Yankees Against The Sox Yet Again!

The battle for the services of Johan Santana's left arm just keeps getting more and more heated, as the two teams that truly dislike each other in the American League, the New York Yankees and the world champion Boston Red Sox, seem to be the numbers one and two contenders. Who is number one and who is number two changes as each day slips by. This is from the Saturday Boston Herald, just the latest about the ever-changing chess match that the two teams are engaged in....

"In a development that could help Johan Santana wind up in pinstripes, there were indications last night from a major league source that if the Yankees were to include Philip Hughes in a deal with the Twins, it would be enough to make the trade happen.
The Yankees have offered starter Ian Kennedy and outfielder Melky Cabrera to the Twins but so far not Hughes, their best young starter. A report on ESPN.com last night said the Yankees front office is beginning to accept the premise of trading Hughes.
The Red Sox understand that were they to include both of their top prospects - starter Clay Buchholz and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury - that they probably would be able to land Santana. But indications are the Red Sox are extremely reluctant, if not vehemently opposed, to part with both."

Peter here, and including BOTH Ellsbury and Buchholz is completely out of the question, an absurdity based on pure conjecture, and it will never happen. I doubt if either Clay or Jacoby will be going anywhere, and I've said exactly that since the very beginning of this story. You see, the Red Sox rotation, as it stands now, is a strong one, as good as anyone in the league. The Yankees are not as fortunate, for their number one starter, Wang, can't be counted on to shine in the postseason like Beckett can. Just look back at last October and you'll know what I mean. They (the Yankees) are in desperate need of a number one starter. It seems now that the only way that's going to happen is if they include the much-talked about Hughes. I believe they will be forced to do it to stand ANY kind of chance. In fact, I hope the Twins hold out for as much of those vaunted young pinstriped arms as they can get. Other reports say that if Santana had to choose between the two rivals, he'd opt for the Yankees. If that's the case Johan, don't let the door hit ya where the Lord split ya.

I hope each any every one of you has a great weekend, one to be remembered. And click on the title of this post for Michael Siverman's complete Boston Herald article. If there is any news on the Johan front, I've have it here as soon as I can. But if you ask me, this is something that will be decided face to face, at the winter meetings next week. A KO or not, those meetings are only two fleeting days away. Be safe, be well.....forever!