Johan and the trade market.

Boy is this fun. You got two intense rivals(Yankees and Red Sox)in on the best pitcher in baseball, plus the Angels(supposedly) and a bunch of other teams.

Right now, there is alot of bluster about what the Twins are demanding. And believe me, they have every right to demand for a guy who is a Cy Young contender. Names like Reyes, Cano, Ellsbury, Hughes are all being tossed around like ping pong balls in a blender.

The Yankees have refused to part with Joba Chamberlain but have put Hughes out there(seems there has been a shift in the pecking order, considering that Hughes was the Yankees #1 prospect according to Baseball America this past winter). Rumor has it that they offered Hughes, Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy for him. I'm not as high on Cabrera as others are(I think he's a Coco Crisp clone), and Kennedy looks like a #3 starter at best. Hughes is the gem of the deal of course, and could be a stud. Heck, if only Hughes turns out the way people think, the Twins break even likely.

The Sox have made Ellsbury their no-no guy, but have offered up Jed Lowrie(top shortstop prospect) Jon Lester, and Coco Crisp, at least. Rumor was there was a 4th player(possibly Masterson). Intersting deal, but I think I'd prefer Hughes to anyone in this offer, but its deeper in players who will help the Twins more.

I think eventually, the Sox will cave and swap Crisp for Ellsbury, and the Twins will jump all over it. If that happens, its a solid deal for the Twins, as they get two players they can plug in right now, and Lowrie isnt that far away either. And some scouts think that Lester will be better than Kennedy anyway. They could eventually wind up with 2 All-Stars from this, maybe more.

Supposedly, the Mets are pushing hard for Eric Bedard, who it doesnt look like the O's can sign to a long term deal. Apparently, their offer of Carlos Gomez, Phillip Humber and Aaron Heilman was turned down. I think if the Mets push, they could work something out. But they need to step up their package, and include someone like Kevin Mulvey instead of Humber, and maybe add a 4th player, someone like Mike Carp? I think the O's would be happy with this, as they get a dependable reliever(perhaps someone who can jump into the #5 spot), a starting centerfielder and a projected #3/4 starter.

Obviously the Mets get an ace in return, a player who has lowered his ERA while increasing his strikeout totals for 4 straight seasons. If need be, the Mets should consider taking a contract dump(an Aubrey Huff or a Baez) if it helps it get done. To me, this is a better alternative to Dan Haren, whom I like. I think Haren is a #2/3 starter, while Bedard is an ace who would flourish at Shea.