GET ER DONE CASH-MAN!!!!!!!!

Just a very quick note on the whole Santana saga.........

The reports now are pretty mixed, as you would expect, but the consensus seems to be that the Yanks are holding firm that they will give up Hughes and Melky but not another "top" prospect. It doesn't seem as if the Twins are holding out to try and fleece the Yanks on Ian Kennedy. Rather, they seem to be fixated on either AAA pitcher A;an Horne or AA outfielder Austin Jackson. John Heyman was reporting that the Twins were also interested in AAA SS Alberto Gonzalez in the deal.

Now, here's the thing. I understand Brian Cashman's desire not to be completely and utterly fleeced on this deal. It doesn't make any sense to build up your farm system only to give it away for one player. But some of this smacks of Cashman not wanting to APPEAR to be giving in to the Twins demands, rather than really evaluating the talent being given away. If this is being held up because of Alberto Gonzalez, than Cashman needs to be brought out back and pistol whipped. If it's Alan Horne, well, to me, you can replace Alan Horne, who came on this year but hadn't been a HUGE prospect before hand, in the system so he shouldn't hold up the deal either. I would much rather keep Jackson because, to me, he seems like a very nice CF waiting to happen.

The point is this............the Yanks CANNOT let Santana go to the Red Sox. Like I said, I am not into the whole "give them whatever they want" thing, but letting Santana land with the Sox would be absolutely devastating. The Yanks have said they will go after Dan Haren if Santana falls through. Ummm...............alright. Haren is a really, really good pitcher, but he isn't at Santana's level, and he has only had one year (this year) where he pitched to a Cy Young caliber year (and had a very bad second half of the season). Plus, there is no guarantee that the Yanks would be able to get Haren. Considering his cost, more teams would probably be in the mix for him than are in for Santana right now. And word out of Oakland is that it would take basically the same bounty of players to extricate Haren from the A's as it would Johan from the Twins. Think about this nightmare scenario: Yanks say no go on giving up another good prospect. The Sox turn around and throw Buckholtz into the package and the Twins say yes. Santana is now wearing that shitty, ugly red and white. The Yanks then turn their attention to Haren. Because of how cost effective he is for the next three years a BUNCH of teams are in it for him. The Yanks, out of desparation now (the Sox have two legit aces to none for the Yanks) give up the prospects they wouldn't give up for Santana to get Haren, who comes to New York and is more of the near to over 4ERA guy he had been rather than the lights out guy he was for the first half of last year.

That's why, if I'm the Yanks, I throw in one more really good prospect (Alan Horne for instance) and say "final offer, we want to hear back by noon tomorrow or the deal is off." But they just CAN'T let this guy go to Boston. It is far more important for the Yanks to get him than the Sox. Far more. Step up Cashman and make the deal. Just keep being smart with your draft picks, maybe find a way to trade off a Giambi for some young prospects, and replenish what you gave up for Santana. It needs to be done.