Jim Souhan

It's out of three Dennis and Callahan has the baseball world in general and Red Sox Yankee nation in particular. A way to baited breath the outcome of -- into the sweepstakes at the baseball winter meetings. We are joined by the illustrious columnist from the star Tribune. Just imagine the morning aria Australian Open door -- yeah yeah area aren't Callahan told me your illustrious and he's violated all right yeah yep hey is this thing's gonna get done or is there a chance that everybody blinks and the Minnesota -- Minnesota Twins walk away and keep -- keep the property.

Bought the -- people I've talked to they've been I've they've been incredibly quiet about this like it. I'm not pretend I got great inside information there that they're not even answer when he spoke also these days but the people have talked to told me. That they are say and that they will pull way they keep get a good deal that they. Might even take another shot reciting Santana that they would go you know in the spring training with them they had to but. It's obvious they want to deal. They wanted to right now they -- haven't done next 48 hours I wouldn't be surprised if they come to a degree with the Red Sox you know if if they have already sometime today and open up negotiating window of the Red Sox glad it was Peter Greenberg but they are. There are saying they -- going to take offered take at all.

Yeah now I'll but -- when you understand the concept that is all about us we've been looking at this perspective. From ji would you rather go -- very or one of the pitchers Leicester or buck colts in this deal if we looked at a from the other way. What -- the Minnesota Twins rather have in your estimation -- the center fielder or the young upcoming picture.

What generally I think they feel like our young position players -- safer bet they're young pitcher I mean let's let's face. -- young pitching prospects get excited about what about what where the other or position players that they have a track record it usually carries over to some degree the big leagues. But -- they they are traded Matt Garza their -- pitching prospects I'm out there about straits Santana. -- their renowned around baseball for having pitching depth in the minor -- the paramedics stars down there. So I think they're really need to get an arm out of this deal it's frankly it's why I thought I would rather see them deal with the Yankees the sport that they get still use you know Melky Cabrera and if they could get BAT's. Throwing Ian Kennedy or another pitching prospect that's protest -- table. I think though if you look at 20 track record they have had a lot of luck trading for other people's. Lower level pitching prospects -- you -- public which brought my match and might be as big part of the deal for the Red Sox anybody else.

you a 100% convinced Jim that for the next say 67 years. That Santana will be a cy young candidate will be an all star will have a three or or sub three ERA.

No now he's been. He's been at best pitcher in the game since -- rotation in the middle 2003 season but this is not a big guy. And -- I would guess if you gave a real measurement. You'd find it would be about 511880 -- he's not. Schilling he's not -- not a big or he puts a lot of torque on his arm. And this year even know he found ways to still be a very productive pitcher and if you had run support he won a lot of games. Still -- there're there're -- sides he gave up but too horrible brought and they were not. Eight innings of -- 61 horrible middle played -- they were. This feel like a big game you play the tigers split the White Sox everybody everything's -- pitching well and he gives up two home runs in the first inning he you have a lot of important overlooked this year. If you didn't use slider very much which -- as -- elbows -- people sat on the changeup. They hit really hard on the sat on him you know 20032004 the great thing about -- analysts -- tell it is the changeable Scotland and you're still missed about three feet. People are missing -- three unit. So -- you know he's still got to look at track record total of numbers say -- great pitcher but I'm not fully convinced he's going to remain at this level for Walter.

And how do you think it'll affected to go to Boston or New York to come to the to this into this rivalry under this pressure is he built as he of the make up that -- to drive the way Beckett has here in Boston or in New York.

If they attack -- a lot of people -- still aren't really well told me he really lost which York that is. Yet that he you -- band you know if you look -- look at it day by day -- this year you he was kind of struggled that you went pitched if the Mets nine that'd be shut out. Yeah you know was kind of an auto -- goes which Yankee stadium. It's great if people around him again tell me you'll have lost its most stadiums he loves the Latin American community loves the spotlight. What idiot could make more money in New York in you know get more sources bjorkman anywhere else. I really think you want -- that's their I I certainly think he has the guts to pitch there but you know question is does he does he have to build to stay at this level for longer --

We're talking with the -- handy called from the star Tribune and Jim going back to your previous answer about the inordinate number of home runs a look at all the numbers I'm sure you're more aware of these then then we are. In almost every significant offensive category against the pitcher -- his numbers have gotten worse in either all the last four years or three of the last four years is that's that in your mind with runs going up it's going up earned run average going up -- BP batting average against all of those kinds of things.

Absolutely I and you know use is if you're around an awful lot. Now the guy who works like crazy I have no questions about his his work ethic his determination its willingness to compete but again it yet there a year and he looks kind of beat up talent slick football player in the year take a long -- the bend -- pick someone up off the Florida you know or it's. It did the year he looks like me you know but the public trial old got a bad back. I don't know he's built. The pitch to -- 20 innings and let's bases New York and Boston -- should be more stressful pressure -- and they are here it year after year year and if if the Yankees the Red Sox could trade or satanic your trading. For him with the idea that he's going to start either game water into the playoffs -- dominant outing right I don't you know keep. If you pay about him is best years -- actually dominant August September and yet he didn't necessarily look bad dominant in the laps.

The contract offer them twins made the 20 million year for four years I believe is that legit of the twins. Genuinely willing to pay this guy 20 million a year if he would if -- were willing to --

You know. Obviously him if they -- that offer they're prepared to pay it it's a you do about that are on -- the other here for so long if he's such a cheap -- I my guess is they were making in the kind of off the maple river which is. Just good enough that they can tell the fan base -- we tried you know you're going to create this Greece sucker wanted to play someplace else we get enough money that it for the state here.

Jim upgrading repeats this morning and it's as this is where becomes incumbent on -- Minnesota sports writer to whine about the inequities in baseball to -- term competitive balance and to repeat the Bud Selig Steinbrenner or the players association and then you go on not to do that. I'm wondering does that indicate an unconditional surrender on your part on the rant against baseball's inequities or are you really okay with baseball's wealthiest owner holding his semiannual talent --

Well you know I mean I've gone through my period -- that this ridiculous that you know the Yankees shouldn't just by every -- every good -- by Italy if you look at the way the game is played out. First I think the baseball is absolutely and it's obvious when the Red Sox and the Yankees are good. And the Red Sox and Yankees played each other for in people games on PPI -- I mean. I love baseball but I can sit around watch -- and Diamondbacks in -- you know play -- somebody's telling me is a meaningful game in August doesn't interest me. The Red Sox and the Yankees always interest I think it should be rich a prediction be healthy. Should be a TV and you know look at the Yankees Yankees -- ever whatsoever payroll this decade 182 -- million close that your and they haven't won a World Series 2000 to me that that is. The best baseball ever going to get is Yankees being. Rich and relevant and yet not being quite enough to to win it and I also. I think it's it makes baseball fascinating that the Marlins were right now I think I have an eight million dollar player payroll. -- strip down. Rebuild start over with with great young prospects like Hanley Ramirez can ever made been. And everyone slow rise up when at all -- I act by that's been more -- in the NFL model which is kind of help Communist state everybody just get the same out of money almost all the teams are going to be mediocre in the lectured -- intuitively you guys have the best golf course western new in order to Indianapolis sure washing out really mediocre proper.

Agent as a point of interest three questions for you where to pull -- money come from how much does he really have and what does he say when asked about why not spend more of on this baseball team

I'll take the last the first Carl what personal adult he's very good help. And he has been kind of incommunicado for quite awhile -- its -- all that is really going to operating the team engine business father's son he's very. Very -- very quiet though avoids answering. Questions to those like that I admit his money his starter up big money or close of arms in the in during the depression when you're gonna roll now yeah actually an automatic guy who there's this is not a guy -- I I really you know have a a -- spot. Art for I'm -- the second question was what plus zero I think he's got three billion I really get create part of more of rebellion and these guys get richer by the day -- he's got won any of money. The -- a team. -- greater agree that he does twins officials will always defend him by saying. That he spends you know the the correct percentage of the teams operating revenues on payroll. If and I understood and I -- he should be George Steinbrenner and you'll sort of million dollar team every year but he could if you wondered too. On this team too much -- it really does.

What why did Terry Ryan stepped down.

He was sick of everything he was sector of he was sick of -- sick of missing all this kids game either very very down to earth. Guys who's saved his money doesn't need that really -- paycheck. It's his favorite part of baseball's always been sitting in the stands in scouting players still in the business side deal with them any good immediately appealed the media. Dealing with player agents and yes the fact that he would build a winning team and now he was looking at players just walk away I he was also very frustrated by the job he had done the last couple years he sort of bring in players like Tony Batiste density console hoped they'd be good enough. -- fell flat on their face you know they they try to get saved does expire miracle run. Of the group players really was prior Olson's that is the played the 2007 every flaw in the organization showed up I think he realized that he didn't really have a gumption this kind of rebuild -- think of scratching.

I know it's probably too early to tell but when you take to the airwaves their Minnesota later today. Do you think Jim that the twins fans will concede the division now that the tigers have. Made this deal murderer's row yeah wanting to talk about the Red Sox payroll in the yankees' payroll but the tigers -- a look at it about a 120 million dollar payroll now. Is that too much for the twins to overcome in the minds of -- of your people.

I think so I think. You know this effects the fan base is pretty pessimistic right now basically did you guys have taken every good athlete we've ever as that the thank you by the way and I want to turtles game -- Mike got what do budget dogs that was awful but I think twins fans -- basically. -- conceded this year they're what they're hoping is that the twins plan of being competitive again when the new stadium opens 2010. The best that's rational act that happened and if if you get the right players back and say candidate dominion does it an umpire -- with a -- prospect that happen.

If you could stadiums outside. Side note retractable roof or.

Racquetball rules but they did not get stadium they wanted to got the only stadium they can get through legislature -- be here Minnesota we'd ever doing anything quite right we always like we like throwing things up they complain about it.

An extent that the 20 year if you could paint the scenario of Santana returning the twins this year what happens going forward to the trading deadline beyond our. Very proud about the reaction -- and I talked to -- the team.

But it's not really going to happen is and it's just the smokescreen isn't it just a block.

And what's that are like the deals Santana -- all that they want to get it done they actually want to get done. They know that they hold into the trading deadline inaccurately it has been a package players is that right it right now you know trade deadline -- happen that way anymore. I I do think this idiot then next week. If they do. Side but I did I I came go to road they're not going to -- they don't want to spend much money on on any single player are great that players. I think deal gets done -- get done now able to simply. Sit around and hope that hank Steinbrenner has proper manner as well.

With the a -- a do you think the line draw on the stand is permit a but it wasn't re rod giving -- Esteban jump back in.

Actually not an impact I think I think that's why you're seeing in built Smith operate the ways operating with I think he's going to. You just sit there open another team jumps -- it's either going to pushed the Red Sox stuff that includes another world top prospects. Or guys he's hoping that this Steinbrenner -- remembers it is blessings Steinberg.

His name is Jim Hsu reddies beat columnist for the star Tribune you can check them out to a good piece this morning star Tribune dot com Jim thanks for much of the time I appreciate the information. -- and with Dennis and Callahan -- rose now