Interesting take from Posada about Santana.

I wonder if the Red Sox package of Lester/Crisp actually helps the Yanks a little because it allows the Yanks to downgrade the package some by keeping Hughes out and point to the Red Sox package centering on Lester.

As for Pettitte, I have a hard time believing he will turn away $16mn to stay home. I know he is probably set for life (many generations over), but that kind of money is hard to pass up. Also, what exactly does he plan to do? At age 35, I find it hard to believe that Pettitte is ready to play golf full-time.

As evidenced by the monster (all things considered) contract he just got?

I kid, I kid, I also wish everyone, JoPo, and *especially* Hank, would STFU about Johan and let Cashman do his Kaiser Söze thing.

I had to go and do it.

Jorge needs to keep his mouth shut. If he thinks comments like that are helping Cashman with the negotiations, he's an idiot. That's like having your wife tell the car salesman that this is definitely the car she wants, and she doesn't care how much it costs.

That was by far the dumbest thing Jorge's ever done...almost makes me regret re-signing him.

3 4 agreed that everyone should shut-up about this. when i wrote that posada's take was interesting - i should have also stated - but we didn't need to hear it from him. but it is interesting that he is believing in the notion that a "true #1" is needed for october. the overall pitching has been so awful the last few postseasons, that he is probably been driven to this conclusion.

Have you tried that deli?

I've only heard and read accounts of how much he wants to come to NY. Nothing against the Mets, but who says they want to come to NY meaning the Mets?

I'm starting to think this is a one team race, and that the Red Sox, try as they might to raise the price, are just blowing smoke, believing they don't have a good chance of landing him.

I have a feeling Santana would politely refuse a trade to Boston (after failing to reach agreement on an extension), knowing a bigger payday, and more years await him in the Bronx. Also, it doesn't seem he's in any rush to leave Minnesota, and doesn't seem to be looking to change teams this season just for the sake of change.

Patience at this point is crucial.

At the same time, I like that Posada expressed his desire to work with Santana. It reminds Johan that a great reciever awaits him in the Bronx, and how valued he would be by the Yankees. It puts the ball in Santana's court for him to make this happen now -- if that's what Johan wants.

http://tinyurl.com/32h2wt

does this mean that robbie is on his way out? or, preferably, betamit?

Good bye Wilson Betemit, it was nice knowing you.

10 I don't think acquiring Loretta would serve as a portent. Cano isn't going anywhere and Betemit not only backs up SS/3B, but could also be in the 1B mix. The Yankees could use a decent right handed bat who can play 2B, so his addition wouldn't require subtraction elsewhere.

Kennedy + Melky > Lester + Coco.

10 & 12 i seriously doubt that they are going to trade cano, who definitely has some of his best years ahead of him- i think it might give them the flexibility to move betemit?

Hank: "Tampering schmampering. It's all on the up and up. (blows cigarette smoke) Nothing to see here, Commissioner, no aces up our sleeves."

(just then, a Johan Santana baseball card falls from Hank's cuff)

Hank (mock surprise): "Hey, who put that there?"

11 "Good bye Wilson Betemit"

Actually, I think this means the end of Andy Phillips' days in the Bronx, not Betemit's. Betemit could also be in the 1B mix.

the next week or so should be interesting.

Winshares: (WS / 3 = Wins) 2005-2007
Santana. 23-25-18 = 22 wins
ARod.... 37-25-39 = 34 wins
Beckett. 14-12-19 = 15 wins
Jeter... 24-33-26 = 28 wins
Sabathia 13-14-24 = 17 wins
Haren... 15-15-19 = 16 wins
Wang.... .7-17-16 = 13 wins
FattyMC. 29-34-30 = 33 wins
Moose... 10-15-06 = 10 wins
Cano.... 12-18-21 = 17 wins

Whattyyaknow about WinShares? Decent for relative comparisons?

ex-cellent!

==============

As the BP.com boys have noted, the $$$ impact of a Santana signing is only worthwhile if it takes you from a borderline playoff team to a bonafide playoff team (ex. going from 89 to 95 wins rather than from 76 to 82 wins).

The Yanks have made the playoffs every year since '95, so the "extra" $$$ that a Santana MIGHT secure would be when/if they make it to the World Series (thus maximizing revenue).

As it stands now, the Yanks merely need to stay as the 4th-best team to turn on the playoff revenue faucet. Will the umpteen millions more it will take to sign Santana be enough to cover any possible additional playoff revenue (especially in light of the gaudy contracts just given to Posada, Mo and A-Rod)?

"The Rockies contacted the agent for Loretta, who tore up the National League West while with the San Diego Padres. However, the Rockies don't like their chances, believing he will end up with the Yankees. While that deal is close, Loretta has made it known how much he likes the Rockies and would prefer to see how their second base situation plays out before signing with the Yankees."

http://tinyurl.com/2sr2us

hmmmm...

"I would have signed for less," said Hunter, who had five-year offers, ranging from $70 million to $75 million, from the White Sox, Rangers and Royals, and the day before the Angels offer dined with Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks.

What if the Angels offered less than those other teams?

"I still would have taken it!" Hunter said.

original article: http://tinyurl.com/226poq

It could be worse .... you could be an Astros fan, and just read that your GM signed Kaz Matsui to a 3-year, $16M deal.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=86977

(shaking my head at that one)

but i agree. that matsui deal was "surprising."

Yes, it gives the Yanks some flexibility where, perhaps, they could move Cano to Minnesota for Santana. Lord knows the Twins need a 2B. But, even if they don't move Cano, Loretta could be a back in place of Phillips or Betemit. I could easily see the Yanks keeping Betemit, Loretta and Cano - Cano takes 2B, Loretta and Betemit share backup IF & 1B, Melky goes to Minn, Matsui goes back to LF, Damon back to CF, Giambi back to DH. Or Melky, Cano and IPK go to Minn and Loretta becomes the default 2B, unless they can get someone else later. It's all very fluid, I'm sure, but locking up Loretta would definitely give flexibility.

If these numbers have meaning, trading:
Santana >? Hughes, Melky and Tabata + $25m/yr
is insanity?

43 i wish that i could answer you.

also:

and kenny rogers signed with the tigers for a year. http://tinyurl.com/2gfdta

WTF?!

Hey Omar, I've got some magic beans here...

http://tinyurl.com/yugx24

Gennaro's basic thesis makes sense to me, but I've never read any of his stuff, so again, I don't feel able to comment.

My own opinion is that I'd prefer to take my chances with Hughes's potential for injury and his upside (at very cheap prices for the next 6 years) vs. Santana's established performance and injury risk at a significantly greater cost.

Put another way - the Yanks (seemingly) have tons of "pitching prospects" (if such things exist). They have maybe 2 hitting prospects who could contribute in a big way in the next 3 years (and that's if Jackson isn't a flash in the pants and Tabata finally shows 20+ HR power).

If the pitching prospects are going to be traded, I'd like to see a big bat come back. Otherwise, the Yanks should hang on to the cheap pitching prospects, so that they can devote the big dollars to signing the big bat(s) (eg Mark Teixeira?) they are going to desperately need soon. Because as of right now, the best bet on the farm of a big bat is just 18 years old (Montero).

And, should the Yanks think about trying to grab Estrada? Molina's deal isn't finalized yet . . .

Actually in VORP Estrada is at 14.7 and Schneider is at 8.8. WTF?!

Wow ... to think that Milledge only last year was gonna be one of the chips used in a deal for a front-line pitcher ...

The Nats have been down on Church for a while now, so maybe its a trade of bad for bad, but still ...

49 Chur