Fansided

MLB trade rumors: Each team’s best trade chip

By Joshua Sadlock

Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 3, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 3, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota Twins: Ervin Santana

The Twins continue to hold onto first place in the AL Central, but for how much longer is anyone’s best guess. Their starting pitching has outperformed the advanced metrics by the widest of margins. Ervin Santana leads the majors in complete games, shutouts, and hits per nine. His cutter and slider have been working extremely well this season, but Santana’s FIP of 4.64 does not make his 2.44 ERA look sustainable.

Over his past six starts, Santana is 2-4 with a 4.28 ERA. He has three dominant starts and three real clunkers mixed in. Santana is at his best when he preys on a team’s aggressive nature at the plate. Otherwise, he is very hittable. The veteran right-hander has pitched to a sub-4.00 ERA over the past seven seasons, but has never been able to carry a sub-3.00 mark an entire season.

Minnesota needs to be careful about reading too much into their hot start. On paper, it looks unsustainable, but the AL Central is so watered down this year they just might have a chance to stick around in the wild card race. There will never be another chance to trade Santana with his perceived value so high. The Twins need to be putting out feelers around the league to gauge interest in their “ace.”

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