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.

In an earlier post we were informed Mets thirdbaseman David Wright had some serious off-season arm candy on the other night at the Ford Supermodel of the World show at Terminal 5 in Manhattan. Apparently her name is Molly Beers and even more apparent is the fact that we wouldn’t need any…

Way to go David, but it seems about right that you could pull in such serious talent. But THAT serious? Anyway, please take our advice: make sure to drink a lot of electrolytes during this season. You’ll need your strength at season’s end.

Ahhh, nothing goes with the smell of burning Hot Stove logs quite like the stench of another Buster Olney report.

In his latest column for ESPN Insider, Buster Olney is claiming a possible shoulder injury to Johan Santana could be the major factor in trading the lefty before spring training.

Olney recently spoke with a “talent evaluator” recently who “thinks that if the 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.”

Nice job finally providing statistical references Buster, but one look at another dominant AL lefty’s career will tell you that perhaps switching leagues would benefit Santana stats, and shines some light on the situation more than this “arm trouble” speculation. But that’s what we do Buster, we dig a little deeper.

We remember Randy Johnson had similar arm questions surface in 1998, his last year in Seattle and a 4.33 ERA was decent evidence that his dominant days were behind him. Too many fastballs and sliders must have taken their toll, right?

Well, not so much. A trade to the NL followed by four consecutive Cy Young Awards and his “shoulder problems” were just fine thank you.

Granted, it turned out that similar Pedro Martinez questions turned out to be a reality, resulting in major surgery, but not before two years of NL dominance after the age of 34.

Johnson was 35 at the time of the deal and spent years baffling AL hitters, widely considered the stronger offensive league. Historically the arms of fastball/change up pitchers like Johan have held up well. Not to mention Santana turns just 29 in March.

Needless to say that speculating about arm problems is a sensational journalistic tactic at best. So allow us to speculate that Buster’s “talent evaluator” is either Mr. Hanky or Linda Cohn.

Kudos to Sean Cunningham of Esquire for doing a great job chronicling Roger Clemens behavior over the years. Cunningham demonstrates countless reasons why the Rocket’s image and credibility is taking a shot and why he shouldn’t be surprised that he’s not “getting the benefit of the doubt.” It’s simply because time and time again Clemens has exhibited strange (see: douchebag) behavior and why he’s one of the least loved athletes the sport has ever seen. If you’re not loyal to your fan base, as Clemens wasn’t, particularly in Toronto, New York and Houston, fans are sure to return the favor.

Two of my favorites:

1996

Insisting the only thing that would make him leave Boston is a desire to play closer to his Texas home, Clemens decides to join the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite this, Clemens graciously expresses great fondness for the Red Sox, noting his former teammates are “distraught” and “on their way out the door.”

2000

An irate Clemens throws a piece of a broken bat at Mike Piazza during the World Series. Maintaining total innocence, Roger offers the perfectly plausible explanation that he just wanted to toss the bat “towards our on-deck circle, where our batboys were at.” Then he offers the equally perfectly plausible explanation that he “thought [the bat] was the ball.” Finally, he concludes, “To be honest with you, I didn’t know if it was the bat or the ball,” putting the matter to rest forever.

On his blog for The Star Tibune, Twins beat reporter La Velle A. Neal III now feels the Mets could be a viable option in the Santana sweepstakes. Way to go La Velle, but I feel like I’ve seen your sentiments somewhere before:

“This is pure speculation, but you have to wonder if the Twins would prefer to deal Santana to a National League team. Santana, a career .258 hitter, would get the chance to swing the bat. And, except for interleague play, the Twins wouldn’t have to face him during the regular season.”

Pure speculation?

“Why would the Twins be willing to ensure American League dominance by moving their prize lefty to either the Red Sox or Yankees?…..This brings us to the Mets, the place where Johan seems to fit perfectly. Santana has leverage here, and is an accomplished athlete, who would love to come to the ballpark and swing the lumber. Of course, logic would not dictate Santana’s demand to come to the National League lies on the fact that he wants to hit. No, but what makes the Mets a realistic option is GM Omar Minaya’s aggressiveness to make a deal, and the young prospects to make it happen.”

I’m not looking for any credit here, I’m just damn happy that someone is starting to see this thing for what it is. The Mets have a real shot here people, just be patient.

Our old friend Cliff Floyd has apparently found a home (semi-retirement) in the “Sunshine State,” signing a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. No truth to the rumor that he agreed to move into the same assisted retirement community as Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and the REAL old one.

I know, I know, the “Golden Girls” lived in Miami, not Tampa, but close enough.

I always thought Cliff was the best warm-weather hitter in baseball so we should be seeing Cliff in the lineup sometime mid-June.

As Frank Drebin would say, “Very impressive, yes.”

Oh, and people who saw the other guy throw off a mound said he looked pretty good too.

I’m not going to waste my time with all the names, because yesterday’s proceedings are just the tip of the iceberg. We’ll wait until the names surface from other investigations sure to follow which will highlight activity outside the country in places like Tijuana, where “the juice” is easier to find than street fruit. I mean, if Mark McGwire is not on this list, or dozens of players who fit the profile of big stats/bigger decline, then we should hold our breath for other reports to surface.

I will say this about Roger Clemens. He can deny these allegations all he wants, and he may be right in doing so, and he may be innocent. But let’s just say that Clemens taking steroids and HGH makes a ton of sense.

If you watched his playoff performance in 2000 throwing 93 MPH sinkers at a baffled Mariners line up, or watched him twitch and shake during his effort in the World Series against the Mets, you’d think he’d need some help to get that superhuman. This report gives credence to baseball fans befuddled by Clemens reaction to Mike Piazza’s broken bat when he admitted he, “thought it was the ball” and that he was “really pumped up.”

Decent job by the YES Network yesterday, whose “Hot Stove” edition featured Bob Klapisch urging Clemens to sue former trainer Brian McNamee, or take a lie-detector test, in order to prove his innocence and to keep his legacy in tact. Also, the forum allowed for Dave Justice, a YES employee and former player whose name appeared on the list, the first chance to publicly clear his name, which he attempted to do. Justice cited his “fear of needles” as the reason he never used despite being linked to making purchases.

However, YES missed the opportunity to set the record straight regarding the hiring of McNamee, who was reportedly hired as strength and conditioning coach at Clemens’ urging, in 2000. McNamee was not retained in 2002 after he was questioned by police in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a woman during the 2001 season. It was reported the woman ingested the date-rape drug GHB. Charges were never filed against McNamee.

Clearly, if there was a chance to set the record straight about the team’s relationship with its former employer this was it, however YES executives passed.

What would the hot stove be without a pessimistic view on the Mets performance from ESPN’s own Bob Klapisch?

On ESPN, Bob “Watch out Bonilla’s behind you!” Klapisch attempts to rationalize just what happened to the Mets at the end of 2007, forcing fans to again remember the slow and painful last two weeks of the season.

The Mets collapsed Bob, we get it. But in all honesty, it saved us some serious humiliation against the scorching Rockies.

Offering no further insight into how to fix the Mets, Klap douses the chances the Mets had in getting Dan Haren, by implying they can’t work out a deal with the A’s without Lastings Milledge. Clearly, Bobby has no idea that Billy Beane was never asking for L Millz in any deal. But hey, why waste minutes on your cell phone when the Bergen Record is picking up the bill? I guess Bobby’s part time ESPN work isn’t enough to get him such pesky benefits.

Anyway, Milledge was never going west, that much is obvious, and the Twins may still make a deal that includes both Gomez and Martinez, which this Met fan hopes Omar would do in a heartbeat.

Thanks for the “knowledge” Klap, say hi to Buster Olney for us. We know he’s right next to you at the dinner table. After all, someone has to pick up the bill.

Mr. Unreliable Source? Table for two?…