The Yankees and Twins are talking about a swap that would bring left-hander Johan Santana to The Bronx, but Hank Steinbrenner was very vague when asked for his list of untouchables – presumably headed by Joba Chamberlain.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t want to get into all of that, as far as what they want and what we would give,” Steinbrenner said yesterday. “It’s all very preliminary. We are trying to find out what will happen.”
The Yankees, who recently spent $388 million to retain Bobby Abreu, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez, have the cash to appease Santana’s request for a six-year, $120 million deal. Santana, considered by the Yankees as the top starter in baseball, recently turned down the Twins’ offer of a four-year, $80 million contract that would have started in 2009. The two-time AL Cy Young winner is set to make $13.25 million next season.
The Yankees would love to have Andy Pettitte back for 2008, but they aren’t waiting for the veteran lefty to decide his future as they attempt to upgrade their starting rotation.
“Pettitte wouldn’t have an effect on our situation,” Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees are expected to be aggressive chasing Santana regardless of Pettitte’s decision. Pettitte has said he would either return to the Yankees for $16 million or retire. A week ago, Pettitte’s agent, Randy Hendricks, said his client wouldn’t make up his mind until next month, although he didn’t say when in December a decision would be made.
Pettitte, 35, was 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA in 36 games (34) starts last year and pitched a gem in Game 2 of the ALDS.
Santana, who will turn 29 in March, will dominate the Winter Meetings next week in Nashville. The Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Angels and Dodgers will be poised with the talent to get the game’s top hurler away from the Twins, and the money to sign Santana to a long-term deal in order to get him to drop his no-trade clause.
Because the Yankees likely would have to include Chien-Ming Wang or Phil Hughes and possibly outfielder Melky Cabrera to get Santana, Pettitte’s return would bolster the staff.
Santana is 93-44 with a career 3.22 ERA. This past season he was 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA. In 1,3082/3 big league innings, Santana has struck out 1,381. In 2007, he had 235 whiffs in 219 innings.
Steinbrenner has become comfortable as the voice of the Yankees and may surface in Nashville for the Winter Meetings, something his father, George, hasn’t done in years.
As for introducing Rodriguez and his 10-year, $275 million deal that will inch past $300 million if Rodriguez breaks Barry Bonds’ all-time home run mark, it’s a slow process. The bonus money ($6 million for each of five home run milestones) has been agreed upon, but Rodriguez has to take a physical and there are still contract details to be worked out.
“I don’t think there will be a press conference this week,” Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees also haven’t announced Jorge Posada’s four-year, $52.4 million deal because of contract details still being hammered out.