ABOUT AT BAT

MSNBC.com baseball analyst Ted Robinson gives his take on the hits and misses by players, managers, umpires and owners in Major League Baseball.

Robinson has an extensive background in covering the sport. He called the play-by-play on NBC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts from 1986-89. Additionally, he has been the lead play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Twins, the television and radio play-by-play voice of the San Francisco Giants, and a member of the New York Mets broadcast team.



Big Apple battle for Santana's services

Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 7:01 PM

Three items on the Thanksgiving weekend menu:

 

WHICH NEW YORK TEAM GETS JOHAN SANTANA? New Minnesota general manager Bill Smith is a bright and pragmatic man. No matter how much both sides want a deal, last year’s Barry Zito contract eliminated any chance of Santana, who can become a free agent after the season, staying in Minnesota by pricing him out of the small market. And the Twins are now in a terrific position with both the Mets and Yankees in extreme need of an ace.

 

With Tom Glavine signing in Atlanta, the Mets have no one resembling an ace (sorry but it’s hard to look at Pedro Martinez in that way any more). The Yankees, who are awaiting Andy Pettitte’s decision on whether he will retire, learned in October that they have no one resembling Josh Beckett. Soon Smith will let the bidding begin.

 

WHAT’S CHANGED WITH THE ANGELS? With a new general manager the Angels, who have long frustrated their fans through their relative inaction in the trade market, made a surprising deal, getting Jon Garland from the White Sox for Orlando Cabrera. But the Angels freely admitted that this was only the first step. Their targets appear to be Miguel Cabrera and/or Miguel Tejada. Either way, new general manager Tony Reagins, working in close contact with manager Mike Scioscia, appears determined to add another bat. The noise you hear is Vladimir Guerrero cheering.

 

WILL JOBA STAY A STARTER? The Yankees' lineup is set and Mariano Rivera’s return keeps the closer's role filled for now. But as of today the Yankees still can’t match Boston’s pitching, either starting or relieving. That’s true even if Andy Pettitte decides to return rather than retire. There isn’t an ace to match Beckett nor any depth to challenge Boston’s bullpen. Other than Rivera and the contractually obligated Kyle Farnsworth, the Bronx bullpen is a bunch of questions.

 

So what about Joba Chamberlain? Isn’t he about to become New York’s answer to Jonathan Papelbon? The Yankees' braintrust believes he could become a dominant starter. But they didn’t have the patience to allow him to develop in the minors so why believe they would have the patience to allow him to develop as a starter in the majors?

 

Rivera is 38 and the clock is ticking. Having Chamberlain in the bullpen gives the Yankees the setup man they need to limit Rivera’s workload and provides insurance if Rivera falters or is injured. The Yankees and Chamberlain might -- just as the Red Sox and Papelbon did -- realize the value of keeping such a talented young arm in the bullpen. If they do what becomes of the Joba rules?

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Comments

The Yankees have more young players in the minors than the Mets do.  Second the Yankees minor league system is better than the Mets which allows for more movement towards the big man from Minnesota.  Than Yankees can afford him.  If owned the Yankees I would go for Santana and offer him $15,000,000 a year for 7 years with 1 to 3 option years.  

The bigger question is, why doesn't baseball state that any team that receives money from the luxury tax have to spend that money on players.  Instead of the owners becoming the welfare of sports.  

Rick Lombardini Vestal, NY (Sent Thursday, November 22, 2007 6:41 AM)

The Yankees need to reestablish who their ace will be before making a decision with Joba. If they acquire Santana for one of their proposed starters plus then they have no choice but to have Joba in a starting role. The only caveat will be if they also talk Pettitte into returning plus Santana then Joba will be a setup guy. I personally believe Joba should be a setup regardless. I feel that he will be much less effective as a starter.

Vincent M.Milano (Sent Friday, November 23, 2007 8:16 AM)

If I'm Minnesota I send Santana to the Nat'l league. Who needs to ever see him again.Especially on the Yankees. who they may get when they make the playoffs.

George Theodore (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 8:45 AM)

I'm not sure the Yanks match up well for a Santana trade. Their rotation doesn't allow them to trade a starter, with Pettitte retiring and Mussina washed up you're now another starter short if you trade Kennedy. But this is why you develop young talent, to infuse your team and to use as trade bait. With Gardner in Scranton almost ready, Melky Cabrera can be moved. Cano we gotta keep. If the Twins think they can compete next year and want Abreu or Matsui, they can have their pick of the two.  

Tom Goldkuhle (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 1:58 PM)

Put Wang in the Proposed Santana trade. Then fill out the package with Melky Cabrera, either Steve White or Karstens and Chase Wright or Clippard and Sardinha. Wang relies too much on his sinker when at times he has to throw more fast balls with location. The throw ins all have poential .Yanks should throw in money in the deal. Do not trade A. Jackson nor Tabata. If necessary, add Gardner to the mix. Yanks have no plans for these players but they , with the absence of good young outfielders can't afford to give up Jackson nor Tabata. Have to keep Chamberlain, Hughes, Kennedy and Horne and Pettitte . Sign Rowand, Affeldt and Mahay for lefty strength in the pen and center field. Behind Rivera in the pen use Sanchez, Ohlendorf, Whalen, Patterson,Affeldt and Mahay. Get Jenkins but also get an outfielder who can hit right handed to balance Jenkins and for pinch hitting duties....maybe Duncan could fill this slot. Go all out to rehab Giambi for first. There is a need for someone to back up Rodriguez in that lineup. Look over Manning as a lefty reliever. He is being overlooked.  I know what I am talking about.

leo murphy south bend IN (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 4:34 PM)

I think that Abreu and Matsui would be two of the LAST players that the Twins would want in return for Santana.  They will be looking for younger and less costly players in return....ones that have a great deal of potential to be solid long term answers at either third base or in the outfield.  Abreu and Matsui would only bring aging and overpaid bodies to the team.  If they really felt that they were in a position to contend and go deep in the post-season in 2008 they would keep Santana.

Doug Vose, Mankato, MN (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 8:31 PM)

The Twinkies have little choice here. They missed the playoffs in '07 and have gapping holes in their lineup. Third base was a disaster for the Twins; Nick Punto hit .210 with 1 HR in nearly 500 AB's in '07. With their new park set to open in '09 they should use Santana to obtain some Big League ready talent, let them play and go into the new ballpark with a chance to win.

chris hamilton, hollywood, CA (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 11:46 PM)

Rick from NY - such a typical Yankee fan. I hope you meant 25 mill for 7 yrs. He's the most coveted pitcher in the game and made 13 mill last year - you really think he would just take a 2 million dollar raise to play for the almighty Yankees. Get the facts - Minnesota has already offered him more than that a year just not so many years. Not everyone wants to be a Yankee that bad - sorry buddy.  He'll go where he gets the best deal.

Bob NY, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:16 PM)

He Can always go to Boston, It would be nice to put Wakefield in the Bullpen and put Santana in the starting line up

Bill, Boson, MA (Sent Saturday, December 01, 2007 7:23 PM)



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