News & Notes

- First some Johan Santana news: According to the Pioneer Press Santana could be traded within ten days. La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune thinks the next week will be a very critical one for the Johan sweepstakes, and that the Twins may be ready to tell all teams involved for their final offer. Also in the article he says the Twins have disputed reports that were saying that lefthander Jon Lester is off the table.

It seems this deal has been "imminent" since the winter meetings, and obviously nothing has happened, but we will see. I still hope Hank holds his ground and keeps Phil Hughes.

- Peter Abraham and Jack Curry both wrote about the Bernie Williams/Brian Cashman feud that came out of nowhere this weekend. Cashman, who was speaking at William Paterson University in New Jersey, questioned Willliams' commitment to the Yankees, and also complained about Torre's use of Bernie in 2005 and 2006, saying he looked for ways to play Williams “ahead of guys who could help us win.”

Williams, when told about the comments, was obviously offended.

"I don't think he has any basis to say anything like that," Williams said. "Let me put it this way: Questioning a person's commitment to the team is a very serious accusation, at least in my book."

He also said he would like to sit down and talk to Cashman abou the comments.

I really don't understand why Cashman would go after Bernie like this. I know he was asked about Bernie, but take the high road Brian, attacking a Yankee Legend like this is just stupid.

- Hank sits down with the AP to discuss the state of the Yankees, his patience with the younger players, and why nobody should question the Yankees most recent dynasty. Here's a quote from the article that I found to be typically Steinbrenner:

"I will be patient with the young pitchers and players. There's no question about that because I know how these players develop," he said. "But as far as missing the playoffs - if we miss the playoffs by the end of this year, I don't know how patient I'll be. But it won't be against the players. It won't be a matter of that. It will be a matter of maybe certain people in the organization could have done something else."

Cashman, he's talking to you.

- Jon Harper wrote an atricle today about the same interview, but at the end he had an interesting take on the contract Robbie Cano just signed.

Some baseball people wonder if it was a smart move to agree to give Robinson Cano a four-year contract worth a guaranteed $30 million, given that he is still three years away from being eligible for free agency. As one AL scout said yesterday. "He has a tendency to put it on cruise control. He's got a world of talent, but I know the Yankees had concerns at one point about his work ethic. Sometimes young guys get that first big contract and their intensity comes and goes."

This is where the Yankee veterans need to step in and make sure the youngster keeps his head on straight.

- Dayn Perry of Fox Sports lists his breakout candidates for 2008, our very own Phil Hughes was number four of the list.

- Chuck Knoblauch's mother weighs in on her son's whereabouts, “I think I know my son well enough to know that he’s not going to let this pass.”