Santana Sweepstakes

BAMBINO: Fact: Johan Santana is one of the best pitchers in the game. Another Fact: The New York Yankees are the most successful sports franchise in the history of sports. With that said, the Yankees pulled out of the Johan Sweepstakes and now it looks like the Red Sox were being used as leverage against the Yanks. News is the Angels appear to be the front runners for the lefty ace.

As a Yankee fan, I am glad the Yanks didn't make the deal. As far as I was concerned, let Boston have him. The Yanks were giving up too much in my opinion for a guy that has one year left on his contract. Phil Hughes is a homegrown stud and comes cheap. Melky Cabrera rounded into a fine young ballplayer. Giving up these two players would have hurt the Yankees in my opinion. Melky has injected youth into the team and man, the guy is always smiling and loves being a Yankee. He's a very good outfielder with a great arm, he's a switch hitter, can bunt, runs the bases well, and puts the ball in play when needed.

Hughes is a future ace for the Yanks. With Andy Pettitte returning for another year, the Yanks have two ace starters in Andy and Wang, and 3 good starters with Mussina, Hughes, and Joba Chamberlain. Ian Kennedy can go to the pen and spot start, and Kei Igawa can also be called on to spot start. Gaining Johan Santana would have been expensive and overkill. I am glad Baby Steiney pulled the deal off the table. The Red Sox were in play, but it's clear the Twinkies were using them as leverage against the Bombers. Without Johan, the Sox are still the team to beat in the AL. With him, it's lights out, everyone go home.

Pitchers and cathers can't come soon enough!