That's a lot to give up if it includes Masterson and Lowrie.

If the Sox get Santana, they'll be the best team in baseball in 2008. No one else is close. Someone might beat them in the playoffs because of the random nature of October baseball but they'd have to be overwhelming favorites.

Santana / Beckett / Matzuzaka / Buchholz / Schilling / Wake is an amazing rotation, and the 3rd best offense in the AL just replaces crisp with ellsbury.

Yeah, as a Yankee fan, this makes me sad.

I don't buy it. I don't buy any of this.

GIMME SANTANA!

Phone call at about 1:00 am
Bill Smith: "Theo? You gotta help me out. I know you're trying to help drive up the price, but the Yankees just aren't buying that weak offer."
Theo Epstein: "Hmm, I know what you mean. You would have to be incredibly stupid to take Lester over Hughes or Crisp over Melky, even if the B prospects are a little better. So they're calling your bluff?"
Smith: "Yes. They're not budging at all because they know that there's no way your offer is legitimate. You're going to have to put Ellsbury on the table, even if we're not really going to take him. It's the only way the Yankees will buy into this ploy."
Epstein: "No, that doesn't work for me. How about we just pretend that we've already agreed to the current deal instead, even though it's so unbelievably unbalanced that the Yankees don't buy into it at all?"
Smith: "I don't see how that fixes anything."
Epstein: "Oh, don't worry. I'm like 22 years old and I've already won as many rings as Tony La Russa, and he's like 70. Just fax over the medical reports and the we'll start filing the paperwork to finalize the trade. Then they Yankees will know your serious even though the offer is below value."
Smith: "Doesn't that just mean we'd be giving you Santana for much less than he's worth, just to make it look like we weren't bluffing? That doesn't help us."
Epstein: "Bill, you worry too much. Let me take care of these details. Everything will work itself out. The Yankees will be eating out of your hand before you know it. Just fax over those documents and I'll have my guys get right to work on the financials."
Smith: "Ummm, ok. If you think it is best." {Hangs up phone, looks around room while processing} "SH!T"

I didn't know Epstein was a Jedi name.

I didn't know Epstein was a Jedi name.

Yup ... and they perfrom the bris with a lightsaber.

May the Forceskin be with you.

Best Regards

John

Smith: "Hank, it's 1pm. You said you were done dealing with us."
Hank: "This is NOT Hank Steinbrenner."
Smith: "Hank, I have caller ID. You're calling me from you cell phone."
Hank: "..."
Smith: "Have you reconsidered? Hughes and Cabrera along with either Kennedy or Jackson and Horne?"
Hank: "NO! We will not put those players in the deal! We have the best package on the table and you will accept it!"
Smith: "Hank, we've been over this. What you're calling a 'B' prospect is really a 'C' prospect. At best."
Hank: "The Yankee pitchers are the best in baseball!"
Smith: "That doesn't do me much good if you won't trade them to me..."
Hank: "We're giving you Melky Cabrera! The starting CFer for the New York Yankees!"
Smith: "That's great, Hank. Except that our scouts don't really like him. His tools don't really project to grow all that much, and he's pretty bad in the OF. When he tries to run he looks like someone cinched Prince Fielder up in a corset. If he could hit, I suppose it wouldn't be much of a problem, but he doesn't even do that better than the other CFers we're looking at."
Hank: "You will accept our offer! It's the best you're going to get."
Smith: "It's late, Hank. I guess we'll talk to you tomorrow?"

1AM:

Smith's answering machine: "Hi, no this isn't Terry Ryan, but leave a message anyway. You betcha."

Incoherent voice: "Terry Smith, you dog licking lap punt [hic] have I got a deal for you. Listen. No no no. Listen. I'm only going to say this once. Only once. Only one time. Listen.

...

I love you man. No I do - I love you I really love you.

...

You still got that Jojan kid? I gotta get me some of that. Listen.

...

Wait. Who is this? Why'd you call me? Who is this?

...

No, listen. We go way back, I know, so Terry, have I gotta deal for you. Listen: Wily Mo Pena. That's right. Wily Mo Pena. You what some of that? You know you do. Wily Mo Pena. AND, listen. Wily Mo Pena, AND I'll throw in this Clippard guy. I know you like those Yankees pitchers. So, listen; Wily Mo Pena AND that Clip guy AND. Thats right, AND. AND Wily Mo Pena. For that Jojan guy. You know where to find me.

[hic]

...

Is this thing on?"

Santana to the Nationals for Tyler Clippard and Lastings Milledge. You heard it here first!

It just makes sense.

Santana to the Nationals for Tyler Clippard and Lastings Milledge. You heard it here first!

And crazy Elijah

Yup ... and they perfrom the bris with a lightsaber.

May the Forceskin be with you.

Unflinchingly brilliant.

#7:

Theo: "These aren't the prospects you're looking for..."