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Update: Angels jump into Santana trade talks »
December 4, 2007
BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer
NASHVILLE -- After an action-filled night, the Red Sox' trade talks with the Minnesota Twins have been temporarily suspended as all 30 of the general managers meet to talk about industry topics and discuss the possible introduction of limited instant replay.
Late last night and earlier this monring, the teams exchanged medical records on the principals of a multi-player deal that could send ace Johan Santana to the Red Sox.
The Twins apparently are being offered the choice between a package headed by Jon Lester and Coco Crisp or one fronted by Jacoby Ellsbury. The Sox would also include other prospects, believed to be infielder Jed Lowrie and at least one more pitcher -- probably Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden.
Either way, Clay Buchholz will not be part of the deal.
The recent turn came after the Yankees, holding their ground, dropped out of the talks late last night, reportedly at the insistence of GM Brian Cashman. While some Yankee officials urged the Yanks to be more aggressive in the club's pursuit of Santana, Cashman was steadfast in his refusal to include additional top prospects beyond the package of Phillip Hughes and Melky Cabrera.
Yankee officials were resigned Tuesday that Santana would probably be going to the Red Sox and they did not anticipate getting back into the negotiations.
After a quiet day yesterday, with little communication between the Sox and Twins, the Red Sox front office got a late-night phone call from Twins' GM Bill Smith, asking for medical records on Lester. Lester was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lyphoma in August of 2006, but returned to pitch last season.
From there, the pace of the talks quickened, with the Twins deliberating on which group of players to choose from the Sox, a process that's been put on hold -- for the time being -- by other business here.
Posted by Sean McAdam 
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