If the Yankees are going to add a stud starter via a trade it has to be Johan Santana from the Twins because Dan Haren was dealt from the Athletics to the Diamondbacks yesterday.
Haren, whom the Yankees were interested in, was traded in a six-for-two package. Headlining the six players moving from the Diamondbacks to the A’s are outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and pitcher Brett Anderson.
When the Yankees and Twins stopped talking about Santana because the Yankees refused to part with anything more than a mid-level prospect to go with Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera, Hank Steinbrenner believed the asking price for Haren would be “as high or higher” than Santana.
The Yankees monitored what the A’s did with Haren, but the A’s wanted Ian Kennedy and Hughes in a package that was too rich for the Yankees’ blood.
The Diamondbacks also traded major league saves leader Jose Valverde to Houston in separate swaps involving 12 players.
Oakland also sent right-hander Connor Robertson to Arizona and received six players: left-handers Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith; infielder Chris Carter; and outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Gonzalez.
The Diamondbacks got reliever Chad Qualls, infielder Chris Burke and right-hander Juan Gutierrez from the Astros.
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PADRES: Hours after talks broke off with Mike Cameron, San Diego agreed in principle to acquire center fielder Jim Edmonds and cash from the Cardinals for a minor leaguer.
The deal was waiting approval from the commissioner’s office because it will involve around $1 million going from the Cardinals to the Padres, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been finalized.
The Cardinals will get minor league third baseman David Freese.
In other news, former Mets left-handers Shawn Estes and Glendon Rush, neither of whom pitched in the big leagues this season, agreed to minor league contracts with San Diego.
RAYS: Former Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract with Tampa Bay, who were searching for a left-handed hitter and someone to help replace Delmon Young in right field.
The 35-year-old Floyd batted .284 with nine homers and 45 RBIs in 108 games for the Cubs this season. He’s a .279 career hitter with 222 homers and 826 RBIs in 15 major league seasons with the Cubs, Mets, Red Sox, Marlins and Expos.
TWINS: Third baseman Mike Lamb and the Twins agreed to a $6.6 million, two-year contract with an option for 2010.
Lamb is likely to get a chance to play regularly for the Twins, looking for more offense at third base. Nick Punto played 108 games at third this season and hit .210 with one home run and 25 RBIs in 472 at-bats.
RANGERS: Acquiring help for the bullpen, the Rangers introduced Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori after the sides agreed to a $3 million, two-year deal that includes a team option for 2010.