The Yankees are getting impatient. In the New York Times, Tyler Kepner suggests they would like to know today or tomorrow whether the Twins will accept their offer. Perhaps the Yankees have set an even firmer deadline with the threat that they will move on to Oakland’s Dan Haren.

The Twins know they would get Hughes and center fielder Melky Cabrera for Santana, and the Yankees believe that is enough of a concession to acquire a pitcher who will also demand a contract exceeding $100 million. They have told the Twins that at least five other prospects are untouchable — Dellin Betances, Alan Horne, Austin Jackson, Ian Kennedy and José Tabata.

… Jackson, an outfielder who hit .345 with 10 home runs in 67 games for Class A Tampa last season, could be Minnesota’s top target as the third player. The Yankees may be open to dealing a prospect like shortstop Alberto González, but not Jackson.

But the Twins refuse to be intimidated. From La Velle’s insider:

The source said the Twins have made their demands clear to the Red Sox, Yankees and other clubs interested in Santana and they will not compromise. They are willing to risk trying to deal Santana in July, when the return could be less, or even risk watching him walk away as a free agent after the season, with only draft picks as compensation.

That means either outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury or righthander Clay Buchholz must be added to Boston’s offer, which is believed to include lefthander Jon Lester and shortstop prospect Jed Lowrie. The Twins feel the fleet Ellsbury could develop into a force at the top of their order.

I tried finding a precedent to this madness, and former Dodgers GM Fred Claire has a similar memory. He was a first-year GM heading into the 1987 winter meetings, and he made it known that pitcher Bob Welch was available. Soon, the whole industry was waiting for that development.

“In some sense, we were controlling the tempo of the winter meetings,” Claire said in a telephone interview this week. “In fact, [then Mets GM] Joe McIlvaine said, ‘Nothing can happen because Fred’s holding up the winter meetings.’ “

Claire held his ground. Finally, he swung a three-team deal with the A’s and Mets that brought the Dodgers shortstop Alfredo Griffin and relievers Jay Howell and Jesse Orosco. Welch went to Oakland, but the three new Dodgers helped them defeat the A’s in the 1988 World Series.

Bill Smith is a first-year GM, just as Claire was then. McIlvaine now works as a scout for the Twins. It’ll be interesting to see if they continue holding firm.

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