NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With their self-imposed Monday night deadline having come and gone, the Yankees have reportedly ended their pursuit of Johan Santana.
Sources with knowledge of the situation indicated on Tuesday that the Yankees would not proceed further in attempting to deal for the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, having been unable to reach an agreement after executives from both clubs met late Monday evening.
The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reported that senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner, who had hoped to have resolution on the issue by Tuesday morning, ended the trade talks.
"[Hank Steinbrenner] closed the door on the Santana thing," a high-ranking Yankees official told the newspaper. "The Santana thing's over."
The Yankees had improved their offer to include both right-hander Phil Hughes and outfielder Melky Cabrera, and they were prepared to supplement that proposal with a mid-level prospect to acquire Santana, a left-hander who will be 29 by Opening Day and is seeking a sizable contract extension. But the Twins, who are engaged in discussions with the Red Sox and reportedly also the Angels, again requested that right-hander Ian Kennedy be included as well, a proposal the Yankees balked at.
With Santana apparently out of the picture, the Yankees' rotation projects to include Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, Hughes and Mike Mussina. The Yankees have been reportedly linked to trade talks with the A's involving right-hander Dan Haren, but Oakland's price may prove to be just as high as Minnesota's.
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And from the Hartford Courant:
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Johan Santana moved closer to Boston early this morning.
After meeting well into the night at the winter meetings in Nashville, according to multiple reports, the Red Sox and Twins traded medical information on Santana and lefthander Jon Lester, signaling that a trade could be close.
The Red Sox would send Lester, center fielder Coco Crisp, minor league infielder Jed Lowrie and righthander Justin Masterson for Santana. The two sides were expected to resume talks this afternoon.
Once a deal is agreed upon, the Red Sox would have a 72-hour window to negotiate a new contract for Santana, who becomes a free agent after the 2008 season. Santana is reportedly seeking a six-year, $150 million contract.
The Yankees are believed to be walking away from the negotiations after the Twins demanded both pitchers Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy. The Yankees had set a Monday deadline for a deal.
After the Yankees talks broke down Monday night, the Twins re-engaged the Red Sox, with the meeting lasting well past midnight.
The Twins had been seeking center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, but the Red Sox apparently have prevailed in keeping Ellsbury out of the deal.
