Watching and Waiting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The anticipation here is pretty amazing. Everyone is waiting for word that a Johan Santana deal has been struck with the Red Sox, but no hints have come from the Twins that anything is happening yet. Since the talks went so late on Monday – the understanding as we packed up in the press room after 1 a.m. last night was that talks were still going on – you have to wonder, when do these guys sleep?
It seems a given that the Red Sox are the only team in the talks now, given that Hank Steinbrenner has publicly announced his inability to reach a deal with the Twins. So the Twins will have to decide which combo they like better – Jon Lester and Coco Crisp, or Jacoby Ellsbury and a lesser pitcher. A scout I talked to yesterday said the player that most impressed him, of those being offered by Boston and New York, was Philip Hughes, by far. But he agreed that Ellsbury is a great fit for Minnesota, the sort of leadoff hitter Ron Gardenhire treasures.
It feels like something will happen today, but I wonder how long this can go on. As I left the press room last night, a national writer joked that Tuesday would be Boston’s day and that the Yankees would rush back in Tuesday night with another pitch. And the teams would take turns like that all week. After the siege of the past week, I can’t say it’s far-fetched.
-- Phil Miller