Last night news broke that the Yankees were in trade discussions with the Minnesota Twins for Hall-of-Fame-tracked SP Johan Santana. Very little beyond that was offered.
Here is what the local papers are saying about the Johan news.
The Bombers likely will offer a package including Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and at least one more pitching prospect, as the Twins are seeking a young, inexpensive center fielder to replace Hunter, as well as young pitchers. The Yankees have no plans to include Joba Chamberlain in a deal.
Boston, which would love to block Santana from heading to the Bronx, has the prospects to make a deal, starting with pitchers Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. But Boston sources say the Red Sox are unwilling to part with rookie center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, a player the Twins covet.
players believed to interest the Twins are righthanders Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, second baseman Robinson Cano, centerfielder Melky Cabrera and perhaps minor-league outfielders Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata....One source said yesterday that none of the above players would be off-limits in the right deal for Santana. Another source indicated that the Yankees plan to cling hardest to Chamberlain and Cano but that the others might be negotiable.
That's not the only thing on the Yankees' plate. They have talked internally about trying to trade for the Athletics' Dan Haren and are working to upgrade their bullpen via free agency.
...talking about a swap that would bring left-hander Johan Santana to The Bronx, but Hank Steinbrenner was very vague when asked for his list of untouchables - presumably headed by Joba Chamberlain.
Without citing specifics, Steinbrenner said that teams routinely requested more from the Yankees in trade talks than they did from other teams. Steinbrenner stressed that he would not "tolerate" that, even in a possible deal for one of the game's marquee pitchers.