Should Houston of waited 3 days to pull the trigger on the Houston deal, like Ivy Chat suggests?

Because George Steinbrenner was so concerned about the Red Sox acquiring Beltran, Cashman had to keep his hand in the fire, although he preferred monitoring the pitching market. Kansas City wouldn't accept infielder Robinson Cano to go with catcher Dioner Navarro. The only way their three-way would have worked was to trade Navarro and Gordon, which the Yankees refused to do, so late Wednesday night Baird told the Yankees that if the Astros and Dodgers three-way deals were indeed dead, then Beltran was headed to Boston for Shoppach and Youkilis.

Hunsicker saved the Dotel deal. Theo Epstein was disappointed. "I still believe our package was better than what they received," said one Boston official. "But we'll move on."

I dont think Houston had much choice but to get the deal done as soon as possible with Boston and New York battling for Beltran in their own ways. This is exactly why the Yankees win championships and the Cubs don't. The Yankees will fight tooth and nail to prevent or drive up the price of a player to a division rival. They always have their fingers in the pot stirring it around.

Meanwhile the Cubs haven't even turned on the stove, and do nothing about a division rival getting an impact player like Beltran. I know we dont have the position prospects to float around but you cant tell me K.C. wouldn't drool to get its hands on Angel Guzman or Andy Sisco? I guess its crying over spilt milk.