Save Phil Hughes Pt. 99

NoMaas.org, the site which is usually restricted to absurd photoshopping, actually has a great piece explaining why giving up Phil Hughes - for anybody even Johan Santana - is such a difficult move to make.

Like many of you, we were absolutely crushed when we saw the reports of Phil Hughes being offered to the Twins. It was like someone ripped our heart out and showed it to us before we collapsed to the ground. It's tough to remain objective when it comes to Phil Hughes. For the past several years, we have watched him go from draft pick to the best pitching prospect in baseball.

After nearly a decade of ignoring the farm system, Hughes became symbolic to many Yankee fans. He served as the biggest sign that the madness and inefficiency which ran rampant through this organization was coming to an end. No longer would the strategy focus on acquiring immovable contracts of players whose production didn't justify their cost. We heard terms from the front office that we hadn't been used to hearing -- like "cutting payroll", "roster flexibility", "youth movement", and "developing from within." In just a few short years, the Yankees went from having a joke of a farm system to one of the best in all of baseball. It was a breath of fresh air, and Hughes was at the forefront of the "new Yankee way."

We will admit though that we are struggling with why Hughes was included in a potential deal so quickly. By all reports, the Twins are not interested in Boston's current offer. Like we said the other day, Coco Crisp makes no sense for them. So, why did the Yankees feel the need to up the ante so quickly? And if they really felt compelled to do so, did they try to build upon the orginal Kennedy+ offer? That is what is really bothering us. We would avoid trading Hughes until the moment we absolutely had to. We would explore every avenue. Maybe the Twins said bluntly, "If Hughes isn't included, you have no chance." Who knows? The timing just seems very odd to us.

I could not agree more with both sentiments. Hopefully, the Phil Hughes inclusion of the Santana deal turns out to be public posturing. Unfortunately, this seems like it's going to happen.