The Boston Red Sox aceWell the talks between the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have gotten very quiet as it seems neither side is in a hurry to make the deal. I am definitely sure the Red Sox are content with that as it is a win-win situation for them either way. Yes, having Johan Santana in the rotation would be great, but we have our ace in Josh Beckett.

Speaking of Beckett, Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald had a chance to speak with Beckett yesterday and this is what he offered up:

“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Beckett yesterday, fresh off his first full-fledged workout of the offseason. “I make plenty of money. I’m starting Opening Day, though.”

“It doesn’t matter to me. It makes no difference,” Beckett said. “There are a lot of people who make more money than me who I had better years than. I’m happy where I’m at.”

“You know how much I care about Jon Lester, but at the same time it’s a business and we’re in the business of winning baseball games,” he said. “Jon Lester has a lot of stuff in front of him. They have to make that decision. I’m glad I don’t have to make those decisions because I’m the type of personality where I would let those emotions get in the way, and hold on to a player because I like them. We have people who make those decisions who obviously don’t have the same personality that I do.

“Everybody has to understand that this is a business and the Red Sox are in the business of winning. It doesn’t matter who it is. If they think of trading someone everybody has to understand that. I’ll still talk to Jon Lester. I’m not saying I want them to trade Jon Lester for Johan Santana, but if the Red Sox think that’s what they need to do to put themselves in the best position to win, that’s what they need to do.”

So while await of day of probably nothing with the Santana talks, let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston area media on this cold December morning. The article from Bradford will lead off our links today.

Mine over matter [Boston Herald]

‘Johan, si?’ Johan, no….for now [Boston Globe]

On The Spot [Pro Jo]

As Red Sox Wait, Mets Enter Santana Talks [Hartford Courant]

Ace in game of hold ’em [Boston Herald]

Schillings pitch in for home’s teams [Boston Globe]

Meetings fail to heat up deals [Pro Jo]