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This would be a tough call for the Yankees.
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You can say that again. If I were trading an everyday player like Cano away, I would want more than one year of "cheap" Santana and several years of "expensive" Santana back. For a package of Cano and Melky, I would want one of the Twins young pitchers and Alexi Casilla back.

Still, that one would hurt. I'd miss Cano and Cabrera.

An argument for the trade would be just the fact that, for whatever reason, second basemen do not age very well.

As it stands the Yankees cannot afford to lose any and I repeat any offensive bright stops in their lineup right now.To give up Cano and Melky makes no sense,because the are so cheap and Santana will command $20 million dollars plus on the open market.We've seen how both the Vasquez and the Johnson trades worked out,if you count what was given up to get Vasquez(who was given up to get Johnson) and then Johnson what was it 6 players for Johnson in the end?The Yanks have already lost Arod they cannot lose production from two other spots and then go out and get a centerfielder for $12 million And another second baseman for God knows what!Get rid of Cano and Melky and spend 40 million dollars a year(including Santana's salary which might be $25 million) to find new players for 2nd and centerfield and third base, the catchers,middle relief,and closer are still a question mark?The Yanks should worry about resigning Mo,Jorge and Andy rather than going after Santana.It looks like it will be another Johnson,Brown ,Vasquez mess !

One thing to consider, at the end of the 2008 season the Yankees will shed millions more dollars off their payroll & head into a new stadium....thus more $$$$. (Giambi, Mussina, Farnsworth, Pavano all off the books)

Every agent in baseball knows that the Yankees will win a bidding contest once the 08 season is over. I would take the chance that Santana would want to become a Free Agent when the Yankees are hunting for bear.

My preference would be for the Yankees to suck up this season...See what the kids can do...see if a few more in the minors can develop & contribute on the ML level....and then take the gloves off going forward.

My preference would be for the Yankees to suck up this season
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Based on what teams want from the Yankees for trades, I agree.

The one problem with what you say about Santana is that he could not want to risk getting hurt during 2008 and would want to sign the big contract now.

OK guys: Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and Alan Horne for Johan Santana? (And of course we can sign Santana to a long-term deal.)

Do you do it?

Do you do it?
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No. I do think that is a steep, but fair price. I would do it if it were guaranteed that Santana would continue to pitch well over the next five years, but, of course, there are no such guarantees. The Yankees have brought in many pitchers, who, for a variety of reasons, did not pitch as well for the Yankees as they should have pitched: Rogers, Weaver, Contreras, Vazquez (the most important one), Johnson, Pavano, and Brown. All of these guys looked like ok to very good acquisitions on paper.

Santana is, of course, the best of that lot, but he still represents a certain risk. Taking on that risk, paying him ~$150 million over seven years, and trading away three good prospects, to me, at least, just seems like a bad long-term move.

I could be persuaded to start building a package around Cano. I don't like the fact that Cano is so bad in day games as opposed to night games. That says to me he is out partying. (although I think this got better in the last month, month and half of the season.) And he doesn't walk enough.

If I have to use Cano, then I don't include any of the top 3 pitchers, Joba, Kennedy, or Hughes. Of course I would make the deal contingent on being able to work out a new contrack with Santana.

I would make this trade yesterday. Second basemen are a dime a dozen. If you can get a dominant top of the rotation starter and not have to give up any of the young picthers, you have to do it. Get Ray Durham or Mark Loretta to play second. Contrary to what some have said, Cano is actually a fairly dreadful defensive second baseman.

Ah, the good old Cano is bad during the day so he must be partying canard.

His running buddy Melky's OPS is better during day games, is he a "better" party boy than Cano?

Why are you so sure it's because he's out partying?

I notice Cano's numbers are better against LHP than righties. Do you think he's not trying hard enough against RHP? There must be a reason for the disparity. Why isn't he hustling against RHP?

I think it'd be a shame to move a player out at less than his actual value because of idle gossip.

RICH -

You might want to google around to try and find this - but, I'm pretty sure that there were reports this year that the Yankees were ticked by Cano not showing up for early BP when he was struggling, etc. And, once he started taking extra BP, his stats got better. I think Pete Abe blogged on it - but, I'm not 100% certain.

Actually Tex, Cano is one of the best defensive second basemen in the majors. He made huge strides this year. Also, second basemen who hit and field and are as projectible as Cano are not a dime a dozen. Realize that you'd not only be giving up what Cano would put up next season, but for all following seasons, including his prime where it is likely he will be an offensive beast. Plus, the Yankees would have Cano for rather cheap once they sign him to his first major league, multi-year contract. Add in the fact that he's already damn good defensively, and you have an extremely valuable commodity on your hands, more valuable, I think, than people realize.

2b who can hit AND field AND who are entering their prime are NOT a dime-a-dozen. by WinShares, Cano was the 3rd best AL 2b in 2007. not to mention he's the youngest of the 3 (ok, i mentioned it) by 5 years.

I googled Lohud with "Cano Party Day Games" and I got such intelligent people leaving comments with the partying theory. That's how these things work, now someone can say they saw it "reported" so it must be true.

I vaguely remember you pushing that theory too, is that right?

What a group of "Heathers".

Your correct Rich - I should have said IN MY OPINION, which since I'm not a professional reporter, that should have been implied, but from now on I'll make sure I include that for people like you Rich. I didn't come up with this theory on my own, it has been mentioned before on, WFAN, ESPN Radio/TV, various blogs, etc. So sorry RICH, I'll try to be clearer from now on.

It's not like Santana is signed to a long term deal. He's a yr away from free agency. Minny doesn't have big leverage here. The Yanks won't trade Cano.