Through the looking glass

So I'm ready to stop thinking about this season but that doesn't mean I want to stop thinking about my favorite team. While watching the Twins drop another one to the Yankees with Phil Hughes on the mound I thought, "wasn't Hughes supposed to be part of the Yankee package for Santana?" And before you know it I found myself staring into the looking glass trying to imagine a world where the Twins traded Santana for more than a bag of baseballs...

Here's a source: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/12/03/2007-12-03_hank_steinbrenner_says_yankee_offer_for_.html

What would have the last few seasons been like if the Twins would have made one of these moves and had Kennedy, Hughes, or Lester at the top of the rotation? What if  Elsbury was in the OF with Span and Cuddyer? I'm sure someone will go all Butterfly Effect on me and prove (with stats) that this would mean the Twins would have missed the playoffs (stats always seem to prove my opinions wrong) but like I mentioned thinking of this was better than watching the mess on my TV. If somehow Kennedy or Elsbury were Twins right now and having the same type of season at least that would be something to enjoy this year. 

But we'll never know what could have been. In my opinion the Twins over played their hand that offseason and went with a below average deal with the Mets. We did get to enjoy Carlos Gomez and his speed and the Twins did continue to win division titles so maybe the deal wasn't so bad but I can't believe that. Plus, when I read what the Mets gave Santana I knew the Twins made the right decision. You don't give a player who plays only every 5th day that much money, you just don't.

What ifs are fun to me. I see no reason to not spend my time wondering what could have gone differently for the Twins, after all it's got to be better than what's on my TV screen.