The Johan Santana Sweepstakes haven't moved much beyond yesterday's much-reported story that the Red Sox are in the lead with an offer of LHP Jon Lester, CF Coco Crisp, SS Jed Lowrie and either AAA RHP Justin Masterson or AA RHP Michael Bowden. New York Times mentions the Yankees do not want to include Phil Hughes and have an offer of Ian kennedy, Melky Cabrera and a third player, perhaps OF Jose Tabata. If this is true, then I would agree the Red Sox offer of Lester, Crisp, Lowrie and a 4th player is much better. The Times also reports the Twins do not want to add any salary and that may preclude Crisp from being involved.
In the Boston Globe, a very important signal of a trade is being watched - whether Johan Santana's agent is working on an extension. If he is, then a trade has already been worked out and just the number of years and dollars for an extension need to be determined.
La Velle E. Neal III reports the Seattle Mariners are now in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. With CF Adam Jones leading any package, the M's would be able to meet the Twins' top priority with a player more highly regarded than either Melky Cabrera or Jacoby Ellsbury.
The Seattle Times reports Mariners' GM Bill Bavasi is willing to deal their young prospects - Adam jones, Brandon Morrow and Jeff Clement, in a Johan Santana trade. Given Bavasi has had no qualms dealing prospects in the past (see Jose Vidro for Chris Snelling and Emiliano Fruto, Ben Broussard for Shin-Soo Choo and Eduardo Perez for Asdrubal Cabrera), I believe him.
With the Twins' need to replace two SPs, one wouldn't be remiss to think Morrow would be included. The question is how much the Mariners like 17-year-old SS Carlos Triunfel, a player who hit .296 in High A. Would they include him and stick with Yusi Betancourt or could Betancourt be the third player in a Jones/Morrow deal?
However, this may be moot. Geoff Baker provides a source who is a major league pitcher from Venezuela who says Santana is "less enthused about pitching on the West Coast because of the heavier travel involved." So Johan may not even waive his no-trade claus no matter how appealling the Mariners' make the offer.