• The Yankees' delegation seems less and less interested in rekindling those Johan Santana discussions, even if the Twins try to draw them back in. They've been telling people there's a "99.9 percent chance" they're out of the Santana market for good. Where would the 0.1 percent come from? The unpredictability of the Steinbrenners. Where else? They no longer want him under any circumstances. They won't even give what they have already offered anymore. I wonder what they think they know or what else totally soured them on him.
And this is why Boston won't get him for any offer currently on the table. I have said all along that theirs was crap and worse then the Yankee offer and now it is already being put in print. "The Red Sox have played things coolly, and appeared to be leading the chase since the Yankees bowed out, especially after they exchanged medical reports with the Twins on Santana and Lester. However, many here have painted their offer as lukewarm for a pitcher of Santana's stature, and perhaps not as good as the Yankees' offer, which was for Hughes, outfielder Melky Cabrera and a mid-level prospect." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/12/05/santana.update/index.html
i think the best scenario for us is that we keep our young guys and go after santana when hes a free agent next year
They don't think they know anything. Why are you desperate for a conspiracy bro? They gave up for two reasons: 1) The Twins were asking for too much, and the Yankees said straight up they wouldn't go any higher. Of course, the Twins kept dangling the carrot, figuring the Yankees would budge. Nope. 2) The Yankees can't afford the public perception if they did come back to the Twins. You've seen how non-Yankees fans, ballclubs, and media have painted the return of ARod. Imagine how the team would be viewed around baseball if they gave in now. They'd never be taken seriously again. Not smart for brand new top-level management. They're out of it for good because it simply makes the most sense. I applaud the team for thinking long-term, rather than just tomorrow.
That's too simplistic. If the Twins were to come back to them and ask for what they already offered and they said no then it signals something else. There would be no bad perception unless they went to the Twins. The nonsense about Arod is only because nobody ever listened to what the Yankees said or if they did they chose to ignore it. What they said was if Arod opted out they would not get involved with negotiating with him (and in turn let Boras use them to get a better bid from somebody else). They didn't and anybody who says otherwise is a moron and a fool.
4:03 p.m., from Jayson Stark • The Red Sox and Twins continue to have "a lot of dialogue" about Johan Santana, according to one source with knowledge of their discussions. But there is no indication they've been able to rebuild any momentum toward a deal. The Red Sox want to make this deal on their terms, meaning they're still only willing to offer either Jon Lester or Jacoby Ellsbury but not both. The Twins think they need a bigger return if they're trading Santana. So even though their ability to compete in the AL Central took a hit with the Tigers' deal for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, it doesn't appear that has heightened the Twins' sense of urgency to complete a deal.
You're undervaluing the Jacoby Ellsbury. Think pre-HGH Johnny Damon, with an arm that can reach the infield, and starting his career with more talent. He'll never hit for power, but he's a .330 hitter with speed, a healthy OBP, and an obscene ability to make pitchers work. I REALLY don't want to see Ellsbury moved.
Gammons is saying the deal with Boston is off unless they include both Ellsbury and Lester. He is on ESPN2 now.
I'm comfortable with that. I also have a solution to everyone's problems: That cheap fahk, Carl Pohlad, who might just be the wealthiest owner in all of baseball, could just open his moth-ridden wallet and PAY the guy what he's worth on the open market so that he has an ace pitcher on opening day in the new Twins ballpark.
He's going to have to do something since he got public money to build that park... if Santana walks to FA he's in deep
Smith said it's not the money stopping Minnesota from signing him but the number of years he wants and I agree. Who would pay a pitcher 163 million for 7 years? I think that may be part of why the Yankees are running away as fast as they can too. What happened with Pavano is fresh in their minds. I would actually like to see Santana go to the Mets and get him out of the AL for good.
Ok, I may have finally figured this out. The Yankees played this perfectly. They assumed and it appears they were right that Boston didn't care at all about Santana. They don't need him and have no stomach to pay him. By setting a deadline and sticking to it they knew that Boston would never up their offer to anything that would land him. They also knew by being public with what they offered there was no way the Twins could settle for less and get away with it. All either of those teams care about is that the other doesn't get him.
Hehe. . . gee, I'm surprised you'd ever say such a thing. But, I do agree that they played this one correctly. Had the Twins taken their offer of Hughes-plus, I'd think differently. If the Twins accepted Ellsbury-plus, I'd think differently. I'm was never real keen on Lester-Masterson-Lowrie-plus. , but I'd choke it down. As I said yesterday, the Twins were having WAY too much fun entertaining offers and asking for more.
Check out that other thread on the the three way trade rumor. We would all be happy with that one I think.
Don - I think you missed the whole point of this. The Red Sox played the Twins and Yankees like banjoes. Hank was getting impatient, because the Red Sox had the Twins entertained, so he set a stupid deadline. Then Brian Cashman arrives and he has an emotional attachment to Hughes and he talks the Steinbrenners out of dealing for Santana. Period. When Santana is getting inducted in the Hall of Fame 15 years from now, 15 year old Yankee fans are going to be saying " We didn't trade for Santana for WHO?"
As long as neither team gets him, I don't really care. I think, however, it is you who missed the point. How did the Red Sox possibly play anything? They are still trying to make a deal which will never happen. You're a Met fan, right? I really do hope you get the opportunity to pay him the 163 million dollars he is looking for. Believe me, I really do.
