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NEW YORK -- The Yankees are not waiting until the Winter Meetings to let their interest in Johan Santana be known.
Senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press on Monday that the Yankees and Twins have started discussions involving the two-time Cy Young Award winner, though he said it was too early to tell if a deal would be reached and did not detail how far talks had progressed.
"I don't want to get into that at this point, as far as what they want, what we're willing to give and all that," Steinbrenner told the AP. "It's preliminary right now."
Santana, who turns 29 in March, will not be a free agent until after the 2008 season, but authorized the Twins to begin contacting other clubs about potential trades after initial talks concerning an extension left the two sides roughly $40 million apart.
Steinbrenner confirmed that the Twins are ready to consider a trade of Santana, who is due to earn $13.25 million this year. The left-hander's appeal to the Yankees is clear: Santana was 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA in 33 games for the Twins this season, walking 52 and striking out 235 in 219 innings.
Yet the Twins seem primed to ensure that any club making a pitch for Santana -- the Mets, Red Sox and Dodgers are all reported to have expressed various degrees of serious interest -- will pay a hefty price.
Minnesota could wind up securing a package of three or four significant young players if Twins GM Bill Smith continues to shop Santana when the MLB Winter Meetings open next Monday in Nashville, Tenn.
In the Yankees' case, New York could be forced to part with one of the "Big Three" pitchers -- Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy -- that Steinbrenner ruled off-limits when the club was flirting with the idea of dealing for Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera earlier in the month.
Steinbrenner said at the time that the Yankees would not part with any of the three for a position player, which some interpreted to mean that they could be made available for the right starting pitcher. On a conference call with reporters last week, manager Joe Girardi identified all three pitchers as members of his rotation if the season were to begin now.
Additionally, the Twins could ask for second baseman Robinson Cano or developing outfielder Melky Cabrera, the latter of whom would soften the blow of watching Torii Hunter sign a five-year contract with the Angels last week. The Yankees have made it clear that they are in no hurry to trade any of those chips.
Santana also has a full no-trade clause for the remaining season of a four-year deal with Minnesota, meaning he could reject a potential trade even if the Twins are able to agree with a partner. It is believed Santana could command as much as $25 million per season if he agrees to waive the no-trade clause and negotiate a contract extension.
The Yankees have already engaged in a big-spending offseason, having earmarked more than $388 million in funds to retain Alex Rodriguez (10 years, $275 million plus performance incentives), Jorge Posada (four years, $52.4 million), Mariano Rivera (three years, $45 million) and Bobby Abreu (one year, $16 million).
None of those big-money deals have been officially announced except for Abreu's, though further announcements are expected from the club this week. The club is also in the market for relief help and hopes to retain free-agent reliever Luis Vizcaino, who made a career-high 77 appearances for New York last season.
"Obviously, I think the big thing for us now is shoring up the bullpen all that we can," Steinbrenner said. "Brian [Cashman] is looking into several different things."
Keep Hughes and Joba and Cano!!!
Senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press on Monday that the Yankees and Twins have started discussions involving the two-time Cy Young Award winner, though he said it was too early to tell if a deal would be reached and did not detail how far talks had progressed.
"I don't want to get into that at this point, as far as what they want, what we're willing to give and all that," Steinbrenner told the AP. "It's preliminary right now."
Santana, who turns 29 in March, will not be a free agent until after the 2008 season, but authorized the Twins to begin contacting other clubs about potential trades after initial talks concerning an extension left the two sides roughly $40 million apart.
Steinbrenner confirmed that the Twins are ready to consider a trade of Santana, who is due to earn $13.25 million this year. The left-hander's appeal to the Yankees is clear: Santana was 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA in 33 games for the Twins this season, walking 52 and striking out 235 in 219 innings.
Yet the Twins seem primed to ensure that any club making a pitch for Santana -- the Mets, Red Sox and Dodgers are all reported to have expressed various degrees of serious interest -- will pay a hefty price.
Minnesota could wind up securing a package of three or four significant young players if Twins GM Bill Smith continues to shop Santana when the MLB Winter Meetings open next Monday in Nashville, Tenn.
In the Yankees' case, New York could be forced to part with one of the "Big Three" pitchers -- Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy -- that Steinbrenner ruled off-limits when the club was flirting with the idea of dealing for Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera earlier in the month.
Steinbrenner said at the time that the Yankees would not part with any of the three for a position player, which some interpreted to mean that they could be made available for the right starting pitcher. On a conference call with reporters last week, manager Joe Girardi identified all three pitchers as members of his rotation if the season were to begin now.
Additionally, the Twins could ask for second baseman Robinson Cano or developing outfielder Melky Cabrera, the latter of whom would soften the blow of watching Torii Hunter sign a five-year contract with the Angels last week. The Yankees have made it clear that they are in no hurry to trade any of those chips.
Santana also has a full no-trade clause for the remaining season of a four-year deal with Minnesota, meaning he could reject a potential trade even if the Twins are able to agree with a partner. It is believed Santana could command as much as $25 million per season if he agrees to waive the no-trade clause and negotiate a contract extension.
The Yankees have already engaged in a big-spending offseason, having earmarked more than $388 million in funds to retain Alex Rodriguez (10 years, $275 million plus performance incentives), Jorge Posada (four years, $52.4 million), Mariano Rivera (three years, $45 million) and Bobby Abreu (one year, $16 million).
None of those big-money deals have been officially announced except for Abreu's, though further announcements are expected from the club this week. The club is also in the market for relief help and hopes to retain free-agent reliever Luis Vizcaino, who made a career-high 77 appearances for New York last season.
"Obviously, I think the big thing for us now is shoring up the bullpen all that we can," Steinbrenner said. "Brian [Cashman] is looking into several different things."
Keep Hughes and Joba and Cano!!!
