Our new first baseman

The following pictures come from the invaluable NickSwisher.net:

Posing with the man who traded for, and traded, Nick Swisher.

Fraternizing with the enemy, Coco Crisp, at the Stikeouts for Troops Christmas Bash.

Star of commercials.

I'd make fun of this picture, but Swisher grew out his hair to donate it to women with cancer.

Stark on Santana

ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting that the Twins may wait until Spring Training for the right package in a Johan Santana trade. He also mentions that it's possible that he and his agents will refuse to waive the no-trade clause if a deal isn't completed sooner.

Stark says that the Yankees' last offer was Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez and an unnamed fourth prospect who was never agreed on. That offer is off the table unless Hank Steinbrenner brings the Yankees back into discussions.

He says that the Red Sox haven't improved their offer of Jon Lester, Coco Crisp and prospects Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie. He quotes a source who says that the Twins want the Mets, who still seem to be involved, to "rip up their whole farm system" for Santana, which is something I highly doubt they'll do.

The longer this drags on, the less inclined I am to pull the trigger on any deal for Santana. I'm willing to go to battle with the pitchers the Yankees have now, especially if Joba Chamberlain begins the season in the bullpen, as it is beginning to look like. The Yankees would have their starting rotation complete and the bullpen would be better fortified with Chamberlain in the mix early on. I'm starting to believe that Santana will at least begin the season with the Twins.

Yankees make offer for Santana

From Jack Curry:

The Yankees have offered pitcher Ian Kennedy, center fielder Melky Cabrera and at least one minor league prospect, perhaps outfielder José Tabata. In the trade discussions, the Yankees have told the Twins that pitcher Joba Chamberlain is untouchable and that they do not want to deal pitcher Phil Hughes.

Because the Twins are insisting that Hughes must be a part of the package, the Yankees are mulling whether to make that concession. If the Yankees insert Hughes for Kennedy in their offer, they think it could be enough to obtain Santana. Of course, the Yankees, or any team that reached an agreement with the Twins, would then have the challenging task of signing Santana to a huge six- or seven-year contract in a 72-hour window. (The New York Times)

I like this offer in terms of a starting point. I'm happy with the decision to make Chamberlain untouchable and I believe that Hughes will have to come into play eventually.

I am not opposed to trading Hughes but I'd prefer keeping him.

The article later mentions that the Red Sox offered Jon Lester, Coco Crisp and two minor leaguers.

This ride could get bumpy.