In an article for the Star Tribune, Joe Christensen discusses the latest Johan Santana rumors.

According to Cristensen, talks with the Red Sox have centered around Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester however the Sox have refused to part with both Ellsbury and Lester in the same package up to now.  He says that the Twins have been focused on the offer with Ellsbury but the sides are disagreeing on other pieces of the deal to go with Ellsbury, SS Jed Lowrie and relief prospect Justin Masterson.

Regarding the Mets situation with Santana he writes:

Mets General Manager Omar Minaya sounded optimistic about his team’s chances of landing Santana late last week, but others have all but ruled the Mets out. It’s been said Santana would need to fall into Minaya’s lap because he won’t part with shortstop Jose Reyes and has limited pitching prospects.

Some say that despite the Mets’ reservations about Santana’s cost — including talent for the trade and money for his contract extension — they feel compelled to stay involved so fans can’t accuse them of ignoring an opportunity.

Christensen also writes that talks between the Twins and Yankees have been dormant.

So, we’re exactly where we were at a week ago.  It looks like the Sox are ahead but who knows. 

Everybody seems to be writing that the Mets’ in particular have reservations about giving Santana those seven years, but I’m skeptical that any team is really willing to do that happily. My guess is no team wants to give him seven years, but if a team really wants to make a deal happen they will give in to that last year or two.

So, basically nothing new here, but what would a day be like without some Johan Santana chatter?