Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. We’ve been hearing for the last week or so that the Yankees and Twins are discussing a trade for lefty starter, Francisco Liriano. In his most recent column, Ken Rosenthal stated the Yankees offered Ivan Nova and Ramiro Pena (?????) last month for Liriano. Obviously the Twins rejected this offer and countered with this offer last night. Now, the Twins reportedly want lefty pitching prospect, Manny Banuelos in any trade for Liriano.

If I’m the Yankees, I hang up the phone once the Twins mention Banuelos’ name. Banuelos’ is the Yankees’ top pitching prospect and is expected to start the season in Double A. I’m only including Banuelos in a trade package for some guy named Felix.

I look at these trade rumors this way. The basis of any deal is formed off of perceived value. Here’s how I rank the potential deals.

Great Deal: Not giving up any of the Killer B’s (Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Andrew Brackman)

Good Deal: The 6’11″ Brackman is the centerpiece of the deal.

Tough Call: Cash pulls the trigger and builds the trade around either Banuelos or Betances and lower level prospects.

Bad Deal: Two of the three Killer B’s are shipped off. (highly unlikely).

Let’s remember too that these trade rumors are always a bit of a tease. We all thought we had Dan Haren and then Cliff Lee at the trade deadline last year. Joke was ultimately on us, the fans. The Yankees will always be at the forefront of any trade rumor so sit back and watch the drama unfold all season long.

Via IBN, the Yankees and Twins were discussing a deal for lefty starter, Francisco Liriano. The Twins were asking the Yankees for Joba Chamberlain, Ivan Nova, and Andrew Brackman OR Manny Banuelos. IBN reports that the two sides will not make a deal during Spring Training.

The 27-year-old Liriano went 14-10 with a 3.52 ERA for the Twins last season. He struck out 201 hitters in 191 innings. Liriano had Tommy John surgery in 2007 and dealt with elbow/forearm swelling during 2009. Liriano missed seven games last season with arm fatigue. Liriano and the Twins avoided arbitration earlier this season, agreeing in principle to a one-year, $4.3 million deal. Liriano is arbitration eligible for one more year in 2012 before hitting free agency.

Personally, I’d have to think long and hard about trading away Banuelos and I wouldn’t trade Jesus Montero straight up for Liriano. Banuelos’ upside is the highest among the group of pitchers and he’s the #12 prospect in the minors. If the Twins asked for Joba, Nova, and Brackman, I’d do this deal. It’s so hard to find cheap, left-handed high-strikeout arms. The arm issues worry me a little about Liriano (he has never had back-to-back 25 start seasons), but the upside and price is way too good to pass up. Any package headlined by Joba or Nova is a must-trade in my opinion.

Alike any Yankee trade rumor, stay tuned because anything could happen at any time.

Do you want Liriano? What young prospects would you be willing to part with? Give up on Joba now or wait?

ESPN’s Keith Law released (Insider req’d) his Top 100 prospects for the 2011 season. Catchers Jesus Montero (4) and Gary Sanchez (68) made the list. Pitchers Manny Banuelos (12), Dellin Betances (73), and Andrew Brackman (88) also made the list. Montero played for Triple A Scranton last season while the three Killer Bs played in Double A Trenton. Sanchez bounced around Single A ball, but many Yankee insiders believe that the 18-year-old Sanchez will become the Bombers top prospect in the next year. For a full breakdown, keep reading.

Brian Chatting With Jesus

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Via Chad Jennings, Yankees GM Brian Cashman stated yesterday that he will not surrender the team’s first round draft pick (#31 overall) in order to sign any of the three remaining Type A free agents. “I will not lose our No. 1 draft pick,” he said. “I would have for Cliff Lee. I won’t lose our No. 1 draft pick for anyone else.”

Of the remaining free agents, only Carl Pavano, Grant Balfour, and Rafael Soriano would warrant the Yankees to forfeit their first round pick.

Current Yankees, Derek Jeter (1993) and Phil Hughes (2004) were first round draft picks for the Bombers. The recently departed Ian Kennedy (2006) and currently Triple A pitcher Andrew Brackman (2007) were also first round picks.

We discussed the Yankees potentially inking Soriano this week, but Cashman’s statements indicate that the team will keep the top pick and not pursue Soriano.

Are you alright with the Yankees not pursuing Rafael Soriano?