I guess the Boston-New York rivalry doesn’t want to stop when the season ends. It just has to always find a way to keep on pumping all year ’round, and that includes the Winter meetings, where Minnesota is in trouble, and opportunities abound for both teams.

Minnesota superstar Johan Santana is one of the best pitchers around, and the Twins can’t afford him much longer, because after his contract has expired, he’ll probably ask for about a fourth of what Minnesota can spend on players. So, the logical choice is to trade him now, so they can get something for him. Both teams are offering a whole lot of ’something’. The ‘Sox are offering some combination of Coco Crisp, John Lester, Jacoby Ellsberry, and two highly regarded prospects. The Yanks, however, aren’t offering as much, just the likes of Ian Kennedy, righty Phil Hugues, and outfielder Melky Cabrera. But, he Yankees are apparently out of the deal, because Hank Steinbrenner said that they had to make the trade  by Monday Night. The Red Sox are going to be even more dominant this year, with an All-Star lineup of Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, and Daisuke Matsuzaka, maybe even Johan Santana. As of now, they’re my pick to repeat as MLB champs. Wait till the year after next year, Cubbies!