In a chat for ESPN.com Jayson Stark moderates the debate whether the Mets or Phillies are the favorites for the NL East in ‘08, asssuming that the Johan Santana trade is wrapped up in the coming days.

While he concludes that the Mets appear to have the advantage, many people posted interesting points for him, both arguing for the Phillies and for the Mets.

Charley Waters of the Pioneer Press is reporting that the Mets appear closer to an agreement with ace SP Johan Santana. The two sides are reportedly talking about a six-year deal, worth more than $150 million, with a $7 million signing bonus and performance-based incentives.

Here’s same chatter from around the web about the on-going extension talks between the Mets and Johan Santana:

• For his blog at ESPN, Buster Olney writes how Santana and his agent are going force a blank check out of the Mets.
• The AP writes how the Mets have a good relationship with Santana’s agent Peter Greenberg who represents Jose Reyes and Endy Chavez.
• For the New York Post, Mark Hale and Joel Sherman write that you shouldn’t expect the talks to hit a snag.
• In the Daily News, Andy Mccarron quotes Hank Steinbrenner as saying it was a great move for the Mets.

Here are some of your top non-newspaper links of the morning, all regarding the Johan Santana trade:

• At ESPN.com, Tristan Cockroft breaks down the trade from a fantasy perspective.
• At Sportsline.com, Eric Mack gives us a breakdown of the deal and all the players.
• Also at Sportline.com Scott Miller writes how Johan Santana is the cure to The Collapse
• At the Phillies’ blog Beer Leaguer, Weitzel announces the trade, and probably the best part is the reader comments.
• White Sox fans at MVN are thrilled to see Santana leave the American League.

Oh boy….

One of the articles mentioned a collapse? What collapse?

Here are some early looks at the Johan Santana deal:

• In his blog, Keith Law gives a thorough, in-depth analysis of the trade and declares its hard to look at it in a way that the Mets aren’t winners.
• At MLB Rumors, Tim Dierkes breaks down his thoughts on the trade.
• At Fox Sports, Ken Rosenthal discusses how the Twins had to settle for the Mets’ offer.
• In a video for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons breaks down the deal.
• For CNNSI, Jon Heyman writes how the Twins are betting on the Mets’ talent and upside that they offered in the deal.

Oh boy…

If you’d like to chat about the Mets acquisition of Johan Santana or just the Mets in general, head on over to the The Hot Foot Bleachers.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today is reporting that the Twins have sent Johan Santana to the Mets for Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey, Phil Humber and Deolis Guerra.

The madness has ended.

Buster Olney at ESPN reports that the Twins asked for each team’s “last and best offers” on Monday. A decision on where Johan Santana will land could be announced as early as today.

Buster writes that the Yankees “appear to be not presently engaged whatsoever in the Santana talks.”

Olney also reports that he has been hearing conflicting things about Jon Lester’s availability. Lester may be available in a more limited package, for example Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson, according to Joel Sherman at the New York Post.

Adam Rubin writes on his blog for the New York Daily News

“I’m pretty optimistic about the Mets’ chances of landing Johan Santana soon”

On the subject of coming to terms with Santana in a deal, the Mets have been insisting they limit their contracts with pitchers to five years, while Santana is looking for seven. Ken Davidoff at Newsday reports that the Mets have an excellent relationship with Santana’s representative, Peter Greenberg, who also holds Jose Reyes as a client.

Meanwhile over at Gotham Baseball, Mark Healey states that he has sources that say the Twins are trying to pull the Dodgers into the bidding.

UPDATE 1:12PM EST - Marty Noble at MLB.com reports that a person with firsthand knowledge of the Mets dealing with the Twins acknowledged that the Mets have received a “best offer” request of the Twins, an indication perhaps that the Santana trade scenario has moved into its final stage. It is not known if the Twins have asked other clubs for the same.

The Mets wish to exclude Fernando Martinez from the deal so some combination of outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Kevin Mulvey, Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Deolis Guerra seems the most likely offer.

UPDATE 1:40PM EST - WFAN reported that Santana turned down a $100 million, five year offer by the Twins.

At this point, I will believe it when I see it in completely done. I am so burned out on this Johan stuff, and I know many fans are as well.

A story in Impacto Deportivo was translated by a commenter on MLB Trade Rumors to read the following…

I am a Spanish/English/French speaker so here is how I translated it:

IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT CARLOS GOMEZ OF THE TIGERS CAN HELP THEM IN THE CARRIBEAN WORLD SERIES

Carlos Gomez, who was selected by the Licey Tigers to help them in the world Series, has been placed as a doubtful player.

It is reported that the New York Mets will not give the Licey Tigers permission to play him.

Journalist Elías Wehber revealed from Santiago, in his Amanecer Deportivo, that Gomez’ family has said that it will be difficult for Gomez to play in the series.

The only thing left is for licey to make a formal request to the New York Mets for Gomez to play.

It is the case that it is doubtful for Gomez to play for the Licey Tigers.

It is not clear if this is an indication that the move is a precursor to Gomez being made available as part of a deal or if they Mets simply wanted to hold Gomez back from further activities before spring training begins.

Hat tip to Ed Ryan at Mets Fever for the heads up.

UPDATE : Jan 29, 11:25AM EST - Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes regarding the move

There was a report yesterday out of the Dominican Republic that the Mets had pulled Gomez from his Winter League team. But Met officials said it was their plan to limit Gomez’s games, and that this was not the prelude to a trade.

The end could finally be near in the Johan Santana sweepstakes.

And the winner is . . . according to a report yesterday in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the answer likely will be revealed within the next 10 days, before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

Rumors have swirled that the Twins are asking for Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith or Scott Schoeneweis as the fifth player included in a Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra package. I’d be hesitant about Smith because I love his arm angle out of the pen. It gives hitters a different look, but I’m not sure it’d be a deal breaker. Either way it looks like the end is near.

Matt Cerrone (of Mets Blog) hints that one way or the other The Johan Santana will be traded Somewhere in Ten Days.

The Experts here at Hot Foot predict ten days of nonstop speculation and blogging across of baseball, most likely resulting in the complete and total destruction of the internet, as well as the greater Twin Cities region of Minnesota.

Medical personal specializing in ulcers, stroke, and heart attack have all been put in full alert in the Metro New York, Boston, and Minneapolis regions. The Mets are rumored to be the front runner, unless of course you listen to bloggers in Boston or the Bronx. The Florida Marlins are not believed to be in contention at this time, though experts have yet to rule out the Kansas City Royals.

The winning GM is expected to receive a lifetime extension, while the other GMs in baseball will be fired and/or executed. Unless of course, Johan gets hurt next year, struggles in a larger market spotlight (which compared to Minessota, is everywhere), or turns out to be a robot from the future intent on finding Sarah Conner.

La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that both the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins have discussed adding another player to the reported Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey deal. While the Mets view 19-year old prospect Fernando Martinez as ‘practically untouchable’, the two sides have talked about adding Scott Schoeneweis, Joe Smith or Aaron Heilman to the deal for Johan Santana.

The Yankees and Twins have discussed adding a third or fourth player to their proposed deal of Philip Hughes and Melky Cabrera.

The Red Sox have discussed tweaking the back-end of their current offers to make the deal happen, but the Twins still would have to work with either a deal led by outfield prospect Jacoby Ellsbury or another led by pitcher Jon Lester, but not both in the same deal.

Update 1/26 - 7:12 p.m. - It appears that Neal updated the article and now it does not include pitchers Scott Schoeneweis or Joe Smith.

As I am just about completely burned out from the Johan Santana hype machine, I really enjoyed reading Joe Posnanski’s post on his blog about his disenchantment with baseball as a Kansas City Royals fan and columnist for the Kansas City Star.

I recommend checking it out as a nice diversion until we finally get some closure from our long national nightmare.