Category: Fantasy Baseball (Page 43 of 48)

The Yankees are currently in talks with the Twins’ about ace Johan Santana. According to Newsday, those talks began before Thanksgiving.

Upgrading the starting rotation, Steinbrenner said, is not an absolute must. But Santana, 28, is perhaps the best pitcher in baseball, and in a different class from any other pitcher potentially available. He is 93-44 in his career with a 3.22 ERA and two Cy Young Awards to his name.

…a few players believed to interest the Twins are righthanders Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, second baseman Robinson Cano, centerfielder Melky Cabrera and perhaps minor-league outfielders Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata. But the Yankees have worked hard to upgrade their farm system and want to hold on to as much of that young talent as possible.

Santana is a special case, though. One source said yesterday that none of the above players would be off-limits in the right deal for Santana. Another source indicated that the Yankees plan to cling hardest to Chamberlain and Cano but that the others might be negotiable. The Twins need a centerfielder, as Torii Hunter signed with the Angels via free agency last week.

If updating the starting rotation isn’t an absolute must, why sell the farm system for a starter than? Regardless, before all the love/hate Yankee comments start rolling in, we should wait to see if the trade plays out. If the Twins can fleece NY for three or four major-league ready players, then even Yankee-haters should laugh at Hank Steinbrenner selling the future for the present. However, if the Twins give him up for a bunch of minor-league prospects then it’s their fault for not getting max value for one of their best players.

Update: The Red Sox are apparently after Santana as well. Why am I not surprised?

Man, I love The Onion.

BOSTON—Moments after the New York Yankees continued a month-long stretch that has seen them climb from the bottom of the AL East to pull within a once unfathomable four games of the first-place Red Sox by defeating the Baltimore Orioles Monday night, stunned and enraged baseball fans across America took a moment to shake their heads in disbelief and curse dejectedly at the relentless inevitability of Yankee glory.

“Fucking Yankees,” said Marshfield, MA resident and longtime Red Sox fan Lawrence Broberg, echoing the sentiments of thousands of men and woman across the nation. “Every year. Every goddamn year.”

The Yankees, coming off a decisive three-game sweep of the Central-leading Indians, have won nine out of their last 10 games, catapulting them to the top of the wild-card standings, restoring the team’s infuriating confidence, and instilling a sinking sense of impending misery among all non-Yankee fans.

“It’s like they can’t lose,” said Connecticut resident Gerry DiCenzo, who could only watch helplessly as the Yankees overcame a late Orioles rally to win their fourth straight. “They literally cannot lose. Suddenly no one can beat the Yankees. The Red Sox suck. The Orioles suck. Everyone sucks. Everyone suddenly sucks when they play the Yankees.”

Click here to laugh some more.

You don’t need to root for a winner to have an interest in baseball’s July 31st trade deadline. In my latest column for Bullz-Eye.com, I list the 10 major players — five buyers and five sellers — in baseball’s trade sweepstakes, including the New York Mets (buyers) and Cincinnati Reds (sellers).

With injuries sidelining Braden Looper, Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder, the Cardinals traded for Tigers lefthander Mike Maroth Friday. While Maroth currently boasts a 5-2 record, his ERA is 5.06 and his command has been off for most of the season. However, St. Louis is obviously beat up and with an NL-worst 5.63 ERA, Maroth certainly can’t hurt.

While the deal is final, there’s no word yet on what Detroit will get in return. With Nate Robertson pitching six no hit innings in a minor league start on Thursday and Kenny Rogers set to start tonight, the Tigers obviously had room to deal one of their starters. This is just speculation on my part, but with the offense and starting rotation set, the only thing I could see Detroit getting in return is relief help.