Trade of Santana to Sox is not close

They don't expect deal before meetings

December 01, 2007|Gordon Edes and Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff

The question posed by Jonathan Papelbon last night to a small group of reporters at an awards dinner thrown by the Lowell Spinners was no different from the one preoccupying Red Sox fans all week.

"Did we get Santana yet?" the Sox closer asked.

As of last night, Twins ace lefthander Johan Santana had not changed teams. The Red Sox and Yankees remain the parties with the most obvious interest in striking a deal for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, though it appeared more likely that if Minnesota makes a trade with the Sox, it will not come before the winter meetings in Nashville.

The Yankees last night may have emerged as the front-runners when they elected to include top pitching prospect Phil Hughes in a package for Santana, according to a major league source (and reported by the New York Daily News), while the Sox still refuse to include center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury or pitcher Clay Buchholz, their top two prospects.

"If I had to guess, I'd say nothing to announce before the meetings," said Sox general manager Theo Epstein, who is scheduled to arrive with a contingent that includes manager Terry Francona, pitching coach John Farrell, and hitting coach Dave Magadan in Nashville tomorrow, though the meetings do not begin until the next day.

With a deadline of midnight tonight for offering salary arbitration to their free agents, one club official said last night that the Sox had reached terms with reliever Mike Timlin on a deal to bring back the righthander for an 18th season in the big leagues, sixth with the Sox. The Sox are believed to have offered Timlin, who turns 42 March 10, around $3 million, a raise of around $300,000 from his 2007 salary.

Timlin, who began the year with a strained oblique muscle and had shoulder issues, appeared in just 50 games this past season, his fewest since 1995. But he was scored upon in just two of his last 22 regular-season appearances, and struck out Kaz Matsui and Troy Tulowitzki in a key moment in Game 4 of the World Series.

The Sox also intend to offer salary arbitration to reliever Eric Gagné, who would bring a first-round sandwich draft pick as compensation if another team signs him. Gagné is expected to seek a job as a closer elsewhere. The Sox' other free agents - Bobby Kielty, Eric Hinske, Doug Mirabelli, and Matt Clement - would not bring a draft pick in return. The Sox would like to bring back Kielty as a fourth outfielder if they trade Coco Crisp.

Epstein, of course, is not in a position to talk specifics about a Santana deal. "There are a lot of interesting names held out there on the trade market," Epstein said, "and whether those names are moved remains to be seen."