Buzz: Sox, Twins Close on Santana
Buster Olney, of ESPN.com, is reporting that the Red Sox and Twins are coming closer to a deal that would send ace left hander Johan Santana to Boston.
…it’s unclear whether it’s boston or minnesota that has stepped down 
from their demands, i.e., is boston including both Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester, or is minnesota settling for just lester plus prospects…either way, maybe this will finally end, and we can all move on…or, not…
…Update…2:40 am…
The Boston Globe’s blog, Extra Bases, writes:
“There had been talk the Red Sox were looking at Santana’s medicals, but that could not be confirmed early this morning when efforts to reach Theo Epstein were unsuccessful.”
…maybe he’s gone undercover in that gorilla suit, again…
…Update…2:57 am…
Ken Rosenthal, at FoxSports.com, says that the Sox continue to refuse to include both Ellsbury and Lester in the same package, but if the Yankees, who remain in negotiations despite their threatened deadline, refuse to include Ian Kennedy or another top prospect along with Philip Hughes and Melky Cabrera, the Twins could decide to settle on Boston’s offer.
…given that they have asked for lester’s medical records, one would assume Coco Crisp will be in this deal, along with minor-league shortstop Jed Lowrie, and a fourth player, perhaps pitching prospect Justin Masterson, whom the Twins are said to covet…
…Update…3:15 am…
From Jayson Stark and Buster Olney:
“If the Twins were satisfied with Lester’s medicals, it’s believed they would accept a swap of him, Coco Crisp, shortstop prospect Jed Lowrie and either highly regarded pitching prospect Justin Masterson or another player. Or if the Twins reversed field and decided they wanted center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury instead, it’s believed that would be a 3-for-1 trade – with only Ellsbury, Masterson and Lowrie going to Minnesota.”
Olney writes that a deal could go down ‘sometime during the early morning hours.’
…so, basically, keep the coffee brewing…
…Update…3:29 am…
Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe writes that the Sox and Twins have called it a night, but with given the medical information swap, a deal ‘appears close,’ and could be done in the morning.
Edes and the Globe believe Boston’s final offer may be Lester, Crisp, Lowrie and Masterson.
