Santana has excellent stuff and has been a top-flight pitcher for some time now. However,for any GM to commit so much money to a pitcher should get the GM committed. (Where are theynow-Mike Hampton and Barry Zito? Where will they be in another 2-3 years? Hampton will beretired and Zito will be scuffling along and "earning" his money)
Yes, Santana ismore a power pitcher than Hampton and Zito, but there are simply too many uncertainties with apitcher`s health to commit so much of your resources to one like this contract. Let`s see if he can even get through half ofthis contract without a major breakdown.