I can’t help but wait to see the words “Santana Traded to [insert team here]” on the front page of the StarTribune in the next couple of days.  At this point, it seems inevitable to me that the Cy-Young award winning pitcher will soon be leaving the friendly confines of the Metrodome for either Yankee or Fenway stadiums.

If Santana’s days as a Twin truly are numbered I am forced to look into the future to see what our lineup will likely be like without the best pitcher in baseball.  So as I look into my crystal ball, I see the following lineup next season:

Castilla

Mauer

Young

Cuddyer

Morneau

Boucher (or third baseman to be named later)

DH (either Kubel or possibly Monroe if he isn’t released)

CF (to be named later)

Harris

It is very apparent that with any trade for Santana that we address 3b and/or CF.  If I was a betting man (which I am) I would think that we’ll fill the CF spot with CoCo Crisp.  With that we’ll likely also get Jon Lester out of the deal….  Lester will be a very servicable pitcher who will fit in nicely next to Boof, Baker, Slowey and Perkins.  While our pitching rotation will be very young and inexperienced, I believe that we will have the pieces necessary to be compeditive.  CoCo is a good option at CF because he has a VERY user friendly contract for the upcoming years with 4.75M and 5.75M in 2008 and 2009.  That will allow the Twins to work a longer term contract with him if needed or bring up someone from the Minors to replace him in the new stadium. 

When all is said and done, our offense should be much more effective/powerful and even with the loss of Santana we still have 4 other pitchers who will be able to let us compete.