Winter meetings Day 3: Ervin Santana update

The love/hate relationship with twitter was at its finest on Wednesday when one national reporter tweeted that the Twins were "getting" Ervin Santana. About the same time, Twin Cities media were summoned to General Manager Terry Ryan's suite earlier than normal.

Ryan confirmed nothing. When told of the tweet, he said. ``It's that right? That's good to know."

The tweet was later removed and replaced with one that had the Twins "pushing hard," for the righthander who was 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA last season. Premature tweet.

Ryan wouldn't even confirm he's interested in Santana - to us. Ryan later went on a Twins Cities radio station that spent zero dollars to cover the meetings and said: ``I won't deny it. We're talking to him."

The Twins headed into Wednesday night expecting to have another meeting with Santana's camp that night or some time Thursday. There was a report that the Twins have offered a contract but someone has shot that down. The side could have talked parameters of a deal, with the Twins intending to make an offer soon.

Ryan seems serious about upgrading baseball's worst rotation last season.

``We've got to win some baseball games here," he said. ``To do that, we just can't keep going to the well. We have really struggled on that mound."

``Health is probably first and foremost," he said. ``You are looking for consistency out of the rotation. You have to have health. You have to take the post. It's about quality not just quantity.

``It's savinig your bullpen. Those rotation guys that your really look forward to see pitch. Throw it over. They also give your bullpen a break most of the time."

That sounds like Santana, who turns 32 on Friday. He has thrown at least 200 innings in a season five times and reached 192 in another.

Santana has also met with the Giants, and there could be other interested parties. He's believed to be seeking a five-year deal and could ask for the $13 million a year the Pirates are giving Francisco Liriano - or more.

The Twins also have showed interest in righthander Edinson Volquez and lefthander Brett Anderson.

We can't forget that the Rule 5 draft is set for tomorrow at 11 am CST. The Twins have the fifth overall pick and planned to meet Wednesday night to discuss players they might draft. Outfielder Delino DeShields has been mentioned as a potential high pick. Righthander Edgar De La Rosa is an interesting candidate because his fastball touches 100 miles an hour. JR Graham, a righthander from the Braves system, is another possibility. But he would follow Scott Diamond and Sean Gilmartin as pitchers the Twins have selected from Atlanta in the Rule 5 draft.