Hank Speaks About Johan

Yesterday it seemed that the Yankees' talks for Johan Santana were pretty much dead, with his contract extension presenting an issue.  But Hank Steinbrenner weighed in with Anthony McCarron, and the Yankees seem squarely in the mix.  Key points of the article:

• The implication is that the Yankees' best offer - Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez, and a fourth player - is still on the table.
• Hank says point blank the Yankees are best-equipped to handle Santana's contract demands.  Yesterday Gordon Edes said Santana's agent implied a seven-year, $140MM deal would be necessary and the Red Sox were willing to pay it.
• Despite just "minor dialogue" between the Yanks and Twins lately, Steinbrenner seems unwilling to let the situation linger more than another two weeks.
• McCarron says the Mets remain in the mix as well.  Matthew Cerrone believes the Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox "have essentially made their final offers."
• The Sports Hernia weighs in on Hank's comments.

Comments

[Yu Hsing Chen]

Sounds like more poker for the Yankees. they're putting a offer that's interesting enough to tease the Twins to keep thinking but clearly not good enough for them to pull the trigger. and their overall talk is the same thing. they keep sounding like their interested, but not really put enough effort into it to make it happen. it seems like their tactic is simply to stall this indefinately so they have a shot at Santana just reaching the FA.

[jnr98]

I agree, it does seem like both the Sox and Yanks are playing this as a game of high stakes chicken, hoping the other blinks first. If that happens, the team that doesn't get Johan can save face with their fan base and say "see, we were willing to give up plenty". I also have no doubt that both team would rather wait on Johan to get him by only paying once, not twice. I still think it's A LOT to give up (for either team) for just one year even though part of that price includes the a) exclusive negotiating stance and b) keeping him out of the other team's lockerroom.

As a lifelong Yanks fan, I would love to see the Yanks keep the kids and try to retrench with some youthful exuberance. That's what helped the team so greatly last year. It's what made the 90's Yanks so likable and fun to watch. The 2000's Yanks have morphed into the 80's Yanks: overpriced, soulless mercenaries. Or at least that's the way it feels. (Judging by the way Posada and Mo demaned a hometown "bonus", they are really no different, I know.)

That's my rambling for now.

[nrmax88]

"even though part of that price includes the a) exclusive negotiating stance "

Thats the thing though, it isnt like the Twins are making it out to be. I keep hearing say whoever gets him will have the exclusive OPPURTUNITY to extend him. Wrong. They have the obligation of giving him the biggest contract ever for a pitcher over 7 years. That is a huge difference. That hurts the deal for Minnesota imo, doesnt help it. Thats why I still say Minnesota would make out the best by just signing him.

[altaullr]

I don't think there is a snowball's chance in hell that Santana makes it to free agency next winter. This whole process lingering on for a month like this has permanently tarnished any chance we had of opening the season with Santana on the Twins roster, let alone making it through the whole season with him.

The Twins will trade Santana. I applaud Smith for being patient. There is no way all three teams pull out and leave us with no option but to keep him. If nobody ups their offer, we'll take the best one out there. We'll see who blinks first.

I'm just tired of all the posturing by the Yankees. Everyone else has kept it professional and pleaded the fifth on Santana negotiations. Why does Hank get to talk about it all he wants -- that's textbook tampering, right?

[achilles17]

Yeah Hank really needs to keep his mouth shut, he is just getting obnoxious at this point. You'd think Selig of Fehr would tell him so much...

[wildo05]

The funniest comment of the entire riveting interview is when Hank says that the Yankees have the best pitching BY FAR!

What a joke...Red Sox, Tigers, Twins, Padres, Dodgers, Arizona, Cleveland, Atlanta and Toronto all have better pitching.

[nrmax88]

New year, new deadline.

[altaullr]

I hate Hank as much as anyone else, but at least quote him correctly. He said "We're going to have the best pitching by far in baseball in two or three years." We have no idea how accurate that statement will end up being until these kids get some more experience.

[jnr98]

One thing about Hank, and believe me, I am certainly NO apologist: He answers every call from the press. And every credentialed press calls him looking for anything. Anything he says, they publish.

I just wish he'd adopt a "less is more" approach.

[BrianTX]

If thats true I'm going to call Hank as a writer for the Cheyenne Daily and tell him to shut his friggin mouth.

I'm a Yankee fan and I'm already sick of this tool.

[pedroiaroy07]

The Twins want to trade Johan Santana?

[altaullr]

Barry's contract was an aberration and it is scaring teams away from the negotiations because they know that's just the starting point. It's why Santana hasn't been traded already; there are too few teams willing to pony up.

[pedroiaroy07]

92-93,

Yes. Barry Zito's contract is one of the worst ever, see Hampton, Mike. Just because one team makes a monumental mistake like that does not make it right...

[jnr98]

I agree, Zito's contract is so far out of whack, I am guessing it's discounted in reasonable discussion. Better comps might be Zambrano, Carpenter, Oz...all who signed BEFORE hitting the Free Agent market, which is exactly where Santana will be. No way a trade is done without Santana getting locked in for 6-7 years.

[altaullr]

Of course if he does hit the free agent market (again, not likely), then you could see some more fireworks. 7/200 anyone?

[bsox21]

I have predicted from the start that Johan is a fture Yankee.

It's been his destiny from the day he was born.

[Rich]

Nothing has changed since yesterday. Most sportswriters have no idea what they are talking about, but that doesn't stop them from pretending that they do.

It has always been apparent that the Yankees will be in the Santana mix for as long as it takes for this ridiculous saga to end.

[jnr98]

Guys, let's remember the #1 job of newpaper writers: Sell papers (and now eyeballs online). They write what the believe people want to read. And here in the doldrums of a cold new year, they are grasping at anything to pen a column. It gets them paid. Doesn't have to be second coming of JD Salinger but has to be something that drives people to the newsstand or website.

Hot stove sells, right? Or else, why on earth would WE be here, postulating with no other real sense of what's going to happen than the well-compensated scribes?

[Yu Hsing Chen]

look at it this way. at least Hank give us something to talk about. would be an awfully boring winter otherwise hah.

Smith's waiting game can be very risky too. i mean he play too long and gets nothing (other than the draft picks anyway)

[mac_1103]

"Why does Hank get to talk about it all he wants -- that's textbook tampering, right?"

Why is it tampering? Talk is cheap. Saying that you like a player and can afford him is not tampering. Arte Moreno said as much about A-Rod long before he opted out.

Contacting a player who is not a free agent and making an offer is tampering. It's a pretty bright line, actually, and there are no indications that it's been crossed.

I'm sure that the Twins FO and their fans are mightily pissed off that Hank won't stop running his mouth about Santana and the negotiations. And I don't blame them one bit. But if Hank was breaking any rules and the Twins had any recourse, they'd have done something about it by now, don't you think?

[jnr98]

Mac_1103: I bet the Twins FO is HAPPY Hank won't stop talking about. It keeps it on the front burner and probably keeps the Sox and whomever else on edge. Maybe it spurs a new bid?

As for the fans, they hate the Yanks and Sox anyways so what's new?

[joemorgan=#1]

I hate Hank Stein already this guy is more annoying then his dad. Just shut up!! But they do have the best offer.

[TheGrinch]

The Red Sox don't really need Santana and are just driving up the price for the Yankees, who will eventually get him as they are the only ones (outside of the Red Sox) that can afford him. Personally, I'm tired of the whole thing. I wish they'd just trade him already so this stupid thing would be over.

[Santana/Beckett FTW]

I will not disagree that I believe for Minnesota, the Yankees pose the best deal as far as prospects go. Hughes has slightly more potential than Lester and Crisp and Melky are basically the same type of players. mediocre (at best) hitters, with amazing defensive center field capabilities. I give the edge to the Sox with this part of the trade, simply because crisp has more speed, better baserunning skills, and the most underrated defensive glove in the American League. Lowrie and Masterson are about equal to the prospects offered by the yankees. Phil Hughes is the breaking point of this deal as far as who has the better offer.

However, Hank Steinbrenner is making a mockery of himself, his father, and most importantly the Yankees organization as a whole. Hank has yet to hold true to one thing he says. He was supposedly "not very interested" in Johan to start off with, then he set a deadline for the Twins only to come back a few days later with the same exact offer expecting them to take him seriously. This after the whole Gay-Rod nonsense... I think his mouth will be the deciding factor and job security will push Johan to be far more eager to sign with the Sox. Besides, the Sox did win the World Series and if they hold onto ellsbury I would say they have a better team this year than last year, and Johan has made it clear that he will not sign with any team he does not think is a sure in for the World Series (Yankees, Red Sox, Mets).

For now, I say let Hank run his mouth and once again get played. And as far as the comment that the red sox dont need santana, they actually could use him moreso than the yankees. Schilling, Beckett and Dice-K are all right handers. They have no dominant lefty pitchers. Yankees have Andy pettite and also a very strong pitching rotation. This is a game of cat and mouse.

Final point, the yankees are retarded if they lose phil hughes. He was the number 2 or 3 pitching prospect in baseball last season, proved before his injury that he was capable of pitching in the bigs, and also is only 20 i believe? Why would anyone give that up for a 29 year old lefty? Lester crisp masterson lowrie melky are all disposable incomes, easily replaced by strong prospects, and an overabundance of fielders on both teams. I really dont think the yankees want santana, as much as hank (though he says he doesn't want to play bidding games with the sox) doesn't want boston to get him because that would guarantee 3-4 (at least) years of back to back world series. We learned this from the Schilling/Johnson combo on the diamondbacks, pitching wins world series. and the sox would have an even better 1-2 plus 3 4 5 all being amazing pitchers

1)johan
2)beckett
3)schilling
4)dice-k
5)bucholz

and wakefields not a bad 6 if they decide to have the first 6 man rotation and if not thats just another great reliever to add to okajima/papelbon to kill those middle innings, and the Boston Globe reported that when asked how he felt about being a reliever wakefield said that he will do whatever it takes to win again, and that his team takes priority over himself. Arod could learn a thing or two from the old knuckleballer.

[Santana/Beckett FTW]

One comment to add to what I said, even as a boston fan i must admit, the yankees get who they want when they decide they want someone. they will give up what it takes to get them. if the yankees REALLY wanted santana and not just up the sox bid, dont u think they'd have him by now?

[Santana/Beckett FTW]

As far as the yankees having a snowballs chance in hell of having the best pitching in baseball in 2-3 years they are out of their mind. I can give a few reasons why as well.

1) Sox have beckett and dice-k as sealed deals for the next few seasons and beckett has already said he has made his home in boston and will be very reluctant to move again. besides, the sox are not trading their young ace. Already a better 1-2 than the yankees can hope to have in Joba/wang
2) the yanks are relying on a guy who pitched what? less than 25 innings in the bigs? one at a time? yes he was dominant for one inning. so are many other pitchers. its what you got in the 5-6-7 that makes you great and this guy hasn't seen more than 2 innings yet.
3) Ian kennedy is not that amazing of a pitcher. he will be solid, another pettite even perhaps, but hes not amazing. as far as i know he also still has a 3 pitch rotation of which only 2 are real good for strikes.
4) Sox, Diamondbacks, Mets (when healthy), tigers, padres and a few other teams have extremely dominant pitching staffs. to even comprehend the thought of the yanks being on that list is laughable.
5) they lack dominance (until joba proves himself). Wangs a very good pitcher, however hes not gonna strike out 10 and dominate a game. he'll get ya 2-3 double play balls and he'll keep it close. pettite has lost alot off his speed since his shoulder and back injuries. he now reminds me of a tom glavine type pitcher. kennedy had his ups and downs. jobas thrown 25 innings in the bigs. I really would like to know where the dominance has been shown to even begin to make this statement.
5) yankees have been, and will continue to be an offensive team, not pitching oriented. girardi might push to change this but the roster is filled with hitters. arrogant hitters at that who play little defense or like jeter have diminishing defensive abilities. look at the numbers hank. best hitting i can see where ur coming from tho the tigers are still better, but pitching.... hanks got some ballz.

[Santana/Beckett FTW]

and just to make it clear. even as a boston fan, got no hate for jeter. the man plays his heart out every day on the field and in the game and i do respect that. however his defensive numbers last year took a steep drop. that is all i'm refering to. I would still consider him the best AL SS.