Twins star pitcher Johan Santana is on the move, as the Mets reached an agreement with the Minnesota team to make an exchange for who is now considered to be the best pitcher in the league. However, an official announcement is yet to be made, as neither of the two teams wished to make a public statement.

Before a public confirmation, rumors have it that outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra, will act as an exchange rate for the two-time Cy Young award winning Santana, in a deal that left the Red Sox and the Yankees on the outside.

 Santana had been courted by both the Yankees and the Red Sox, unfortunately for them they had been more preoccupied with outbidding each other than watching out for other competitors, and the Mets had the last laugh.

Santana reportedly has until Friday to sign a contract extension that would complete the agreement between the two teams. The Mets are also confident that once a free agent after the 2008 season, Santana will agree to sign at least a five-year deal, worth $20 million per season.

The 28-year-old left-handed starting pitcher made his Major League debut in April 2000, when he came to play for the Twins, and four years later he was already a record holder, and his stats kept getting better. In 2006 he became the 14th player in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award multiple times.

With an upcoming season with the Mets, Santana is expected to ask for at least $150 million contract for the next six years, which would beat Barry Zito’s contract with the San Francisco Giants, worth $126 million, but the Mets look prepared for such a deal.

The acquisition of Santana has a double meaning for the Mets: the end of a collapse in the 2007 season and the beginning of a profitable collaboration in the seasons to come. Everyone agreed that it was a one-time opportunity for the Mets, and they were prepared to take advantage of it.