Johan Santana. CC Sabathia.

Two left-handed power pitchers with Cy Young Awards on their resumes. Each up for free agency after the 2008 season, each traded by an AL Central team to a team in the National League. Each trade netted a package of four minor leaguers.

There are differences, of course. Santana had a no-trade clause; Sabathia didn’t. And the Twins traded Santana before spring training, while the Indians dealt Sabathia about halfway through the season.

But similar enough to raise the question: Who got the better deal for their unretainable ace, Minnesota or Cleveland?

First answer, and an accurate one: It’s too soon to be certain. We don’t even know exactly who the fourth minor leaguer in the Sabathia deal is, much less how these young players will develop.

But that answer’s no fun.

There are some parallels between the two packages. The centerpiece in each is an outfielder — Carlos Gomez for the Twins, Matt Laporta for the Indians.

They are, however, two very dissimilar talents. We’ve seen enough of Gomez to have a reading on his strengths and flaws: as an unnamed scout put it to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Gomez is looking for the key to his tool box. What he does best right now is run; what he’ll do best in five years is anybody’s guess.

Laporta is a lead-footed slugger who may not remain in left field; he was a first baseman in college moved to left by the Brewers because they had Prince Fielder blocking his path.

Laporta has big-time power and a good eye at the plate. Old player skills, as Bill James would describe it.

John Sickels this spring listed Laporta as the 19th best position player prospect, Gomez 48th. Baseball America’s listings this spring consistently also put Laporta higher than Gomez.

Those rankings deserve to be taken seriously. So does this: Gomez is almost a year younger, and he’s a regular in the majors, while Laporta is tearing up Double A.

Slim advantage, Gomez.

Phil Humber (Twins) was the third pick overall in the 2004 draft, but his career has not recovered from ligament replacement surgery. He has regressed this year — his ERA in Triple A is 6.25. He is now, at best, a marginal prospect. Zach Jackson (Indians) is left-handed and breathing. That’s about as much as can be said for him. His Triple A ERA this season: 7.85.

Call that one even, and very low-ceiling.