Twins may soon ask, 'Is this the final offer?'

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: January 27, 2008 - 7:23 PM

Indications from Twins officials are that this is a critical week in the Johan Santana sweepstakes.

The club has not set any hard deadlines yet but may soon tell the teams most interested in Santana -- the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox -- that it's time for them to step up with their best offers for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Twins officials over the weekend maintained that all three teams remain interested in Santana. They also disputed reports that lefthander Jon Lester has been taken out of any Red Sox package. Boston still is believed to have different packages under consideration, one led by Lester and the other led by outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

The Twins would like for the Mets to add outfield prospect Fernando Martinez to a package that includes outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Delios Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Philip Humber. The Mets, who need Santana the most, have been reluctant to add Martinez to the deal, and other possible add-ons -- such as pitcher Aaron Heilman and outfielder Ryan Church -- have been mentioned.

The Twins would like a package from the Yankees that includes righthander Phil Hughes and outfielder Melky Cabrera -- an option that some Twins players quietly prefer. Cabrera, with 16 assists last season, would join Michael Cuddyer (19) and Delmon Young (16) to give the Twins one of the best defensive outfields in baseball.

While the Twins would like to settle the Santana situation before spring training begins, they continue to indicate that they will bring him to camp next month if they don't receive an acceptable offer. If that happens, the Twins will either sign a free agent, such as Kenny Lofton or Corey Patterson, or look at prospects Jason Pridie and Denard Span. Span has told the club that he wants a shot at the job.

It remains highly unlikely that the Twins will sign Santana to an extension.

Becoming acclimated

The new Twins players are making a smooth transition into doing things the Twins way.

Former Astros Mike Lamb and Adam Everett told officials how surprised they were that former Twins greats Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva approached them to introduce themselves instead of the other way around.

Craig Monroe mentioned to Rod Carew that he was told by good friend Torii Hunter to be at Carew's hip throughout Carew's two-week stint at spring training. Carew said Saturday that he's looking forward to working with both Monroe and Young but wants to make sure he doesn't interfere with anything hitting coach Joe Vavra has in store for them.

Young last week filmed a commercial with Killebrew, Oliva, Carew and Kent Hrbek, who play the role of four wise men offering advice to a young hitter. On Sunday, Young said he was impressed with how everyone has welcomed him.

Etc.

• Lefthander Francisco Liriano, who was excused early Saturday when he became ill, couldn't even make it out of his bed Sunday.

• Pitching prospect David Shinskie passed a kidney stone on Saturday and was still recovering Sunday.

• Justin Morneau, who on Friday agreed to a six-year, $80 million contract, said his goal is to renovate one Little League field a year. He'll head to Vancouver, British Columbia, next week, where a field in his nearby hometown of New Westminster will being renamed in his honor.

• The Twins announced that 30,483 people attended TwinsFest, the third-highest total in the history of the event. A record 35,835 attended last year.