Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

[Sandman42]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I still don't see why the Twins would want Coco Crisp in the deal. They're not the ones to spend money, but Crisp makes $10 million a year. I'm surprised they're not pushing for Ellsbury harder.

[nyisles16]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I still don't see why the Twins would want Coco Crisp in the deal. They're not the ones to spend money, but Crisp makes $10 million a year. I'm surprised they're not pushing for Ellsbury harder.

Apparently Hank is saying a deal to the Yanks is most likely dead

[Kearnzo]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

As a Sox fan, I can't help being excited over the trade if it goes down. Granted, I really want to keep Lester AND Ellsbury, but I know one of them is leaving if it happens.

However, if I was a Yanks fan, while I wouldn't be happy the Sox may acquire the best pitcher in the league, I also would be happy I didn't make the deal. I think for the first time in years, the Yankees actually have some serious young talent to look forward to watching for years to come. Mainly Hughes and Chamberlain. If Hughes or Chamberlain do turn into a #1, they are going to look awfully smart for not pulling the trigger, as they will have two great young studs in the rotation. If I were the Yanks, I would be more interested in picking up a 2nd or 3rd starter and letting Hughes and Chamberlain develop.

However, as we all know, most Yankees fans could give a damn about the future and want results NOW. Granted, it's not a bad stance, I just don't know if it's worth giving up everything they are.

[Beantown]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I have to say...if the Sox get Santana for Lester, Crisp, Lowrie and Masterson, I am going to personally send a "Thank You" Card to Hank for more-or-less removing the Yankees from the trade talks.

[ckarlic]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

As a Sox fan, I can't help being excited over the trade if it goes down. Granted, I really want to keep Lester AND Ellsbury, but I know one of them is leaving if it happens.

However, if I was a Yanks fan, while I wouldn't be happy the Sox may acquire the best pitcher in the league, I also would be happy I didn't make the deal. I think for the first time in years, the Yankees actually have some serious young talent to look forward to watching for years to come. Mainly Hughes and Chamberlain. If Hughes or Chamberlain do turn into a #1, they are going to look awfully smart for not pulling the trigger, as they will have two great young studs in the rotation. If I were the Yanks, I would be more interested in picking up a 2nd or 3rd starter and letting Hughes and Chamberlain develop.

However, as we all know, most Yankees fans could give a damn about the future and want results NOW. Granted, it's not a bad stance, I just don't know if it's worth giving up everything they are.

Ive stated this before in some postings that i'm happy either way. If we get Santana cool, if we dont then we have a great group of pitchers for the future, Its win win in my mind. Like the saying goes sometimes the best trades are the ones never made.

If the deal with the Sox does go through it'll be interesting to see how Santana does at Fenway park. Regardless of who gets Santana this fiasco is going to heighten the rivalry between the Yanks and Sox, Cant wait for the season to get under way.

[spyder23]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

The Sox supposedly told them they'll just walk away rather than trade Ellsbury and Lester. You can't just demand the guy be included when a team tells you that knowing that the team really doesn't need your guy. It's not like Lester is a slouch and neither is Masterson. I wouldn't be too shocked to see Masterson become a top flight hard-throwing sinker-balling reliever in a couple years. Lowrie I don't know too much about but I've heard mixed things. As for the Yankees package, I think Hughes is good but overrated (Chamberlain is miles better IMO) and Cabrera isn't worth nearly as much as some people think he is, at least not to a team like the Yankees that can afford much better overall position players. He looks like he's going to become a lousier fielding version of Coca Crisp, if even that passable a hitter. Also, the Yankees NEED to make this deal otherwise they're right where they were last year but older in the field and once again without a top flight starter.

Hughes never was 100% after he came back from the hamstring injury, but look what he did in his five September starts, and in the playoffs. He was 3-0, 2.73 ERA down the stretch, plus the lone playoff win. The kid is going to be a star. Masterson's numbers in the minors dont jump out at me. He is marginal, and I think Lester is too. Now look at Hughes in the minors. And he at least has a taste of the bigs.

Now Buchholz, and Ellsbury on the other hand, now we're talking. Two great young players who the Twins should be asking for, just like they did with NY.

[ckarlic]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I don't understand how the Twins are demanding Hughes and Kennedy, but they don't demand Buchholz from Boston.

Word. But hey we will see what happens next. If the deal does go through then id be amazed at what the Twins had to settle for.

[ckarlic]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

The Sox supposedly told them they'll just walk away rather than trade Ellsbury and Lester. You can't just demand the guy be included when a team tells you that knowing that the team really doesn't need your guy. It's not like Lester is a slouch and neither is Masterson. I wouldn't be too shocked to see Masterson become a top flight hard-throwing sinker-balling reliever in a couple years. Lowrie I don't know too much about but I've heard mixed things. As for the Yankees package, I think Hughes is good but overrated (Chamberlain is miles better IMO) and Cabrera isn't worth nearly as much as some people think he is, at least not to a team like the Yankees that can afford much better overall position players. He looks like he's going to become a lousier fielding version of Coca Crisp, if even that passable a hitter. Also, the Yankees NEED to make this deal otherwise they're right where they were last year but older in the field and once again without a top flight starter.

The Yankees do not NEED to make this deal at all. They are going to be fine with Wang, Pettite, Hughes, Joba and Kennedy somewhere in the rotation. If the deal doesnt go through for the Yanks, they should look at strengthening their bullpen.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

So uh, what happened to that "deadline"? Guess that just kind of went away huh?

[ehh]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I have to say...if the Sox get Santana for Lester, Crisp, Lowrie and Masterson, I am going to personally send a "Thank You" Card to Hank for more-or-less removing the Yankees from the trade talks.

I still think that has little chance of going through. The Twins aren't going to take on a CF who absolutely sucks and is overpaid.

Sandman, I looked up Crisp's salary and it said he only makes $3.8 million per ESPN.com, where did you see he makes $10m?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...e?statsId=6983

[snepp]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I think Crisp makes 10 million in the last year of the deal.

Nevermind, it's an $8 million dollar option for 2010.

$4.75 million in 2008
$5.75 million in 2009

[Sandman42]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I still think that has little chance of going through. The Twins aren't going to take on a CF who absolutely sucks and is overpaid.

Sandman, I looked up Crisp's salary and it said he only makes $3.8 million per ESPN.com, where did you see he makes $10m?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...e?statsId=6983

I meant to say $10 million over the final 2 years of his deal. If the trade is made I doubt the Twins would pick up his option for 2010. I was just pointing out that they could get cheaper CF's who will produce as good as, if not better than Crisp in Cabrera or Ellsbury.

[bergie56]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

I really wish that a 3rd team would get involved with these talks as both the Red Sox and Yankees deals aren't great. This is looking like its not going to turn out well for the Twins which really sucks. At this point, I would rather see him go to the Red Sox than the Yankees.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

The Yankees do not NEED to make this deal at all. They are going to be fine with Wang, Pettite, Hughes, Joba and Kennedy somewhere in the rotation. If the deal doesnt go through for the Yanks, they should look at strengthening their bullpen.

Disagree. Wang is a not a staff ace. He's definitely one of the better starters in the league but he lives and dies by that sinker. Considering that arguably the worst ranging SS in the league is behind him this is an issue. Pettite is going to be a year older. And you're going expect a trio of rookie pitchers to hold up the rest of the fort? Hughes has 70+ MLB innings under his belt and Chamberlin has yet to make a start. Possibly against a division rival that will be anchored by a rotation of Santana, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Schilling, Wakefield, and Buchholz? Maybe that serves the Yankees better a few years from now (although Santana is only 28-29 or whatever) but they're in desperate need of an ace for 2008 if they plan on going anywhere. It's not like Rivera or Posada are getting any younger either.

[ehh]

Re: Don't be surprised if Johan Santana is a Yankee before the season gets underway.

Disagree. Wang is a not a staff ace. He's definitely one of the better starters in the league but he lives and dies by that sinker. Considering that arguably the worst ranging SS in the league is behind him this is an issue. Pettite is going to be a year older. And you're going expect a trio of rookie pitchers to hold up the rest of the fort? Hughes has 70+ MLB innings under his belt and Chamberlin has yet to make a start. Possibly against a division rival that will be anchored by a rotation of Santana, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Schilling, Wakefield, and Buchholz? Maybe that serves the Yankees better a few years from now (although Santana is only 28-29 or whatever) but they're in desperate need of an ace for 2008 if they plan on going anywhere. It's not like Rivera or Posada are getting any younger either.

A) Once again I'll ask you, when did it become a mandatory rule that must have an ace to win a World Series? Does it make it easier, yeah. Is it mandatory, hell no. Several teams in the recent past have proved that.


B) Why do 99% of the people only look towards next year? There is life after 2008, if we don't make it to the playoffs or World Series, who cares as long as the near future is still very bright. Hell, look at your very own Red Sox. After winning the WS in '04 they had a disappointing playoff showing in '05 and then an embarrassing collapse in the '06 regular season and missed the playoffs. They easily could have panicked and gone crazy with transactions, but instead they stood by their plan and now look where they are. Another title and in great shape for the future.