December 16, 200421 yr from the Newark Star-Ledger: "Yankees step up effort for Hudson " Yankees step up effort for Hudson Thursday, December 16, 2004 BY DAN GRAZIANO Star-Ledger Staff With their hopes of acquiring Arizona left-hander Randy Johnson slipping away, the Yankees are focusing on a renewed effort to trade for Oakland right-hander Tim Hudson. According to multiple baseball officials familiar with the talks, the Yankees have been active on the Hudson front the past few days. Part of the reason is they're starting to think Arizona won't trade them Johnson, but another part is that the Boston Red Sox (along with the Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers and Marlins) are one of the teams trying to get Hudson. One of the officials said Boston, having reached a long-term agreement with shortstop Edgar Renteria, could be willing to include top shortstop prospect Hanley Ramirez in a deal with Oakland to get Hudson. That makes Boston more of a player than it was a week ago, when Ramirez was still in its plans. Because of Boston's activity, the Yankees have been calling Oakland GM Billy Beane regularly. Oakland has told the Yankees that they don't have enough in the way of top-level minor-league prospects to get Hudson, so the Yankees are exploring a variety of potential three-way trade scenarios, most of which involve dealing right-hander Javier Vazquez. There's a chance Oakland would want Vazquez, but it's doubtful, since part of the reason they're trading Hudson is financial (he'll be a free agent in a year) and Vazquez is due $34.5 million over the next three years. More likely, the Yankees can convince another team, such as the Dodgers, Marlins or White Sox, to take Vazquez and send players and/or prospects to Oakland while Hudson heads to the Bronx. The White Sox and Yankees have spoken several times this winter about trades, as the Yankees have tried to use Chicago as a third team in a potential Johnson deal. And the White Sox like Vazquez and could send a young pitcher such as Jon Garland to Oakland as part of a larger deal. But the Yankees might not find dealing through the Marlins or Dodgers as easy. First of all, the Marlins are still trying to get Hudson for themselves. The Yankees have discussed sending Vazquez (who would be the centerpiece of any Johnson deal should it get resurrected) to Florida for right-hander A.J. Burnett, then flipping Burnett to Oakland in a Hudson deal. But Florida thinks that, if Oakland likes Burnett that much, they might be able to convince the A's to trade Hudson to them. One Marlins official was despondent Monday when it appeared Hudson would go to Atlanta, but so far that deal hasn't happened, and other teams are hopeful as a result. The Dodgers appeared the favorites to land Hudson on Sunday, but they couldn't pull it off with top pitching prospect Edwin Jackson and second baseman Antonio Perez. Oakland's acquisition of Keith Ginter from the Brewers could mean they're not as intent as they were on getting a big-league second baseman back in their Hudson deal. But the Yankees hope the Dodgers, if they're out of the Hudson deal, might take Vazquez in exchange for Jackson, allowing the Yankees to use Jackson in a larger package for Hudson. The Yankees and the Red Sox face problems other than the lack of depth in their respective farm systems, too. Beane has said he isn't inclined to deal Hudson to an American League playoff contender except in a deal that overwhelms him. So far, neither of the top two teams in the league has been able to do that. Right-handers Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright could have their contracts announced by the Yankees some time early next week. Pavano has agreed to a four-year contract worth about $42 million, while Wright's three-year deal is worth $21 million. The Yankees also continue negotiations with free-agent lefty Eric Milton and free-agent right-hander Orlando Hernandez, either of whom could sign as a sixth starting pitcher.
December 16, 200421 yr Thanks for the story Penn. I've also read that the Red Sox have cooled talks with Odalis and they are focusing on Clement... so good news for us. c/o Providence Journal Despite reports yesterday that the Sox are pursuing lefthander Odalis Perez , the team has mixed reports on him and is not currently considering him as an option. The Sox have made a three-year offer to free agent righthander Matt Clement, thought to be worth just over $24 million.
December 16, 200421 yr MarlinatPenn, Thanks for the Posting. Star-Ledger's Dan Graziano was the Palm Beach Post #1 sports reporter for at least several years. A solid guy. I'm glad to know where he is. He's going to continue moving up.
December 16, 200421 yr What does everyone think about having 3 lefties in the rotation? What's the precedent?
December 16, 200421 yr What does everyone think about having 3 lefties in the rotation?? What's the precedent? It didn't hurt the Mets in 2000 (Hampton, Leiter, and Rusch) nor the '96 Yankees (Key, Pettitte, Rogers).
December 16, 200421 yr What does everyone think about having 3 lefties in the rotation? What's the precedent? 636325[/snapback] Big O is a heck of a lefty, I don't mind.
December 16, 200421 yr I can't believe we are going after Hudson. I dont think anybody saw this coming when the offseason started.
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