Note: Twins Adjust their Demands
In the Star-Tribune, citing ‘several people with knowledge of the trade talks,’ La Velle E. Neal III reports that the Twins have recently ‘adjusted their demands’ for Johan Santana.
According to Neal, Jose Reyes no longer needs to be part of any deal for Santana, just as the Twins are willing to accept other players instead of Ian Kennedy when negotiating with the Yankees.
However, Neal concludes by writing…
“It’s still hard to view the Mets as a serious player in this game, because although they have good young players, they lack quality talent up front of the deal.”
Meanwhile, according to multiple reports, while in Boston to support the annual Hot Stove, Cool Music charity event put on by Red Sox and Peter Gammons, Yankees GM Brian Cashman essentially said he has less control under Hank and Hal Steinbrenner than he did under their father, George.
…this isn’t really news, in that reports have indicated how cashman wants to build from within, i.e., not trade prospects for Johan Santana, while hank wants to make the big splash, i.e., trade for santana…
…this report is unique because cashman is actually saying it all out loud, and he’s usually very, very quiet…
Cashman, as quoted by multiple reports…
“Mostly, especially in our big markets, you get challenged on the short-term stuff so much you can make a mistake if you get caught up in the winds of the pressure of making a trade…Like right now, the Red Sox and Yankees, at least, are in the middle of this Johan Santana stuff. What’s the right thing for the now? What’s the right thing for the future? These are the wrestling matches that go on in the organizations and you have very spirited conversations about what’s right and what’s wrong.”
…as a Mets fan, who would like to see santana in queens, this worries me, because cashman’s control clearly helps the Mets cause, while hank’s does not…
For more on a Yankees perspective, check out Steve Lombardi at Was Watching.
