John Heyman, who we have to say is turning into the anti-Buster Olney, reports that the Mets appear to be having daily discussions with the Twins and believe they have a legitimate shot to bring the lefty to Queens, something we believed would happen all along.

Hot Foot noted a month ago that the media buzz surrounding the Sox and Yankees obtaining Johan Santana outweighed Twins GM Bill Smith’s desire to trade him to an AL rival. Indeed, now there seems to be one logical spot for Santana, since the Theo Epstein’s Sox and the Hankees don’t seem willing to outbid one another.

“Neither the Red Sox, who have seemed consistently lukewarm in this derby, nor the Yankees, who have run hot and cold, has been as aggressive as one might expect considering their longstanding fight over players big and small. At this point, it appears either might simply be happy not to see Santana go to the other. “

Granted this news gets us absolutely nowhere, but at least Heyman knows Omar’s number, which leads us to think something may be brewing here and the Mets may be the only real option for Smith and the Twins. But then again, by using our own common sense, we’ve known that all along.

Simply put, why on earth would Smith trade Santana to an AL East team when his team is positioned to add pieces that can make them playoff contenders. So the Twins get Ian Kennedy or a Jon Lester and win the Wild Card. What happens when they face the Yanks or Sox WITH Santana? Have they really gotten any better?

Read the entire article at SI.com.

The Metropolitans points us to some comments Jim Callis of Baseball America made regarding the Mets offer for Johan Santana, specifically Fernando Martinez…

Chris (Hoboken, NJ): Ok Mr. Callis, I got a bone to pick with you. Every week you’re kind enough to answer the general what will it take for the Mets to acquire Johan, and some set of Mets prospects is thrown out for you to comment on, to which you always reply the Mets prospects aren’t enough for Johan. However, this week, you were quoted as saying that “If the Twins wanted to roll the dice, the Mets’ offer could be the best deal. (Martinez’s) offensive potential is significant. (He’s) a special offensive player he can do anything he wants offensively.” So let me ask you, is F-mart, C-Gomez, K Mulvey, D. Guerrra, and P Humber enough or too much to get Johan? How would that offer compare to the Sox and Yanks offers, assuming one of Ellsbury, Hughes or Lester is included? Oh, and go buy the 2008 handbook!

Jim Callis: Wait a minute, Chris. I never said Martinez can do anything he wants offensively. In that article in the Boston Herald, I said the Mets’ offer potential could be the best — if it includes Martinez, Guerra and Gomez AND they all reach their potential. That’s a big IF, because there’s a significant gap between their present abilities and their ceilings. If someone wanted to gamble, that could be a big payoff. But you also could be left holding the bag if only one of those guys pans out as hoped. The problem with the Mets’ packages is that Humber and Pelfrey have diminished value, Mulvey is interesting but not a frontline pitcher and their best players lack a lot of polish because they’re so young. And yes, go buy the Handbook!

Buster Olney writes in his ESPN blog…

Twins are intent on swapping Santana for a relatively modest package of prospects before the start of spring training, this may reflect some concern over the pitcher’s physical condition. In the aftermath of Santana’s 17-strikeout game against the Rangers on Aug. 19, there was some evidence of diminished velocity in the left-hander, and it was noted by at least one scout that he used his slider much less often — and in his final seven starts after that 17-strikeout game, Santana compiled a 5.11 ERA, allowing nine homers in 44 innings.

Joe Christensen, at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, quotes Jim Callis, executive editor of Baseball America, who said that even if the Yankees were to include right-hander Ian Kennedy in their offer or the Mets were to include hitting phenom Fernando Martinez, neither team’s package would be better than the Lester-Crisp package (Callis’ first choice) or the Ellsbury (No. 2 for Callis) offer.

The Boston Herald provides analysis of each proposed package for Johan Santana by the experts at Baseball America.

Tim Kurkjian on today’s ESPN.com chat was asked about the Mets and their chances at landing Johan Santana.

When are the Mets going to swoop in and pluck Santana away from the Twins?

Tim Kurkjian: That is a good question. To me the Mets need him even more than the Yankees need him, and much more than the Red Sox need him. But people around the game have been telling me for months that the Mets might not have what it takes to get Santana, unless they are willing to get rid of Reyes, and they are not going to do that from all indications. The Mets slide last year were due to a lot of factors, but none was bigger than their shortage of starting pitching. I do not know where Santana is going to go, but my guess would be that it is not going to be the Mets.

I might be able to shed more light on this Reyes thing soon. I’ve been poking around to see if the Twins really are still requiring Reyes to be part of a deal, as Mike Francesa keeps beating the drum on. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to share more of what I have heard.

1050 ESPN Radio reports that the Yankees will not restart trade talks with the Twins unless Hank Steinbrenner has another change of heart, citing a baseball official with knowledge of the talks as their source.

Funny, didn’t they say that like a month ago? Sorry, but I just don’t believe anything coming out of Hankeeland.

The official said the Mets and Red Sox are the only remaining teams left bidding for Santana.

UPDATE : Just as I suspected, four hours later Hank told the Associated Press “theres still a little talk back and forth”

So there you have it folks, the Hankees are a big fat joke. 

Tim Dierkes, at the must read MLB Trade Rumors, recently spoke with La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune regarding Johan Santana.

The Boston Globe cites two general managers who said they believe the Mets are the front-runners for Johan Santana.

The reason they believe Santana is headed to the Mets is because they need him more than the Yankees and Red Sox.

Mets GM Omar Minaya has to make a big splash, much as he did when he brought in Pedro Martínez, to make New York fans forget the horrible ending to last season. Pitcher Deolis Guerra and outfielders Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez are the names most often mentioned as trade possibilities for Santana. Of course, both GMs also pointed out that the Yankees or Red Sox are only a phone call away from getting it done.

New York Post blog ‘Back Page’ quotes Johan Santana, who recently arrived in Fort Myers, Florida to start his workouts.

“I’m a Minnesota Twin. That’s all I know. It’s up to them. Whatever they have to do is going to happen. It has nothing to do with me at all,” Santana told the News-Press. “I said it from the beginning during the season last year, whatever will be the best for this team and this organization, I’ll agree with that.”

There are many mixed reports today regarding the Johan Santana to the Mets rumors.

Yesterday it was reported in the Minnesota Star-Tribune that if Fernando Martinez were added to a deal that included Carlos Gomez, pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra it would seal the deal for Santana.

However Adam Rubin and Ian Begley at the New York Daily News report that is not the case, according to a ‘team insider’.

Team insider!

Ugh, I am so sick and tired of reading about ‘people close to the Mets thinking’ or ‘team insider’, I mean that could be anyone. I’m at least willing to accept ‘team official’ or even the world famous ‘major league official’ as a source, but team insider, cmon.

Meanwhile, Matthew Cerrone at MetsBlog writes that Mike Francesa of WFAN continues to state that Jose Reyes is holding up this deal.

Look, I love Mike and the Mad Dog, for entertainment, but for actual news and analysis, they’re again, shall we say, entertaining in their grasp of reality.

Over at the New York Post, Kevin Kernan writes that the Mets, according to ‘industry sources’, have told the Twins they are unwilling to include Fernando Martinez in a deal.

Industry sources!

A more reliable report comes from Ed Coleman of WFAN who said he spoke to Mets GM Omar Minaya in Israel and Minaya said “there’s not much to it.” in reference to Martinez being a deal breaker.

Additionally, Kernan writes that the Twins have not decided exactly what kind of package they want for Santana, simply prospects, major league ready players, or a combination of both. Bill Smith is in his first year as GM in Minnesota and doesn’t want to screw up his first major deal.

Murray Chass at the New York Times speculates that yesterday’s report, which originated in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, may have been created to lure the Yankees back into the Mix. Chass writes…

the Mets “might be the best fit,” was an idea generated by the Twins in an effort to induce the Yankees to move. General managers have been known to use reporters to stir another team’s interest.

Using reporters to manipulate teams! Don’t believe everything you read, kids. So basically nobody knows anything. Excuse me while I go talk to my ‘team insider’, Short Al from Brooklyn.

According to a report by Kevin Kernan of the New York Post, sources say the Mets have told the Twins they would not throw in top outfield prospect Fernando Martinez in a five-for-one deal for Twins SP Johan Santana.

The two teams continue to talk and word out of Minnesota yesterday was that, yes, the Mets could snare Cy Young Santana for the right price, but as far as the Mets are concerned, that five-for-one deal is not the right price.

Mets New York Mets sources told the Post they would not make such a trade, sending away all those top-level prospects. They also have made it clear they are not trading Jose Reyes. If this deal is to get done, the Mets would be willing to give up some prospects, but not all those mentioned.

The current deal according to a report out of Minneapolis yesterday is SP Kevin Mulvey, SP Deolis Guerra, SP Phil Humber and CF Carlos Gomez.

Meanwhile, David Lennon of Newsday chimes in with more trade notes.

Just how aggressive is where Fernando Martinez, a top outfield prospect, enters the equation. A report in yesterday’s Minneapolis Star-Tribune suggested that the Mets needed only to include Martinez to complete a deal for Santana. Two people familiar with the situation said yesterday that is not the case.

Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the Mets have made an offer of SP Philip Humber, SP Kevin Mulvey, SP Deolis Guerra, OF Carlos Gomez for Twins ace Johan Santana. The Twins like those players. They’ve told the Mets they’d have a done deal if New York would add prized outfield prospect Fernando Martinez.

The New York Daily News reports that Hank Steinbrenner is ‘leaning away’ from trading for Johan Santana.

Mets Blog reports that the buzz from Boston is that the Red Sox are looking to acquire a significant set-up man, which will likely cost them one of the players needed to get Santana.

The Mets are in dire need of a starter right now. With Haren off the market, Bedard likely headed to Seattle, Santana appears to be the only A-Level type pitcher the Mets can pursue now.

The farm system wasn’t that great to begin with, might as well clean it out and start fresh while getting a two-time Cy Young award winner in the process.

Sean Deveney in The Sporting News believes the Mets will likely enter spring training with 8 to 9 pitchers vying for a spot in the starting rotation.

Its the Mets version of American Idol. Three or four of the spots will be locked up, by Pedro, Maine, Perez, and most likely El Duque. That leaves Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and three yet to be determined contestants to vie for the final spot in the top five.

That is of course unless Omar shocks the world and lands the biggest prize of this offseason. Stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath.

Our favorite Mets curmudgeon, Marty Noble, tackles the tough questions in the latest edition of his mailbag column. Among them, was the Angel Pagan trade a pre-cursor to a larger deal for Johan Santana?

Find out the answer on Mets.com