The Twins continue to be patient in their attempt to trade two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana. But you wonder how much longer can they wait with pitchers and catchers set to report to spring training in less than a month.

The Red Sox, Mets and Yankees remain interested - yes, I mentioned the Yanks because no one believes they are out of it until Santana changes uniforms. 

Today, I feel like trying to swing a deal with the Mets, who need Santana the most. I’ve spent the past few days throwing out a trade scenario to people with knowledge of negotiations.

The Mets are trying to nab Santana with a package of prospects because they can’t afford to trade one of their established major leaguers. They have offered center fielder  Carlos Gomez, and three pitchers: Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber.

This package lacks major league ready players. According to scouts, Gomez has a chance to be a Alex Rios-type player if he hits - which is a big question mark. Guerra is a top prospect but is still a couple years away.  Mulvey can be a middle of the rotation starter. Humber is considered a No. 4 or 5 starter.

But the Twins are willing to take a prospect-laden package if  super prospect Fernando Martinez is added to the deal. The Mets are against this deal because it would clean out their farm system.

How do you break the deadlock?

One MLB scout I spoke with Sunday feels that the Twins should throw a prospect into the deal to get the Mets to add Martinez. The question is what caliber of prospect would the Mets want in return. The Twins have several pitching prospects and a few position players to choose from. 

Here’s my suggestion: Tell the Mets to keep Gomez (since there are questions about his ceiling) but add Martinez, then either sign a free agent to start in center this year (Kenny Lofton? Corey Patterson?) or trade for Coco Crisp.

I admit there are a couple issues with my approach. One, are you willing to accept a deal for Santana that doesn’t return someone ready to step into the lineup?

It also suggests that I don’t think the Twins are contenders next season because I’m looking for a stop-gap center fielder until Denard Span steps up or Ben Revere or Joe Benson develop. And I really do wonder how the Twins can compete next season when Scott Baker is the No. 1 starter, when no one knows how much rust Francisco Liriano will have to knock off and when Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland look formidable on paper.

Are Twins fans O.K. with a Santana-for-prospects deal? It’s an interesting question. The Twins won’t get fair talent back because of Santana’s contract demands. They have to make the best deal they can. Do you like what the Mets are offering versus one of the packages the Red Sox are willing to offer or a Phillip Hughes-Melky Cabrera led package from the Yankees (once they get back in this thing)?

Chew on that, and I’ll leave you with one more thought:

Being a Bears fan, any day the Packers lose is a good day

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Twins first baseman Justin Morneau has agreed to a one-year deal worth $7.4 million to avoid arbitration, but it doesn’t mean that the club won’t look into locking up their former MVP to a multi-year deal in the near future.

There have been indications during the offseason that the Twins would discuss long-term deals with Morneau and Michael Cuddyer once the Johan Santana situation was settled. Santana, as everyone is aware, is still being discussed in trades.

Joe and I have checked on Morneau’s situation throughout the offseason. We both were told that the Twins hadn’t approached Morneau’s camp about an extended contract yet. Mark Pieper, Morneau’s agent, wrote in an e-mail on Friday that he was, “not sure about the Twins plans on a multi-year deal yet.”

Morneau, 26, made $4.5 million last season.

Signing Morneau to a one-year deal doesn’t mean they can’t tear up the contract for a long-term deal. They did that exact thing a few years ago with Corey Koskie.

As of now, the Twins are headed to arbitration with Cuddyer, Matt Guerrier. They agreed to a $1.3 million deal with Jason Kubel on Thursday

[UPDATE]: The Twins have made it official on Kubel, Morneau…and Juan Rincon. The righthander has agreed to a one-year, $2.475 million deal to avoid arbitraton.

Rincon currently is closing for Lara during the winter league playoffs, and spent the early part of the offseason working out with Detroit masher Miguel Cabrera. He plans to work out with the same trainer right before heading to camp.

This may make you cringe but the Twins need Rincon. He should be motivated after posting a 5.13 ERA in 63 games last season. And they’ll need bullpen arms around in case Joe Nathan is dealt after Santana is dealt.

Yes, I think Santana will be dealt before camp opens. I have a trade thought involving the Mets that I’ll share with you over the weekend.

Sorry for not posting recently. Drove to Chicago on Saturday, then drove back on Sunday. I’m not sure at what point I was on the highway when the massive wreck occurred, but I want to express my condolences to anyone affected by the big wreck on I-90.

I’m off for the next two weeks but, just for fun, I’m going to post a list from my buddy Todd Metoxen of his top ten CD’s of 2007. Feel free disagree…

 

The list…

 10.   Rush - Snakes & Arrows
 
 9.   Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
 
 8.   Prince - Planet Earth
 
 7.   Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall 1971
 
 6.   Lucinda Williams - West
 
 5.   Jimmy Thackery - Solid Ice
 
 4.   Bryan Ferry - Dylanesque
 
 3.   The White Stripes - Icky Thump
 
 2.   Robert Plant/Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
 
 1.   Bruce Springsteen - Magic

I just realized there’s only six weeks until pitchers and catchers report. What an offseason…

No major Johan Santana news, but reports elsewhere pretty much gist with what has been written here recently, that the Yanks, Red Sox and Mets are the three main teams involved in the sweepstakes, that the Mets won’t have to give up Jose Reyes, the Yanks won’t have to give up Phillip Hughes and Ian Kennedy in the same package and different trade models remain in play with the Red Sox.

While there were some suggestions that the Yanks had pulled their deal off the table and were backing off, indications I received from the Twins were that the Yanks remained clearly in the picture. This story backs that up. It always helps when Hank Steinbrenner speaks up:

“I think the Twins realize our offer is the best one,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday in a telephone interview with the New York Daily News. “I feel confident they’re not going to trade him before checking with us one last time and I think they think we’ve already made the best offer.”

Steinbrenner said the offer “does not include two of the three young pitchers” - Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, from a group that also includes untouchable Joba Chamberlain - “but it’s still the best one. And let’s face it, we’re the best able to handle the kind of contract (extension) Santana will be after.”

The Boston Globe also had heard the same things we’ve been hearing: That different trade models: One led by Jacoby Ellsbury and another led by Jon Lester, remain in play.

I’m sorry that I’ve been unable to nail down all elements of each trade package. The best thing I read today was Steinbrenner suggesting that he’d like to get something done in two weeks. I can’t wait for this to end.

Anyway, here are some other Twins tidbits, courtesy of GM Bill Smith:

Jesse Crain, on the comeback trail following shoulder surgery in May, has been throwing some and is headed to Fort Myers, Fla. today to continue his rehab/recovery. Still, the Twins don’t know when Crain will be able to contribute, as coming back from a torn labrum and rotator cuff isn’t easy.

Francisco Liriano, who is expected to contribute at some point this season, is expected to travel to Fort Myers sometime this month to continue his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Everything to this point has gone well.

Juan Rincon, who wasn’t part of the Matt Garza-Delmon Young trade with the Rays because of concerns about his elbow, has been pitching for Lara of the Venezuelan winter league. In ten innings at the end of the season, Rincon had a 1.80 ERA on four hits, seven walks and nine strikeouts. He’s expected to pitch for Lara in the postseason, which began Wednesday.

Hope everyone had a fun holiday. Now let’s hope the Twins do something with Johan Santana so we can get on with our offseason.

Just thought I’d post something before the old one hits four figures….

Here’s a link to a Sporting News story today that calls out teams for not bidding more aggressively for Santana. It rehashes some recent reports.

Solid points, but you also understand where teams are coming from if they have to give up a big package AND lock up Santana for $20-25 million annually.

Also heard today that the Mariners are NOT in the running for Santana. It’s the Mets, Yanks and Red Sox.