This is what I have heard...If it happens it may be different from this i.e. it may not be both Chamberlain and Hughes, but it may be Kennedy instead of one of the other.
Last I heard the Yankees haven't made any offer at all to Lowell and have soured on the idea of him playing 1st base and that I heard today. Yes, I believe it will take Hughes or Chamberlain and Cabrerra or Cano but not Kennedy. The third player will be a AAA position player. The Twins have all the young pitching in the world, I hear.
Yeesh! Thank goodness I am not Cashman. Anyway, I think a package of Kennedy, Cabrera, and Cano is fair. Maybe throw in a low ball prospect or some cash and that should get it done. The only untouchable in this scenario, for me, would be Chamberlin because he's been able to show some serious potential.
No way would they give up both Cano and Cabrerra in that deal, anymore then they would give up both Hughes and Chamberlain. If that's what it takes then there isn't another team in baseball that can even come close and he stays with the Twins all year and let the bidding begin at the end of '08. Either way he ends up in NY at some point unless he just doesn't want to pitch here.
I think that Johann is worth both Cabrerra and Cano. With a pitching staff like: Johann Hughes Chamberlin Wang Pettit / Mussina I might be overrating Johann, but in my mind he is the best of the best since Pedro's decline (if not before). What would you be willing to give up?
Won't happen. Maybe if he had 3 years left in Minnesota it would but he has one. You are talking about 2 plaers that have actually played in the Majors for a couple of years and have hit near or over .300 since they have been here. That for a pitcher they lose at the end of the year anyway? I don't think so.
From what I've heard (somebody I know at baseball prospectus) the Twins haven't decided on whether they are going to trade Santana. They still believe they can resign him and get better position players around him by trading away minor league pitching prospects. You are correct about the pitchers they have, don't forget about Liriano but they have Matt Garza, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn , Matt Guerrier, Jose Mijares, Tim Lahay, Julio DePaula , Brian Duensing, Carmen Cali and Brad Bass. Not saying all these guys will play in the majors but they all had very succesful years in either Rochester or New Britan. I'd say at this point they are set as far as pitchers go. My guess is if they don't trade Santana they will have Santana, Liriano, Garza, Slowey and Blackburn in the rotation by July.
Actually, I would like to see them trade Liriano, Tommy John or not. He would cost less and may end up just as good. He certainly was before getting hurt. It will cost them 25 million a year to get Santana to sign. I'm not sure they can do that. Their best offer so far has been 17.
Hughes or Chamberlain + Cabrerra or Cano and a minor leaguer but only if Pettitte comes back for a year. I hear they want Cano but they NEED a center fielder. Hell, I'm not sure I would even offer that much if they insist on Cano. Maybe Kennedy instead of Hughes or Chamberlain. Cano batted .342 in '06 and .306 this year and he has some power.
I'm not sure that would actually get it done though. We are talking about perhaps the most dominant pitcher in MLB. If I were Johan's agent, I would advise him to announce NOW that he would enter free agency. That would kill the Twins' trading power and allow him to seek as much $$$$$ as possible. If he hits the open market then its going to be the Yanks. They overpay for EVERYONE!
Sometimes you have a limit even if it doesn't get it done. Don't forget, Santana had a down year for him last year and people are already asking "was it a fluke or was it the beginning of a slide". The other part of it is whoever trades for him has to be able to negotiate an extension right now or he still walks at the end of the year. He has already said he isn't happy in Minnesota so I don't think he needs to announce anything else.
You make a good point that he slipped from previous stats. But, isn't it fair to think that he would benefit from pitching on grass for an entire season? Also, the reason why the Yanks bring in someone like Johan is for those 35-50. innings in the playoffs. Plus, those other positions are much less valuable and easier to fill. The Sawx might offer Buscholz (sp?), Ellsbury / Pedroia + minor leaguers. I, personally, think it is critical to get Johan (or Liriano) into pinstripes.
I agree. I guess I didn't make my point very well. What I am saying is that nobody will trade for him without being able to sign him to an extension so it's more then just what players are involved. He also has a full no trade clause in his contract so they can't just trade him to anybody for players they like. Furthermore, whoever he is traded to has to be willing to pay him what "he thinks" he is worth or he won't ok the trade. Add to that he has the same agent as Bobby Abreu and who has a good working relationship with the Yankees and all of this, I believe, favors the Yankees. They have the money and the players. That's why I wouldn't be so eager to give up too much. If he doesn't like the team or the money all he has to say is "I'm not going anywhere until the year is over" and then the Twins get nothing. I believe that is why the so called "experts" believe the Yankees have the best chance to land him if they decide to trade him. Basically, he can choose the team he wants to go to and the Twins have to make a deal with that team or lose everything.
On a side note, is it possible for the Yankees to corner the market on pitching? With extensive scouting / extensive resources, is it possible for the yankees to draft / buy their way into the best pitching. Personally, I see this happening already with picks like Chamberlin/ Hughes? Clippard (still pending). But thats where the focus needs to be.
They actually have a couple of others too we haven't really heard much about yet. The amazing thing about both Chamberlain and Kennedy is that this was the very first year in organized ball. They flew through A, AA, AAA and right to the majors their first year. Unheard of.
Don - what exactly are you talking about? Unheard of? Dozens of pitchers in the majors today have done exactly the same things. Look it up.
I guess I don't know of any but then I only follow the Yankees to that degree and I know they haven't had any others. To have two in one year I would think is still unheard of. Dozens of pitchers pitching today made it to the majors in less then a year? I guess I would like to see that list. BTW, how exactly do you look that up?
Not too many guys have flown up the minors like these guys but some have (i.e., Ervin Santana). But in the Yanks do have a lot of young arms like Russ Ohlendorf, Humberto Sanchez, Tyler Clippard, Jeff Karstens, Mark Melancon, and perhaps the most exciting, Dellin Betances.
I'm sure there have been a few but to say dozens of active pitchers today spent less then a year in the minors is a stretch. To have two on the same team do it the same year I think is remarkable (and unheard of).
