This is going to be an interesting game of chicken on both sides of the fence with Santana. The thing about the sox is that they have excess parts they could move for Santana, while the guys we'd be dealing would already be in our rotation/lineup.
Think about it, who would be hurt more...
If Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Melky, or Cano went down with an injury vs...
Buchholz, , Lester, Ellsbury, or Pedroia
To the sox, Buchholz may be "the future", but he is a spare part for 08 and not someone who's loss will be felt if Santana comes about. Pedroia has Lowrie in the wings, Ellsbury would still have Coco backing him up (for now).
For us, losing Hughes/Joba/Kennedy means Mussina is in the rotation plus another rookie or s***** starter (see DeSalvo, Rasner, Karstens) would need to take the bump every 5th day. In terms of the other two, Betemit could play 2b and Damon can play CF. Not a terrific dropoff, but a big enough one to make their loss hurt.
This is why I think the sox, if they really wanted to, could net Santana with a solid package while not hurting their team's chances of a repeat in the process. Whereas, dealing for Santana from our perspective, takes players that are already filling needs and would create holes.
In the end, though, Minny doesnt care who they deal him to. They only care who they get in return. So if the sox want to gut the youth movement, while keeping their 08 chances alive, actually enhancing them, then so be it. And if the yankees want to gut their youth movement and fill the holes with putty later on, then so be it. It should be interesting to see.