in a deal that could involve as many as six players. The report states that the Twins will likely be sending RHP Matt Garza, SS Jason Bartlett, RHP Juan Rincon to Tampa Bay.

Young, 22, hit .288 last season with 13 homers and 93 RBI and is considered one of the better young hitters in the game. Harris, 27, hit .286 with 12 homers and 59 RBI.

Johan Santana is the name rolling off the lips of most everyone these days, but another Twins pitcher has been mentioned as someone the Twins might be willing to offer for the right deal.

Matt Garza is a 24 year old right handed pitcher, who the Twins chose as the 25th overall pick in the 2005 draft. Garza was blessed as the Twins’ seventh-best prospect by Baseball America in 2006. Garza rose though the Twins minor league system quickly, posting a 14-4 at the each minor league level in 2006, with a 1.99 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 135 ⅔ innings and wound up winning the 2006 USA Today Minor League Player Of The Year award.

With Francisco Liriano getting injured, the Twins promoted Garza to replace him and he made his Major League debut on August 11th, 2006. Twelve days later he earned his first win, giving up one run over six innings.

Entering this past season, Garza was rated the top prospect in the Twins organization by Baseball America and 21st overall in baseball. Garza started 15 games and posted a 3.69 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP.

Video of Garza warming up in the bullpen can be found here. His minor league statistics can be found on Baseball Cube, and his major league career statistics can be viewed on Baseball Reference.

It’s not yet clear if the Twins would be willing to trade Garza if they deal Johan Santana, as they would already have received a bounty of prospects from that deal. If in fact the Twins are serious about dealing Garza, he is worth considering. Garza has met almost every challenge the Twins have put before him thus far and has performed at a high level at a young age.

The Twins are willing to move 24 year-old Matt Garza, reports who posted a 3.69 ERA this year, according to a report by Joe Christensen in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. 

The Twins are targeting Delmon Young, B.J. Upton, and Carlos Gomez in return.  The Twins covet Upton most, but he appears to be the least likely to be dealt. A report by Marc Topkin in the St. Petersburg Times confirms the Delmon Young rumors.

Christensen also reports that the Twins have not heard back from Carlos Silva or Torii Hunter’s agent on the offers they were made.