The AL Gets Better… Again
By now most of you have probably heard of the recent blockbuster deal between the Detroit Tigers and the Florida Marlins which has sent superstars Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to Detroit. A few weeks after trading for Edgar Renteria from the Braves, the Tigers are looking like a killer team. These acquisitions should be more than enough to put them ahead of the Indians in the central, which puts the Indians competing for wildcard. As we saw this past the season, the Indians are definetely a good team and that just makes it harder for the other wildcard competitors, most probably either the Yanks or the Red Sox. The AL playoff battle was tough last year with the Tigers the ones who ended up fighting for the wild card, which they eventually lost to the Yanks. It is clear that the owners are serious about winning and they don’t want a repeat, which is why all this talent has been brought over. Now that leaves Cleveland and the second place team in the AL East to fight for wildcard (sorry to the AL West, but the wildcard isn’t coming out of there) and the other one who will no doubt still be a great team, goes home with nothing.
Now on the other side of the ball, is the NL, where there are only a couple of teams that even look like they have a chance to challenge one of the top 5 from the AL. The AL has been dominant for years and this off season has showed us that it isn’t the end. Look at last year: do you seriously think that any of the AL playoff teams would have lost in the World Series to any of the NL playoff teams? Exactly. And this year the AL is better, thats just scary.
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If the Bronx Bombers don’t land Johan Santana from the Twins, Dan Haren or Joe Blanton from the A’s is another possibility. The A’s, who are currently waiting for bids from the Yanks or Red Sox, are looking to shop them or atleast hear some offers. Dan Haren is more likely who the Yanks and other teams will try to get first. It is speculated that a deal for Haren would probably cost the Yanks about the same as a deal for Santana (maybe minus the mid-level prospect). Haren or Blanton would certainly be a nice addition to the Yankee rotation as well, both of them having eras under 4 and winning 14 (Blanton) and 15 (Haren) games a piece.
Andy Pettitte has decided to return as a Yankee in 2008 after contemplating whether or not to retire. He had declined a $16 million option earlier, but GM Brian Cashman had told his to take some more time if he needed and that the offer would still be waiting for him; today Pettitte decided to take it. This is great news for the Yanks, as he is a great addition to the pitching rotation. If Santana is thrown into the mix, this pitching staff should be a lot better next October. With Pettitte’s decision the Pinstripes are looking a lot like last years team minus Roger Clemens (and obviously management is different). As of now we have Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain as starters. Ian Kennedy may also get a chance should someone get injured or perform really badly. With a lot of the younger guys getting another year under their belts next October should be a different story for us, especially if Santana is in pinstripes too.