Santana deal a hot topic

NEW YORK (AP) - The Johan Santana sweepstakes have alreadystarted. Now, get ready for an all-out shopping spree at baseball'swinter meetings.

Trade talks involving the Minnesota Twins ace - and several otherstars - figure to heat up when the annual swap meet begins Monday inNashville, Tenn.

Miguel Cabrera, Andruw Jones and Miguel Tejada also might be onthe move as teams try to land the coveted offseason acquisitionsthat could key a future playoff run.

Want to play "The Price Is Right" or maybe "Deal or No Deal"?Forget about funnymen Drew Carey and Howie Mandel, bring on BillyBeane, Omar Minaya and the rest of baseball's freewheeling generalmanagers.

"Part of the winter meetings is to draw interest to the sport inthe offseason," said Beane, Oakland's thrifty GM. "The activitysometimes disappoints, but the scuttlebutt never fails."

For major league executives, it's a chance to meet face-to-facewith agents, and each other, instead of running up the phone billeven more.

For fans all over the country, it's a time to click compulsivelyaround the Internet while tracking the latest rumors, proposals andcontract offers. A scratch-that-itch baseball fix in early December.

This year's Music City bazaar will be held at the cavernousGaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. With all the tradetalk already this fall, San Francisco Giants general manager BrianSabean figures it could turn into an old-time winter meeting, withGMs discussing deals into the wee hours of the morning.

"I hope so, if everybody can find their way back and forth in thelobby," he said. "There's more conversation than I've experienced ina long while on the trade front."

The Giants are looking for a big bat to replace Barry Bonds.Minaya's New York Mets need a proven starting pitcher. Both teams inLos Angeles, the Dodgers and Angels, want to find a steady thirdbaseman.

Meanwhile, the World Series champion Boston Red Sox and theirbiggest rivals, the New York Yankees, appear to be jockeying forSantana's services. A blockbuster deal could shift the balance ofpower in the American League for years to come.

The Twins are fielding trade offers for the two-time Cy YoungAward winner, who can become a free agent after next season. TheDodgers, Angels and Mets also are thought to be interested.

"Our first choice is to sign him," new Twins GM Bill Smith saidrecently, though that could be a long shot.

The sides reportedly are far apart in negotiations and Santana'sagent, Peter Greenberg, has been tight-lipped about the situation.

It would probably take an enticing package of major league-readyprospects to win Santana, who has a no-trade clause. Then, the newteam would likely want to sign him to a multiyear deal, which couldcost more than $100 million.

"It would probably be a complicated deal. There would be a lot ofnames involved," Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi said.

Boston's trade bait includes young left-hander Jon Lester, right-hander Clay Buchholz and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The Yankeeshave center fielder Melky Cabrera and three prized pitchingprospects: Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. TheDodgers and Angels also boast plenty of young talent.

The Mets would love to grab Santana, but Minaya insists he won'tdeal All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes. That could leave New Yorkpursuing Dan Haren, Joe Blanton or Rich Harden from Oakland.

"It's also an issue of, some of these guys, I mean are you goingto be able to sign them long term?" Minaya said Thursday. "There'sonly a few teams that have the ability."

Minnesota already lost Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter tothe Angels in free agency and traded promising pitcher Matt Garza toTampa Bay as part of a six-player deal that sent outfielder DelmonYoung to the Twins.

Orlando Cabrera, Jon Garland, Brad Lidge and Edgar Renteria areother established players who have already been traded thisoffseason.

"I'm sensing there's a lot of teams that are talking," Minayasaid. "Especially being a weak field in free agency, I think you'reseeing a lot of conversations going on that would lead to sometrades at the winter meetings."

Other notable free agents include Jones, All-Star center fielderAaron Rowand, oft-injured pitcher Bartolo Colon, third baseman PedroFeliz, and right-handers Livan Hernandez and Carlos Silva.

As for Miguel Cabrera, he's been on the trading block since theGM meetings in early November. Angels owner Arte Moreno told MLB.comthat twice he thought his team had reached a deal with Florida forthe power-hitting third baseman, who is only 24. Moreno said theMarlins are looking for four big league players in return, includingat least one pitcher.

Plus, he said, Cabrera figures to command $12 million or more inarbitration.

"You wonder if they really want to trade the player if youabsolutely have to win the player in such a lopsided fashion,"Sabean said. "Maybe the deal isn't going to get done."

The Hall of Fame could welcome at least one new member during thewinter meetings, too. Voting results for managers, umpires andexecutives by the revamped Veterans Committee will be announcedMonday in Nashville.

Marvin Miller, the 90-year-old former union head who led playersto free-agent riches, and longtime NL umpire Doug Harvey came closeto induction in recent elections.

Details about the next World Baseball Classic were expected to beannounced as well. There could be a few changes in the participatingcountries, but probably not many.