New York’s deadline with the Twins for a Johan Santana trade has come and gone. The New York Daily News reports that the team will likely turn its attention to landing Danny Haren from Oakland.
According to a second source, the Yankees now plan to turn their attention toward Oakland starter Dan Haren, who is currently being shopped. Although the righthander, 27, isn’t as proven as Santana, 28, he is more attractive in a financial sense, as he is set to make $4 million in 2008 and $5.5 million in 2009 with a 2010 option for $6.75 million.
Oakland GM Billy Beane is said to be looking for a package of four players in exchange for Haren, with Hughes and Cabrera once again the likely centerpieces if the Yankees are to be serious players.
If Beane thinks that Haren is worth what Santana is, he is delusional. Haren posted a 3.07 ERA in 2007, by far the best of his career. Santana has posted an ERA higher than that once since 2003. The finances might be better, but that means little to a team with New York’s resources. His performance makes him a much less appealing option than Johan. He is a good number 2 starter, not a lockdown ace like Santana. The Yankees would be nuts to give up Hughes.
Haren would in no way satisfy this team’s need for an ace, but there might be a way to pick him up without giving up the young trio of Hughes, Chamberlain, or Kennedy. Oakland has a few bad contracts from which it is looking to escape. The first is that of Eric Chavez. He has underperformed badly in recent years and has suffered from back and shoulder issues. He is still due $34 million through 2010, money a rebuilding A’s team would love to save. The Yankees have Alex Rodriguez to play third, but they do have something of a hole at first. Chavez has terrific reflexes, soft hands and a history of great success as a corner infield. He would likely make a stellar defensive first baseman. Perhaps a change of scenery and the short porch of Yankee Stadium, not to mention a reunion with old friends, Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi, could jump start his career. First base would not provide as much wear and tear as does a stressful position like third. The Yanks could also keep him fresh by platooning him with Shelley Duncan. Mark Kotsay, a terrific outfielder defender due $8 million this season, is another guy the Yankees could take from Oakland. If getting these guys could bring Haren for a discount, it behooves this team to do so. As long as the A’s do not ask for anything too crazy, New York should oblige with second tier prospects and taking bad contracts.
Meanwhile, The Boston Globe says that the Red Sox are now likely to land Johan Santana with the Yanks out of the mix.
It was after midnight in the Music City, and the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins were exchanging medical information on pitchers Johan Santana and Jon Lester, indicating that the clubs may be closing in on a deal for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.
The Sox and Twins were locked in negotiations after the Yankees refused to include another top prospect, pitcher Ian Kennedy, in a package that already included top pitching prospect Phil Hughes and center fielder Melky Cabrera.
It was uncertain whether the Sox also were including center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury in their offer.
Hank Steinbrenner’s deadline was absolutely befuddling. The Twins made it clear that this was going to happen on their terms. They have the leverage because they own the pitcher everybody wants. If Hank sticks to his guns, Boston can bid on Santana without any competition to drive up the price. As the only serious bidder, they have the upper hand and are likely to land him at a discount. If the Yankees go back on their word, they lose any credibility in future negotiations that remained after the A-Rod fiasco. Other teams will call them on every bluff. Nothing good was ever going to come from dictating a deadline. What was the rush to get this deal done? Nobody else on the block right now is as proven or as durable as Santana. Every day it becomes more and more difficult to trust that this front office knows what it is doing.
