Yanks confident, even without Santana

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

BY PETE CALDERA

STAFF WRITER

While speaking to some of his trusted veteran Yankees on other matters, senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner also has sought input about a possible deal for Johan Santana.

According to the majority opinion of his players, the team doesn't need to make a blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Twins to put them over the top.

"Nobody would say that we don't want Santana, but, yeah, they're pretty darn confident in what we can do this year [as is]," Steinbrenner said during a phone conversation Tuesday.

Steinbrenner said "a lot of factors" are involved in a potential deal for Santana, and mentioned that the Yankees already have the highest payroll in baseball.

"We're still throwing it around and talking about it. It may happen, or it may not happen," Steinbrenner said. "But a few of our best players seem very confident in the way that things stand right now."

Steinbrenner would not reveal which veteran players he had spoken to, but offered that "they feel fairly confident that we've got a lot of great young pitchers."

More than a month ago, before Andy Pettitte was re-signed, Jorge Posada was one veteran who came out in favor of a deal. "We need a No. 1, and I think that's one of the reasons we're going after Santana," Posada said at the time.

Steinbrenner said he hasn't thought about a deal with Minnesota over the past few days, and that he's "not particularly concerned" about the possibility of Santana being traded to another club.

"That's not putting him down," Steinbrenner said. "He's clearly a tremendous pitcher. It's just whether this is best [for our club]."

Steinbrenner said he feels that the Yankees "still probably have the best offer" available for Santana, but later added that "we're all very confident in [Phil] Hughes."

Hughes has been linked as the key component in a potential deal, along with center fielder Melky Cabrera, and right-handed prospect Jeff Marquez. The Twins seem to be seeking at least one more significant prospect to make a deal.

Santana also would command a significant extension, possibly near $150 million, from his new club. Apparently, there is no deadline as far as the Yankees are concerned.

"Originally, I set a deadline ... because the winter meetings [are] a circus," Steinbrenner said. "And I'm not going to be played against another team."

While Steinbrenner has been portrayed as being in favor of a trade, general manager Brian Cashman and general partner Hal Steinbrenner, Hank's younger brother, seem more concerned with the impact on the luxury tax, and more reluctant to part with young stars under the club's control for several years.

News source：http://www.northjersey.com/sports/yankees/Yankees_like_their_makeup.html