Baseball has some Payroll Issues

Baseball people seem to agree that the New York Yankees have offered the Twins a better package of players for Johan Santana that the Boston Red Sox. Yet, the Yankees appear out of the running and a deal of Santana to the Red Sox is being reported as imminent. Why is that?

Hank Steinbrenner's forwardness in the press has hurt him again. Not only did he impose a ridiculous deadline on the Twins, he also accused them of pitting him against the Red Sox in an effort to drive the price up. According to La Velle Neal, the Twins are pissed. The article notes that the Twins may file tampering charges against the Yankees' very own Fredo.

La Velle E. Neal III at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Twins are upset with Hank Steinbrenner making public statements regarding their negotiations. Steinbrenner discussing Johan Santana could be viewed as tampering, as he is currently under contract with the Twins.

With the Red Sox getting ready to meet in their suite to talk about what's going on in the Johan Santana sweepstakes, Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe shares his thoughts about what he thinks they will be talking about.

With alarming inevitability (at least for the Yankees), Boston move closer to acquiring the much-coveted Johan Santana...

According to Ken Rosenthal's 53rd update of the hour and 413 other websites, the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Mariners, Dodgers, Indians, Rockies, Cardinals, Tigers, Giants, Blue Jays, Orioles, Angels, White Sox, Athletics, Cubs, Brewers, Rangers, Phillies, Braves, Astros, Pirates, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Reds and Padres are all engaged in the Santana talks and could potentially...

The Mariners could look at Jorge Cantu as an infield option, and are apparently back in the Johan Santana mix.

"Bedard is closer in talent to Santana than Haren is to Bedard. In fact, it is not impossible to believe that in a year, we will all think Bedard is better than Santana." An AL executive said, "Here is what impresses me about Bedard, he pitches in the AL East against the Yankees and Red Sox. So, to me, he can pitch anywhere and excel."

Red Sox fans love Hank Steinbrenner. Yankee fans, uh, not so much.

Jayson Stark on ESPN reports that the Orioles asking price for Erik Bedard is higher than that than the Twins want for Johan Santana. The Orioles are seeking four top young players in return. Stark's source thinks ultimately, the Orioles will hang onto Bedard, but the Washington Post reported last night indicated he will not sign an extension.

Peter Abraham, informs us via his blog that the Yanks and Twins are scheduled to meet tonight, presumably to reach some sort of resolution on Johan Santana. Stay tuned, as it wouldn't be at all surprising if something were to break overnight.

What do you think the Red Sox should do about Santana?

Watch as Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka gets stuck with the old "gum on your hat" trick during the fourth (and deciding) game of the 2007 World Series.

Fox Sports reports that the Boston Red Sox will not put the same deadline on their Johan Santana talks with the Twins that the Yankees have. Hank Steinbrenner gave the Twins until midnight tonight to accept the Yankees offer of Melky Cabrera, Philip Hughes and a third prospect. The third player could be Triple-A SS Alberto Gonzales or Double-A RHP Alan Horne.

Hank Steinbrenner is quoted in the Providence Journal. "It's still something that we can't do," Steinbrenner said Tuesday morning. "As far as I'm concerned, it's probably off." The Red Sox seem close to a deal and worked well into last night. The Twins prefer Lester over Ellsbury, and the deal would be Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie...