Last year about this time everyone was saying "If anyone thinks the Yankees will be outbid for Matsuzaka, you're smoking something." True, but Matsuzaka is a different deal. For Santana, he is clearly established as the top pitcher in baseball. Unlike Dice-K, who while a great Japanese player, was a potential pumpkin like Igawa. Also, the bidding is not blind, and you can be sure George doesn't want to let anyone else have that prize. I'm sure if the Yankees knew the extent of the BoSox bid, they would have beaten it.