The excellent Ken Davidoff of Newsday believes a Johan Santana deal could require star second baseman Robinson Cano.
Then, like it or not, the Yankees would probably have to pursue Torii Hunter to replace Melky in center. If Santana could be had in a similar deal not involving Hughes or Chamberlain, you gotta do it.
That said, the Yankees are about as high on Cano as they are on anyone. He is the offensive version of Joba. Young, confident and full of promise.
A future #3 hitter in any lineup, Cano has already hit .340, challenged for a batting title, knocked in 97 runs and hit nearly 20 homers in a season. He has a little Bernie in him, making an inexplicable mental mistake five times a year, but he will soon hit 30 homers and knock in 100+ runs annually.
All this from a blossoming second baseman with a gun for an arm, a knack for turning the double play and a glove capable of picking anything out of the infield dirt.
The gap between an available Santana and a traded Santana figures to be steep, and that means high asking prices for all suitors - including the Yankees, who have targeted the two-time Cy Young Award winner.If the Twinkies want offense and not pitching, how about a deal including Austin Jackson, Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy to start? Throw in an MLB offensive player or second tier pitching prospect and see what distance lies between the two teams.
In return for Santana, the Twins likely will ask for a package centered on second baseman Robinson Cano, a person familiar with Minnesota's operations said yesterday.
"The Twins aren't stupid," the person said. "They're going to try to make this like another Chuck Knoblauch trade."
A Yankees package of Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes and a prospect might not get it done for Santana, agreed a second major-league official. The Twins already have a plethora of young pitching, so their focus is on offense.
Then, like it or not, the Yankees would probably have to pursue Torii Hunter to replace Melky in center. If Santana could be had in a similar deal not involving Hughes or Chamberlain, you gotta do it.
That said, the Yankees are about as high on Cano as they are on anyone. He is the offensive version of Joba. Young, confident and full of promise.
A future #3 hitter in any lineup, Cano has already hit .340, challenged for a batting title, knocked in 97 runs and hit nearly 20 homers in a season. He has a little Bernie in him, making an inexplicable mental mistake five times a year, but he will soon hit 30 homers and knock in 100+ runs annually.
All this from a blossoming second baseman with a gun for an arm, a knack for turning the double play and a glove capable of picking anything out of the infield dirt.
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