Wow is all I can say right now. A lot happened while we were sleeping last night with the talks involving Johan Santana and the Red Sox. So let’s take a look what transpired while you were drooling on your pillow last night.
Amalie Benjamin from the Boston Globe reported at 2:11 AM that the Twins requested medical records on Jon Lester.
The Red Sox have traded medical information with the Minnesota Twins on Jon Lester, which means that talks between the two teams have progressed, with the Twins taking a serious look at the Sox offer.
While it looked like things between the Yankees and Twins might be breaking down tonight, that might have left the door open for the Red Sox to slip in and grab Johan Santana.
Then Gordon Edes of the Globe added this around 3:05 AM this morning.
The Red Sox and Twins are through negotiating for now. Both Sox GM Theo Epstein and Twins GM Bill Smith have called it a night, but momentous news may await in the morning. As Amalie Benjamin reported an hour ago, the sides have exchanged medical information on pitcher Jon Lester and Johan Santana, indicating that a deal may be in place.
There were indications that the Twins would be getting center fielder Coco Crisp, pitcher Justin Masterson and infielder Jed Lowrie in addition to Lester, the winner of the Series-clinching Game 4 and a favorite of pitching coach John Farrell. But that was not confirmed. Repeat, That has not yet been confirmed. We’re working on it.
Even if an agreement has been reached between the teams, the Sox are expected to request a 72-hour window in which to try and negotiate a contract extension for Santana.
Personally, it’s tough to decide which trade I want to see happen. It would be sad to see Lester, Coco or Ellsbury go but then you look at what you’re getting in return. If I was pressed to say which deal I would favor more, I’d rather see the 4 for 1 swap happen only because I think Ellsbury has the most upside as he showed during the playoffs this year.
Stay tuned folks, the hot stove got a lot hotter last night and should only burn hotter today.
Update 10:20 AM: It does look like it’s a 4 for 1 deal if it’s going to happen. Lester, Crisp, Lowrie and Masterson for Santana.
Update 11:00 AM: Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald is reporting that the Red Sox and Twins will sit down later this morning to continue their talks.
The Red Sox and Twins will resume “serious negotiations’’ later this morning as they close in on a blockbuster deal that would bring ace Johan Santana to the Red Sox, according to a baseball source involved in the negotiations.
The package of players the Twins receive is still in flux and there are two packages under discussion, with still varying mixes of players in each. The first is left-hander Jon Lester and center fielder Coco Crisp, the other is headed by center field prospect Jacoby Ellsbury. The Red Sox have successfully held the line on not including Ellsbury in a package with either Lester or Clay Buchholz, their other top starter.
The names, in some combo, minus one or two, include starter Justin Masterson and shortstop Jed Lowrie.
