SchillingIsTheNatural

If he was involved in a package like I mentioned for Johan Santana...who cares Chris Carter has got a more than capable bat for the pro level. Aaron Bates may not be that far away. Eventually Lars Anderson will be better than all of them. Brandon Moss has worked at 1st base before, he may be able to handle the position. David Ortiz has never embarassed himself at 1st base as well. I'm not sure if Sean Casey is available (I think he is a free agent) but he's an excellent clubhouse member and a decent player at that. There are options at 1st even though it may be tough to swallow in the beginning. It would be worth it for Johan Santana.

One thing to keep in mind is no team will trade decent talent without being able to sign Santana to an extension which will be around 5+ years at 100 million+. So right there you can chop the number of teams interested in half, maybe more. It will probably come down to the Yankees vs. Red Sox. The Yankees don't want to give up Chamberlain or Hughes just as the Red Sox don't want to give up Ellsbury or Buchholz. The difference between the two is the Red Sox can offer Jon Lester which the Yanks don't have a match. Crisp is worth more than Melky Cabrera so that helps as well. The Yankees also don't have a match of Kevin Youkilis so I'm thinking the Red Sox can offer a much better package: Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Kevin Youkilis, Jed Lowrie for Johan Santana. The Dodgers or Angels might be able to offer an extension for Santana but #1) it's not the Angels style #2) The Dodgers have to be looking at offense and not pitching. Should be a fun developing story over the winter.

Maybe although I don't like your chances based on the fact the Yankees will have another injury plagued season with little depth. Outside of Rivera returning and being the closer, who else is in the Yankee bullpen? I don't even know I would have to look it up. They have as good a shot as any to win the division but you can forget winning in the playoffs with that current pitching staff.

Either that or realized the Red Sox will not change there stance based on what they offer Mike Lowell.

I'm confused why the NY Yankees spent this much money on A-Rods contract. I bet you they could have had him for MUCH less. After watching what happened to the Texas Rangers who was going to sign A-Rod to a 10 year/ 252 million deal? Nobody. The team with the second highest payroll (Red Sox) would have signed him on there own terms. No other team in baseball would be interested signing a player with his character, postseason resume, and ability to strap a teams payroll for years. Even 10 years / 200 million would be an issue for the rest of the teams in baseball. Could anyone see the Red Sox making that offer with how they deal with contracts now? If they don't persue him whoelse in MLB would? How foolish

As a thought... Dan Haren had a lower ERA than Johan Santana and the same amount of wins with fewer losses in 2007. The teams (Oakland and Minnesota) were about equal.

So the Yankees want to sign Mike Lowell to play 1st base? I'm fine with that. We will gladly take your 1st round pick and find a more than capable 3rd baseman to take up the spot. Not to mention can you think of a worse situation for Mike Lowell? Yankee stadium and changing positions at the age of 34? Thats the most rediculous thing I've ever heard and I would be just fine with it.

John Sterling said A-Rod is leaving 60 million on the table to go back to the Yankees. That is how I know this A-Rod crawling back to the Yankees deal is crap.

Yeah the Yankees baseball team is better....I say they can make it as far as the ALDS

I still think its funny how much they are going to be paying there same players at an older age The same players who haven't been able to get it done in October for some time now.

So you believe what the Yankees say? As opposed to the fact you think they were referring to Boras and not A-Rod in there other comments?

What Scott Boras really did was destroy any credibility the Yankees front office had.

Here it is: All A-Rod had to say was....I want to be a Yankee I swear everything they stand for makes me laugh. I've heard many times people saying "The Red Sox are becoming the New York Yankees". I'm sorry but after all the pathetic comments and having to take back EVERYTHING they said and basically look like complete fools (everyone between the Yanks front office, Alex Rodriguez, and Scott Boras) the Red Sox will never become the New York Yankees...and thank god for that. They make more headlines in the offseason than durring the season.

If they had a problem with Boras, why did they attack A-Rod? Clearly they are talking about A-Rod there. How about everything we heard with A-Rod saying he would like to go to the Red Sox? Fact is...nobody will pay him what the Yankees will pay him and he will say whatever he needs to do get that money. The Red Sox probably made it clear to Boras they aren't that interested and outside of the Yankees, that is where he would have made the big $$$

Posada: 4 years 52.4 million Rivera: 3 years 45 million A-Rod: 10 years 290 million Total: 17 years committed for 387.4 million dollars Thats a lot of money to keep 3 players who were already part of the Yankee team who hasn't been able to get out of the first round in the playoffs.

On the contrary we may find a decent return for Coco Crisp. A number of teams are looking at him and any team that gets him will increase there defense dramatically.

This argument over Miguel Cabrera, Johan Santana, and the Red Sox prospects is just dragging out at this point. The facts are the Minnesota Twins will try to sign Santana to a long term extension while the Marlins will trade Cabrera to a team such as the Angels or Dodgers who are rich with talent and willing to possibly give it up. The Red Sox are in a great position where they don't need to make these moves. They have some good depth at most positions. If it turns out they can't resign Mike Lowell then the will look at A-Rod or possibly move Coco Crisp for a 3rd or 1st baseman.

Hank Steinbrenner says the Yankees will not trade Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, or Ian Kennedy this offseason. "It's pretty obvious which players we're not going to trade," Steinbrenner said. "(Joba) Chamberlain, (Phil) Hughes and even (Ian) Kennedy. Not for a position player." I know they are the so called "future" of the Yankees but I also wonder what kind of message this sends to Posada, Rivera, and Pettite. Without A-Rod and three rookies going to the rotation I'm not surprised by the moves thus far: Andy Pettite opts out, Rivera has not responded to the Yankees offer, and Posada may be looking at the Mets (a bigger contender next season).

Thats a little harsh. He is only 2 years removed from a 21-8 record. He has struggled due to injury, if he shows he is healthy he could be valuable.

Ellsbury + Lester + two lower level prospects for Cabrera + Willis sounds familiar Ramirez + Sanchez + two lower level prospects for Beckett + Lowell + Mota The Marlins have worries about Miguel Cabrera and his weight just like they had worries with Josh Beckett and his arm/blisters

Yes I would. Between Matsuzaka, Beckett, Buchholz, and Lester we are looking at one extra spot in the rotation going forward into the future. Nick Hagadone has looked good and of course we are still working with Michael Bowden. I'm expecting the Red Sox to have another strong draft in 2008 and continue to add pitching. There are going to be plenty of starters available next offseason as well. Catchers are tough to come by, especially with the offensive potential of Salty. He may never become a strong defensive catcher but surely he can make up for that with his power potential. I was reading somewhere that the Red Sox inquired about Andy LaRoche for the Dodgers. That could be another player we could continue to develop under Mike Lowell even though I think LaRoche is ready for the majors right now. So thats another possible option: Coco Crisp for Andy LaRoche? Coco Crisp for Salty?....throw in Masterson if need be to get it done. I'm thinking Theo Epstein will get an excellent return on Crisp due to the amount of interest at the GM meetings. Rightly so, he is incredible on the defensive side of the ball. I still think the Atlanta Braves will be the team we get a deal done with.

Personal opinion but the best defensive player in the league for 2007 did not win a Gold Glove. ...if only you could play offense Coco Crisp then you might have won an award for defense.