Here’s a pretty good story by the New York Times about Santana’s hometown of Tovar, Venzuela. Santana’s father, Jesus, seen frequently at the Dome over the years, is interviewed.

Today will be pretty hectic, as we prepare for this evening’s Diamond Awards banquet down at The Depot in Minneapolis. Many current and former Twins will be on hand, and it will be the first time I get to meet Delmon Young,  Brendan Harris and the other new players.

I’m also working on a Santana update for Friday’s paper. Don’t miss it.

Jason Kubel and his wife Blake had a baby boy at 1:55 am this morning, January 23, in California. Owen Michael Kubel weighed in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces and is 19.5 inches long.

First of all, the Twins continue to talk to the Mets, Red Sox AND YANKEES about deals for Johan Santana. Despite the Yankees claiming that they are out of the running, I’ve been told the Twins have spoken with all three teams in recent days.

This doesn’t surprise me. Both New York teams need starting pitching help. Mets starters were 66-53 last season, including 13 wins from Tom Glavine. The Yankees are counting on Andy Pettitte, who will turn 36 during the season, to lead their rotation.

I kept being told that the Twins are willing to go to spring training with Santana, although that would be the worst-case scenario. For now, the Twins have stepped up their efforts to make a deal with one of these teams before camp opens.

Back in December, I pointed out that the White Sox had 11 players under contract for a little under $100 million. Indications were that they were hitting their imposed payroll ceiling.

But GM Kenny Williams has continued to press forward. He traded for Nick Swisher and Carlos Quentin. Quentin isn’t making much but Swisher will make $3.5 million this year as part of a five-year, $26.75 million deal.

This week, Williams signed Octavio Dotel for two years and $11 million and finalized the deal for Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez.

And Williams said today that more moves could be coming.

How can this be true?

Check out my man Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune and his reasoning for the White Sox adding to their payroll.

I’m not trying to stir dissension here, but how can the Twins justify their fiscal approach when the league is gaining on the NFL in terms of industry revenue?

It’s the time of year during which baseball writers meet with editors to plot spring training coverage and brainstorm over special section ideas.

I met this morning with Dennis Brackin, my controversial baseball editor, at a local coffee house to plot strategy. During our session, Brackin claimed, “You could almost pick the Twins’ roster now.”

Well, not really. We’re all still waiting to see where Johan Santana winds up - and who the Twins receive in return. But with no new developments as of this writing, I’m beginning to think Santana will report with the rest of the Twins’ pitchers and catchers on Feb. 17.

Santana coverage has dominated so much of this offseason, I haven’t really thought about who will break camp with the team. So I’m looking at a possible roster now, pretending that the Twins keep Santana.

Outfielders (5): Delmon Young, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Craig Monroe and Jason Pridie. I have Pridie pegged as Lew Ford replacement, but is he ready to start at center. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Twins sign Kenny Lofton or Corey Patterson if they decide to keep Santana and go for it. That could make Monroe, who could be cut from camp to avoid full payment of his $3.82 million salary, expendable. But the Twins really want to be able to look down the bench for a decent pinch hitter when they need one.

Infielders (5): Justin Morneau, Brendan Harris, Adam Everett, Mike Lamb, Nick Punto.  Wow, what sweeping changes. The Twins likely will want one more backup infielder, which could open the door for Tommy Watkins or Alejandro Machado (remember him?). I’m guessing they’ll want Alexi Casilla to open the season in the minors but he, along with Matt Tolbrt and Brian Buscher, should get looks in camp.

Catchers (2): Joe Mauer and Mike Redmond. Will Gardy push for a third catcher?

Pitchers (8): Johan Santana, Scott Baker, Boof Bonser, Pat Neshek, Juan Rincon, Dennys Reyes, Matt Guerrier, Joe Nathan. This assumes the Twins roll the dice and keep Santana. Keep in mind that Jesse Crain, Glen Perkins and Francisco Liriano are coming off of injuries and can’t be counted on. Perkins, however, should be healthy enough to make a run at a roster spot. That means Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey and Carmen Cali could make the roster. A Santana trade would, of course, change things. Crain and Lirinao are expected to be able to contribute this season but the Twins will go easy with Liriano since he’s coming off of Tommy John surgery and you have to wait and see with Crain because shoulder surgeries sometimes are hard to recover quickly from.

Expect the Twins to break camp with 11 pitchers. Add the two catchers and 10 position players I have in bold and there’s only two spots available - for now.

 

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Back in September, we published my ranking of the Twins’ top ten prospects. It went like this:

1. Tyler Robertson, LHP, Beloit (A).
2. Trevor Plouffe, SS, New Britain (AA).
3. Joe Benson, OF, Beloit (A).
4. Jeff Manship, RHP, Fort Myers (A).
5. Brian Duensing, LHP, Rochester (AAA).
6. Anthony Swarzak, RHP, New Britain (AA).
7. Christopher Parmelee, OF, Beloit (A).
8. Wilson Ramos, C, Beloit (A).
9. Ben Revere, OF, GCL Twins (rookie).
10. Danny Valencia, 3B, Fort Myers (A).

Baseball America has released its top ten prospects for each of the AL Central teams. Here’s their Twins’ top ten:

1. Nick Blackburn, RHP.

2. Benson

3. Ramos

4. Robertson

5. Swarzak

6. Revere

7. Jason Pridie, OF

8. Duensing.

9. Manship

10. Plouffe

I’m very surprised that Blackburn is so high on their list. He’s coming off of one big season in the minors. But he’s also projected as a No. 4 starter, where the Twins feel Robertson projects as a No. 2 or 3. On ceiling alone, I would have had Blackburn ahead of Robertson. But I do expect Blackburn to make the rotation. Looking back, I could have had Blackburn somewhere in the top ten, especially instead of Valencia, who is talented but had some attitude problems last year.

I had Plouffe too high. He led the organization with 37 doubles but he’s projected as a steady shortstop, not an All-Star. Wilson Ramos splashed onto the scene big time last year. Twins front office types are very impressed with his catching skills and they think he’s going to be a good hitter.

Jason Pridie is loved by Baseball America. He has several good skills, none of them off the charts, and may by the type of prospect who grows on you. Can’t wait to watch him play.

As for Joe Benson, he’s not even 20 yet. So give him time for his five skills to develop.

And I hear a lot of good things about Ben Revere. I’ve been told not only is he fast, but has good instincts and is more gifted offensively than Denard Span at the same stage. I’m not writing Span off as a prospect but he has definitely dropped on the Twins’ charts. It will be very interesting to see how Span plays in his second full season at Class AAA Rochester.