Minnesota Pitcher, Phil Hughes, Wins Cy Young Award

Nowadays, that’s how things tend to workout for Yankees fans.  The front office is debating whether or not to give up Phil Hughes for Santana.  Buster Olney is reporting that they’re leaning towards including him in a package for Johan.

The Yankees are feeling the pressure of having 3 rookies in their future rotation (which is also what they’ve said they were looking forward to).  If Andy Pettitte would have returned earlier, then, maybe, this could have gone differently.

In less depressing news, A-Rod will probably receive about $314 million with his new contract (including incentives).  Rodriguez will get over $30 million (per year) for his first 3 seasons.  Why is this less depressing?  At least its not our money, right?

If All Lefties Fail, Try, Try, Try Again

 

With the Yankees searching for the ultimate left-handed pitcher to slot into the front of their rotation, another option has become available to them—Erik Bedard.  Bedard is a monster on the mound and has gotten significantly better each year.  He’s 28 and probably a bit cheaper than Johan or Haren.  He has had some injury issues in the past, but he also did post up a ton of innings this season without anything too major.

Bedard and the Orioles have been working on an extension, however the talks have stalled, increasing his availability via trade.  The Orioles are pretty much in rebuilding mode so they’d like to get a nice return for Bedard, who will likely leave as a free agent anyway.

The Dodgers were viewed as the favorites to land him (they seemed ready to offer up everything for Bedard) but the Yankees, Mets and a few others are always likely candidates as well.  With Santana on the market though, a lot of these same steams are protecting their cards.  The winner for Bedard (if traded) could be a surprise or he could be the loser of the Santana sweepstakes.

A Set of Precursors?

Today the Mets traded one of their top young players, Lastings Milledge, to the Nationals for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider.  I don’t necessarily understand this trade, especially since Minaya was looking to work in Milledge when trading for an ace pitcher.  Then again, maybe he’s just signaling defeat now that the Red Sox and Yankees seem to be the front-runners for Santana, although I thought Billy Beane and the A’s would have been open to a trade for Dan Haren (for a package including Milledge).

Since this deal seems so strange (and most Mets fans will probably hate it), one would have to think that it might be a precursor to a future move.  The Mets have wanted to get rid of Estrada and had been searching for a defensive catcher like Schneider, so maybe Estrada and Church (who essentially replaces Milledge) will be shipped off for another piece.  Still, Milledge was considered a valuable commodity (and sometimes a headcase) and the trade just seems weak for the Mets.

Next, on the other side of NY, the Yankees are reportedly close to a deal with Mark Loretta.  The Yankees have had an interest in Loretta ever since he left the Red Sox and you would assume that with their already crowded infield, Loretta would end up being another utility guy.  However, this would make the Yankees’ infield a bit too crowded, so maybe we’ll see Wilson Betemit or Shelley Duncan get traded during the GM Meetings.  I doubt the Yankees are swinging a Santana-Cano deal and keeping Loretta as their 2B reserve.  He’s pretty much an untouchable, much like Joba Chamberlain.  He’s also one of the few Yankees that performed during the series against Cleveland, which I’m sure is fresh in the minds of those in charge of the organization.

Now, assuming Melky is part of the Santana deal, we all have to wonder who will play CF next season.  Damon in CF is probably the most likely situation since he’ll be fully recovered from the variety of injuries which plagued him in 07.  But, if the Yankees decide to keep Damon at LF and Matsui in the DH spot, Jerry Crasnick outlines some other options available on the market.

Pettitte and Santana

I guess one of the good things about being on the westcoast is that the early morning news from the east gets to me late into the night instead (3 hour time difference). Well, with that said, the Yankees are still waiting on Andy Pettitte’s decision.  It appears as though Pettitte is still torn between returning to NY and retiring. Many believe that he will, in fact, retire despite his strong 07 campaign.

The article here, by Jack Curry of the NY Times, actually provides interesting stuff from Tom Pettitte, Andy’s father. The way Tom P. talks about Andy provides much needed clarity and context to Pettitte’s thoughts. He really does sound as if he’s totally done with baseball. It would be sad to see him go, but it’s somewhat compelling to see an athlete just pack it up and head off while he’s ahead, especially for his family.

However, something that sort of bothered me from the article was this statement here, by none other than Hank Steinbrenner:

“I said he could take all the time he wants,” Steinbrenner said. “He can tell me in February and I’d be fine with that. With the way he keeps himself in shape, that wouldn’t be a problem.”

I think that would be a problem, actually. The Yankees need to figure out what their plans will be for their rotation, pitching staffs, matchups, lefties, righties, payroll flexibility, and a variety of other issues.  The Santana deal plays a big part here because, if we had Pettitte and the deal falls through, it won’t be as big of an issue. There’s a lot of variables and components that go into constructing the 2008 club and beyond.  So, for Hank to say “oh, give him all the time he wants, we don’t need to know until February” is sort of stupid and detrimental to your own cause. This is why this man needs to keep his mouth shut once in a while and let team matters be handled internally. With Pettitte, sooner rather than later is key.

Now, with more Santana stuff. This article by Joel Sherman and George King sums up the Yankees-Twins-Red Sox talks that have been ongoing. The two writers even provide a potential timeline for the inevitable megadeal (with the Yanks or Sox).

Officials from multiple teams believe the Twins, while obviously wanting to extract the best package from having the Red Sox and Yankees squared off, are hoping to do a deal before the Winter Meetings end and possibly even before they officially start.

The article also talks about the Yankees and the package they’re trying to push (Kennedy, Melky, Horne or Tabata, Jackson). The Yankees may even offer Alberto Gonzalez (SS), since the Twins traded Bartlett to the Rays.

**UPDATE– After reading more from the Times, Jack Curry provides us with another bit of information regarding a possible deal.

The Yankees have offered pitcher Ian Kennedy, center fielder Melky Cabrera and at least one minor league prospect, perhaps outfielder José Tabata. In the trade discussions, the Yankees have told the Twins that pitcher Joba Chamberlain is untouchable and that they do not want to deal pitcher Phil Hughes.

Because the Twins are insisting that Hughes must be a part of the package, the Yankees are mulling whether to make that concession. If the Yankees insert Hughes for Kennedy in their offer, they think it could be enough to obtain Santana.

I think the Yankees are going to try and hold on to Hughes as long as they can. The only way they’ll lose this deal is if the Red Sox give up Ellsbury in their package. Either way, the Twins will notify the opposing side if they’ve come to an agreement with the other and will try to get more from that team.

Rays Sign Percival

The Devil Rays just signed Troy Percival to a 2-year deal worth $8 million. It has become increasingly evident that the Yankees (who were interested in Percival) will attempt to rebuild their bullpen from the ground up. They simply have no viable free agent options that are worth their money or their time so expect Edwar Ramirez to really work on adding some movement to his fastball, all winter long.

Next up, here’s an easy and “fun” read from Jayson Stark at ESPN. He starts it off by analyzing a few trade proposals by us, the fans (at ESPN.com), and then he runs through everything in baseball, whether it’s Johan Santana, Miguel Cabrera, or Vincent Padilla (random!). Good stuff, especially after hearing about the Yankees and Red Sox all day, as they continue to fight for supremacy even when the season is over.

Oh, and a special thanks for all the traffic we’ve been getting lately, here at iYankees. It’s been fun and informative, so I’ll definitely keep updating the blog as often as possible, everyday. And, of course, thanks to the other websites and blogs that have linked us, appreciate it.

Phil Hughes OR Ian Kennedy

 

From ESPN:

New York Yankees vice president Gene Michael said Wednesday he would consider trading Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy in a trade for Johan Santana, but warned the Yankees have to factor in Santana’s contract demands before making any deal.

During an interview on 1050 ESPN New York’s Max Kellerman Show, Kellerman asked Michael if he would be philosophically against putting either Hughes or Kennedy in a deal.

“I would think about it,” Michael said. “I would very seriously consider putting one of them in the deal.”

Notice the way this is worded at the beginning, as it seemingly accentutates the possibility of a Phil Hughes trade.  If you look at what Michael says, he states that he would be open to dealing “one of them,” so no need to panic yet.  Kennedy could still be the glue that holds the trade together.  Remember, Cashman liked Hughes and will do what he can to keep him in the organization.

Anyone remember these remarks by Jayson Stark?

Asked Tuesday, on an afternoon when Hughes spun two shutout innings against Cleveland, whether Hughes is a sign that those days — the not-so-good-old trade-’em-all-away days — are over, GM Brian Cashman replied, succinctly: “Yes.”

Phil Hughes, you see, is the symbol of a staggering new development in this sport: The Yankees are trying to be a baseball team again.

The Yankees have been like recovering drug addicts (harsh indeed).  They weened themselves off the wonderfully bitter taste of expensive talent, but as soon as they caught a glimpse of another available all-star, they immediately started searching for a vein.

WW: Coco VS Leche

The Red Sox and the Yankees are both willing to give up their center fielders for Johan Santana, although it wouldn’t be too big of a loss for the BoSox, especially with Ellsbury joining the fold next year.

So, we’re all wondering, who’s better?  Coco Crisp or Melky Cabrera?  Steve Lombardi of WasWatching gives us some insight on the two players and explains their differences.

Riske to the Brewers

This shit is like watching Kill Bill.  The Yankees were interested in Riske, but now hes headed to Milwaukee.  Another one bites the dust, and the Yankees are left with limited options.  It’s fine though.  I think this “building from within” concept is finally going to happen for the bullpen.

Santana in Red Sox pt.2

Okay.  So, I figured the Red Sox would offer up Lester and Ellsbury to get Santana, but apparently they are offering Lester and Coco Crisp for Santana instead (with 2 prospects, SS Jed Lowrie and pitcher Michael Bowden).

To be honest, that’s a pretty good package.  But, I still feel like the Yankees could offer an even better package.  See that?  I fell right into it.  This is the game.  The Red Sox offer something of value, the Yankees try to match it and vice versa.  The Sox have the money to pay Santana and would like to get him, but this is still a way for them to drive the price up on the Yankees.

With that said, if a trade does occur, I don’t think the Yankees should give up on Hughes and send him to Minnesota.  If they feel like the Red Sox will get Santana off of Crisp and Lester though, they may just panic and do it.

In the end, It comes down to who is better, Lester or Kennedy.  Lester is a bit more proven (World Series), but I honestly think Kennedy can be even better than he is.  This assumption is based on their stats in the minors (Kennedy, Lester).  I don’t know, Lester has never really put up “amazing” numbers and Kennedy has put up great numbers.  That doesn’t always translate, but Kennedy had his starts this year with the big club to give him some more credibility.  Also, in terms of the 2 minor leaguers (Bowden and Lowrie), the Yankees can offer Tabata or Horne who are highly touted.

Another element in this situation is Santana’s preference.  He can turn down any deal hes offered and has options.  He probably knows that he could get more money from the Yankees in the long run, so maybe he’ll have a say as to which team gets him.  The Yankees should give him a call and sabotage a Red Sox move.  That’d be nice.

Santana in Red Sox?

According to some sources, the Red Sox are gaining more prevalence as the leader for Johan Santana. Apparently, the team is willing to give up Lester, Buchholz, and Ellsbury, although not in a single package. They’d want to include one of these three in a deal, and then supplement them with some lesser prospects (mid-level, good upside).

I could see the Twins biting if the Red Sox offer Jacoby Ellsbury, although they’re really trying to unload Coco Crisp who hasn’t fit into Boston at all. The Twins are looking for a player to slot in next season and Ellsbury could be that guy. Hunter was a hell of a CF and Ellsbury could help ease the loss because he is a fairly good defensive player.

Ellsbury has plenty of upside and projects to hit a lot (not home runs), get on base, and then steal a ton of bases. He’s sort of like Kenny Lofton, in that sense. He created a nice following for himself in Boston and that could translate to Minnesota. He’s got more potential than Melky so this could work for the Twins.

Then again, it is a rumor and the Red Sox love Ellsbury, so we’ll see what happens. The Red Sox have a rotation of Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K, Lester, Wakefield and possibly Clay Buchholz as of now. They could trade Lester and Ellsbury and still be fine by adding Santana to the rotation, leaving Buchholz in the minors or waiting in the winds in case Wakefield blows it.  However, this is strictly an 08 scenario.  What about 09, when the Sox likely lose Schilling and Wakefield (Beckett, Santana, Dice-K, Buchholz, ____)?

It could all be a ploy to mess with the Yankees’ deal (like the Lowell situation), or it could be legitimate.  We’ll let the hot stove burn a bit more and let you know more later on.

Thursday’s Bits: Lot’s of Good Stuff

Here are Thursday’s Bits: 

• The Yankees announced their completed deal with Jorge Posada today.
• Here’s a checklist of the Yankees needs (for the GM Meetings), as detailed by Bryan Hoch.  It’s nothing new but it’s got some relatively good info in there about the Yankees and their bullpen (internal building?).
• Here’s Kevin Goldstein’s list of the top-11 prospects in the Yankees organization (including Joba, he’s number 1). Some familar faces and lesser known guys are on there.
• As a Yankees fan, you’ve probably followed the career of Eric Duncan, who was once a big prospect for the Yankees, yet his star has fallen a bit since he was drafted. The Yankees chose not to protect Duncan by putting him on the 40-man roster and are leaving him exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.
• Phil Hughes knows that he may be used as bait for the Santana deal and he understands the business side of it.  However, he explains here that he’d like to remain a Yankee (of course).
• Kat O’ Brien provides insight on the Yankees’ quest for Santana.  Apparently, they’re not worried about his numbers this year (they fell, but were still great) and Hank reiterates that there are “other pitchers” out there for the Yankees.
• Mark Feinsand agrees with me and feels that the Yankees can still offer Melky to the Twins who will likely play Young in a corner OF spot. However, he, like everyone else, is wondering about Phil Hughes.

Enjoy. Back with some more updates later.

Ken Rosenthal: Twins Have Options Now

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports outlines a variety of options that the Twins now have with the recent acquisition of Delmon Young.  Some of these options include:

1. Keeping Santana in order to be a legitimate contender
2. Keeping Santana and then trading him down the stretch
3. Trading for Coco Crisp (no Santana in this deal)
4. Trading Nathan for more players to help round out the roster
5. Trading Santana to the Yankees (yup, it’s still on the board)
6. Keeping Santana and Nathan to contend—then let them leave for draft picks

The Twins will probably make more moves.  If they can get a good pitcher and a center fielder for Santana (Kennedy, Melky) then they’ll likely play Young at LF instead of working with a platoon (Kubel and Monroe).  They’re a few pieces away from being a pretty solid team (they’ll need upgrades in their IF).

Some people are saying that Jason Pridie, a young OF also acquired by the Twins in the trade, could step in as their regular CF.  However, his numbers arent very consistent and a lot of people familar with the Rays’ organization don’t feel as though he’ll be a tremendously significant contributor down the road.  So, the Twins could still be seeking a CF.

Therefore, we shouldn’t necessarily panic yet in thinking that the Twins won’t desire Melky anymore.  He could still help create a package that includes Ian Kennedy and some other prospects.  People are still worrying about Hughes and whether or not the Twins will now want him AND Kennedy in a trade (although Melky still seems like a viable option for them).

Well, as I already stated, the Twins still look like they’ll be out for a CF (Melky).  Also, the Yankees are smart enough to know that trading both Hughes and Kennedy would be too much.  Next, the Young-Garza trade has been brewing for a while now (even as the Yankees and Twins began preliminary discussion) and, recently, the Twins still asked for only one of the big three.  Again, no need to panic yet.

When asked whether or not the Garza-Young deal would effect the Yankees’ deal, Hank Steinbrenner had this to say:

“I don’t want to comment on somebody else’s trades, but I don’t know if it impacts us or not,” Steinbrenner said.

We’ll see how this plays out, but it may not be as bad as it seems.  And, if it is, and the Twins request Hughes and Kennedy, expect the Yankees to simply back out (with a few more negotiations mixed in).  I’ll give Cashman that much credit.

Speaking of trades with the Twins, let’s watch where Joe Nathan goes.  As long as the twins don’t trade him for a CF, George King of the NY Post thinks he could help the Yankees chances (by being traded for a 3B or SS, effectively solving their IF needs and making Melky+Kennedy look like a more attractive offer).

The Twins and Their Demands

Credit to WasWatching for this one.  According to Jon Heyman of ESPN:

The Twins have asked the Yankees for one of three top pitching prospects — Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy — plus center fielder Melky Cabrera and one or two younger prospects. While the Yankees say they won’t surrender Chamberlain, who became a fan favorite during his late-season callup, they must know they’d have to give up either Hughes or Kennedy to have a chance at Santana. The Yankees are also believed willing to deal Cabrera for Santana even if it leaves a temporary hole in center field.

What are the Yankees waiting for?  If this is the deal, I’d offer up Kennedy and Melky (and throw in 2 other prospects) in a heartbeat.  I like Kennedy and Melky, but it’s still Johan Santana.  I wonder if this is still a deal that the Yankees are being offered, even after the Garza-Young deal.  They’d be fine moving Damon to CF, although they’d be losing Melky’s ridiculous arm.

You have to assume that the Twins knew this trade was going to happen though (Garza for Young), particularly because it’s been rumored for a few days now.  If this is the offer they presented the Yanks, then this is probably what they’ll take.

2004: The New Red Sox

 

How bout a break from Santana for a bit?  Here’s a bit of text I read earlier today about Matt Damon, an avid Red Sox fan, describing his experience this year:

He was in Japan when the Sox fell behind the Indians, three games to one, in this year’s ALCS. Did he believe the Sox were toast?

“No, I didn’t,” said the man whose title character in the soon-to-be-released DVD “The Bourne Ultimatum” has been known to escape worse predicaments. “[Josh] Beckett was going in the fifth game, and then we were going back to Boston. And so many guys on that team were on the team that came back against the Yankees, and then Beckett and [Mike] Lowell were on the Florida team that won [in 2003].

“So I wasn’t worried. I was really relaxed, which was weird for a lifelong Red Sox fan. It was as if some kind of psychic weight had been lifted in ‘04.”

Essentially, the Red Sox are now ”the team” in baseball, or at least they are perceived that way by many sports writers (claiming that they have a dynasty, although they came in third place last year).  They themselves, since 2004 (you know what I’m talking about), have reinvigorated their franchise and have a level of confidence that is totally new and surreal for the fans, players, owners, etc.

The monumental collapse by the Yankees in 2004, allowing the Red Sox to eventually take over and win the World Series, is a harrowing experience for any Yankee fan.  I remember watching it at UMASS as Red Sox fans gathered around awaiting the inevitable.  The Red Sox have since went on to win the World Series again this year against the Indians (coming back from being down 3-1), while the Yankees got ousted by the team in the earlier rounds.

Is it me or does it seem like the Red Sox are getting every break possible, while the Yankees are hitting every unlucky element in the natural world (e.g. bugs, team slumps, Kenny Lofton) as they attempt to regain WS glory.  It’s not really a curse or a form of bad luck.  Its simply that the Red Sox have had better pitching situations (they’re a good team).

So, what must the team do in order to exile our enemy back into years of futility?  Well, if you know Red Sox fans, we need to come to the realization that the 2004 demons can only be exercised by a head-to-head matchup in the playoffs, again.  The Yankees need to thoroughly smash the Red Sox.  No matter how it’s done, they just have to win.

That’s all.  It’s the only way.

Blockbuster Trade?

Well to me it is.  Delmon Young for Matt Garza (in the works).  Both of these young stars are projected to have excellent futures and will really help their new teams.  The Rays just got a lot better and are going to have a great pitching staff this year.

Kazmir, Shields, Garza, are a great 1-2-3 punch.  That’s a lot of strikeouts for 3 young pitchers.  They’ll be exciting to watch, and maybe they’ll be able to climb out of the cellar this year?  Doubtful because of their terrible bullpen, but they’re even working on fixing that by signing Troy Percival (and acquiring Rincon through this Young-Garza deal).

What does this do to the Yankees-Twins Santana deal?  Eh, it depends.  The Twins still have Boof Bonser, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey and Francisco Liriano.  All of these guys are good, so if they lose Santana (along with Garza), it’s a blow but it’s not as tremendous of a blow, as these guys could still hold down the staff.  They’re not necessarily “starved” for pitchers.

Will the Twins still want Melky with Young?  Young is a RF, so maybe.  I don’t know too much about their LF situation though.  Are they platooning Kubell and Monroe?  In that case, maybe they’ll slot Young in at LF and put Melky in CF?  3B will become a linchpin for the Yankees deal and they don’t really have anything of value to offer.  However, the Twins would also acquire Brendan Harris (in the Garza-Young deal) who can play 3B if need be.

Aw hell, there are a lot of variables going into this.  I feel as though a Melky, Kennedy, Horne, and maybe Ohlendorf type of package could still work for the Twins.  This deal (Rays-Twins) has been rumored for a while though, so maybe the impending transaction has already been weighed in trade discussions between the two teams.

Or, maybe, by ridding themselves of Garza, the Twins already have an idea about who’s going to be in their rotation next year (from the Yankees?).

Pitching Points

Pitching is always the underlying strength or weakness of a ballclub and this winter, every team will be looking to better themselves in some facet related to their pitching.  However, with limited options, many teams are gearing up for trades or picking up defective pieces that may be able to offer up some positive returns.

Jerry Crasnick of EPSN has a good article (in terms of breadth) that outlines the current pitching market for baseball.  Check it out if you’re bored or simply interested in what’s going on.  The Yankees won’t be involved with many of those guys, but some of them (Bedard, Santana, Prior) could be on the radar.

Subjective on Santana

Fellow UMASS graduate, Peter Abraham, gives his insight on the Santana situation:

Here’s a little quiz, baseball fans:

This pitcher was 3-2 with a 5.70 ERA against teams from the AL East last season (not counting the Yankees).

He was 5-7, 4.04 in the second half of the season, allowing 88 hits (16 of them home runs) over 98 innings. The 33 home runs he allowed for the season were nine more than in any other previous season. Scouts have noticed he appears hesitant to throw his slider.

He has one victory in five career playoff starts.

Look, I love Johan Santana and if the Yankees can get him for IPK, the Melkman and another kid, than good for them. That is doubtful, however, and I’m not so sure this is a pursue-at-all-costs move.

Santana was once a kid. The Twins plucked him out the Houston system, nurtured him in the bullpen for the better part of four years and then he exploded. Why can’t the Yankees stick with their plan?

Name me all the pitchers with $100 million contracts that proved worth the price. Plenty will people tell you Santana is different and maybe he is. He probably is. Or maybe he’s the next Mike Hampton or Kevin Brown or Barry Zito.

Pete’s right.  I think Dr. Phil should sit down with Brian Cashman and Hank Steinbrenner and let them know where Santanas come from.  No, a Venezuelan stork did not deliver Johan Santana to the Twins in a magical fashion.  The Twins got knocked up by Houston’s farm system, then they harvested Johan for a few years before they popped his ass out of the womb.  Harsh visuals, I know, but still a good analogy.  As Pete articulated, why can’t the Yankees simply wait and do the same?

The fans are getting a bit riled up, and rightfully so.  We don’t want to see our prized young pitchers go, and I think there’s evidence which supports our emotional investments in these kids (e.g. Hughes’ playoff spot, Joba’s scoreless streak).  They’ve been great for us this year and we have the right to say “hey, we want these guys to stay because they seem reliable.” 

Meanwhile, Buster Olney says that we shouldn’t count the Mets out of the Santana Sweepstakes (thanks man, but nobody really did count them out).

Morning Bits: More Santana

As Jack Curry of the New York Times states, any team that wishes to deal a tremendous package of players for Johan Santana would only be making a down payment on his services.  He’s not moving until he’s given the extension to end all extensions (in relation to money and years).

Curry also outlines the succes (or lack thereof) of pitchers who have previously inked substantial ($100 million) deals, including Mike Hampton (who’s injured again), Barry Zito (who was terrible this season), and Kevin Brown (remember him?).  Interesting read, although it’s nothing really new.

Also, in the NY Post, George King and Joel Sherman (who’s still wondering why Phil Hughes doesn’t have a changeup) hooked up to write a piece on the competition that is quickly becoming an obstacle for the Yankees’ in their pursuit of the golden lefty.  This article has some new dynamics embedded within it, specifically in relation to the teams competing for Santana.

King and Sherman state that the usual suspects are involved (Mets, Yanks, Sox, Dodgers), while providing some other teams that haven’t really been talked about too much in regards to their interest.  Although they have been busy with Miguel Cabrera (similar to the Dodgers) the Angels could have an interest in Santana.  The Mariners and Cubs are two other teams that could get involved due to their ability to offer young CF options for the Twins (Cubs-Felix Pie, Mariners-Adam Jones).

I don’t know what I think about the Cubs or the Mariners.  I doubt they’ll be able to swing a trade (money and other prospects are also issues here), and the Angels, as stated already, are completely engaged in discussions with the Marlins for Cabrera (they’re holding on to their players for now) and have a surplus of pitchers.

It looks like the Yankees are still in the thick of it, especially when compared to the other players.  These may be preliminary negotiations, but by the end of next week, or even midweek, there could be a finalized deal (you never know).

Ichiro a Yankee

I just saw this on the Lohud Blog.  The Yankees and Ichiro?  What a combination that would have been.  We can all dream… *sigh*…

The Save Phil Hughes Movement

From the Yankee GM blog:

Joba seems untouchable – in all of the articles I’ve read the main name being mentioned is Hughes. Phil Hughes was born on June 24, 1986 – meaning that he won’t be 22 until the ‘08 season is well underway. Hughes has been the Crown Jewel of the Yankee organization for the past 2 years and has proven his incredible potential at every stop in the minors. Phil arrived in the bigs in ‘07 and performed well, if not spectacularly. A 4-2 record with a 4.46 ERA is nowhere near mind-blowing. A closer look, however shows a 21 year old who in his last 29.2 ip gave up only 25 hits and 9 er (2.77 era). A 21 year old who logged the only win this past postseason pitching to a 1.59 era in 2 games. Phil Hughes is 7 (SEVEN!!) years younger than Johan (who will be 29 before the start of the ‘08 season).

Here we go.  Everyone’s wondering if Phil Hughes is worth giving up for Johan Santana (this guy made a blog about it).  I for one, along with others (seen here), am against the move.  Phil Hughes has the potential to be a dominant pitcher for the Yankees, and for an extended period of time.  Santana, if not traded, could be available next year to the highest bidder (this depends on what the Red Sox do).

Why give that up?  I like Santana and would take him any other way, but to give up Hughes or Joba to get him is ultimately counterproductive (Kennedy okay).

Joel Sherman thinks we should trade Phil Hughes, Melky and others to get Santana.  One of his reasons is that Phil Hughes doesn’t have a changeup… What?

Yes. But the evidence now is Hughes still needs a changeup to be even a No. 2 starter and Santana is a superb athlete with a strong chance of justifying a six- or seven-year commitment at big dollars.

I may be wrong here, but I’m almost 100 percent sure I’ve seen Phil Hughes throw not only a changeup, but an effective changeup.  I think he also threw the changeup in his no-hit bid.  What’s this dude talking about?  His argument is basically supplemented by a contradictory concept as well (if we trade our prospects away, their workload wont be so bad in 2008!).

If you need a refresher, go here to see Hughes pitching a no-hitter against the Rangers in his 2nd start of the season before being removed with a hamstring injury.  Notice how he hits the mid-90’s with his fastball.  Also notice the commentators remarks towards the end about Phil Hughes being the Yankees’ future (not the Twins).