The New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins have started trade talks involving Johan Santana. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3129086
I would think both sides may want this done (if it happens at all) before the winter meetings start next week. It's amazing at just how much information the Yankees are willing to let out these days after so many years of cloak and dagger secrecy. I guess that's the Hank Steinbrenner way now.
I'd be more surprised if it actually happens... why give up young talent for a guy who's gonna be available in a year?
Because at this point there is pretty much no chance he will be available in a year. It sounds like the Twins are determined to trade him now, if that is the case he will be locked up long term for the next 7 years.
When I first posted this rumor I also mentioned (or maybe it was with someone here at work) that if the Yankees had won a championship recently there is no way they trade away their young talent. But because it's been since 2000 and the Sox have won 2 the Yankees will be willing to part with some of their young guys. Personally it is my belief that the trade will end up costing the Yankees Melky, Ian Kennedy and Phillip Hughes.
It's not up the the Twins... it's up to Santana if he wants to be traded... If I were Santana I'd wait the year to play on a team that had all that young talent and be able to strike a deal with the Yankees directly instead of going thru the Twins...
I think the downside Santana has in denying all trade requests and waiting a year is if he came down with some kind of injury or just had a bad year.
Why? If Santana gets traded to the Yankees today he will most likely have a new contract which would pay him more for 2008 than he would if he played the year out in Minnesota. I'm not sure how another teams young prospects factors into any professional athletes decision making.
That's all true... I'm just saying if it were me I'd want to play on the best team possible and make the most money I could get... I waiting another season would allow me to do that and negotiate the deal myself, I'd wait the year...
Interesting article in the Minneapolis paper today. They don't think the Twins will get anything near what they want for Santana and go on to say all the reasons why. http://www.startribune.com/twins/story/1574884.html And another http://www.startribune.com/twins/story/1574909.html If the Yankees could get him for Cabrerra and Kennedy I would jump at that in a minute. Of course that means they would have to sign Jones or put Damon back in center.
I think everyone might be jumping to conclusions here. The Yanks are not the only team talking to the Twins about Santana, just the only team that has become public knowledge, thanks to their owner having diarrhea of the mouth. The Yanks are not getting him without including either Joba or Hughes, don't get your hopes up..
This is looking good for the Yankees or maybe even the Mets. Seems Santana prefers going to NY and what the Twins are asking of the Yankees isn't out of line. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/11/27/santana.tradetalks/index.html "The Twins have opened trade discussions for Johan Santana by asking the Yankees for a package of at least three young players that would include one of their three top starters -- Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy -- plus center fielder Melky Cabrera." "Santana has a full no-trade clause and can control where he goes. Word is, he has interest in New York, but the Red Sox, Dodgers and Angels have to be considered attractive options." "The Red Sox are believed to have made Ellsbury off-limits, which could complicate their chances. They have Coco Crisp to offer, but the Twins would likely prefer the Yankees' Cabrera to Crisp."