Sigh. For a non-story, this thing sure gets a lot of press, huh?

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Reiterating what The Daily News reported on Friday, ESPN notes that a Yankee source says Johan Santana trade talks are dead unless one of the Steinbrenners changes his mind. Interestingly enough, ESPN notes that the Yanks had an offer centered around Phil Hughes on the table until last week. It was my impression that the offer had been pulled in December, but the Twins knew the Yanks were willing to trade Hughes for Santana. Now, it seems that we have indeed saved the Big Three.

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Via Ken Rosenthal:

Another source, however, says the Yankees no longer are talking to the Twins about Santana and simply chose to keep their outfield intact rather than sign Cameron. Hank Steinbrenner has been the Yankees’ executive most adamant about landing Santana, but he seemingly has backed off in his most recent public comments.

That’s the clearest indication we’ve gotten so far that the Yanks are truly finished with the Twins and Johan Santana. But who knows what anonymous sources know? As nothing has happened lately and, by all accounts, the Yankee package — which the Twins don’t like — is of the table, I’m inclined to believe this. Maybe the Big Three will be saved after all.

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More from Hank this morning via The Daily News:

“What it comes down to right now is giving up a lot (in a trade) and then having to do the big contract, as well. If (Santana) was just a free agent, we could just go ahead and do it. There’s a big difference this way. We have to sign him as if he’s a free agent, plus you have to give up major talent. That’s a tall order.”

Sounds like the Yanks are starting to shy away from the Santana trade, and their line of reasoning is exactly the same one we’ve been employing since, oh, November. Maybe Hank wants to buy a t-shirt. also.

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In a story in which she utterly buries the lead, Kat O’Brien reports that, while nothing new is going on, the Yanks are still interested in Johan Santana. That buried lead, however, comes at the end where she quotes Hank Steinbrenner saying that the Yanks would be inclined to cap any deal for Santana at five years through the 2013 season. “I wouldn’t do it if it were a six- or seven-year contract,” Steinbrenner said. “I wouldn’t go past five, on an extension.” Now, that’s some sensible talk from Hank.

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Jon Heyman reports that more teams are in the Santana mix. Considering that Johan is not yet a member of the Red Sox and the Twins don’t have to pull the trigger now, this whole saga is far from over. I wonder if the Yanks are actually out of this whole thing.

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ESPN The Magazine’s Future of Sports issue features our very own Joba Chamberlain as the NEXT athlete, but we already knew that. RAB favorite Buster Olney wrote the profile. Not only is Joba a good fit for the Yanks, but he likes to send a lot of text messages.

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Look, you can chastise Cashman all you want. But understand that the Hughes-Melky-Marquez-Hilligoss rumor didn’t necessarily happen. So many rumors have flown about at the Meetings, and many of them are completely bogus. I’d file this in that category.

In any event, even if the offer was made and was rejected, I understand why. Phil Hughes is still in it. He’s one of the Big Three. Our mission is to Save the Big Three. Ergo, we don’t want to see Hughes go in a deal for Santana. Dispute us on that point if you will. But please don’t believe Bill Madden solely because he has a press pass. Because along with that pass comes an agenda.

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Bill Madden reports that the Yankees turned down an offer from the Twins for Johan Santana. The reported bounty: Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez, Mitch Hilligoss. If true (and I don’t buy everything that Madden spouts off), it would signify that there was a deadline on the Hughes offer, and the Yankees are sticking to it. Had the Twins picked Marquez and Hilligoss on Monday, a deal might have been struck.

But in any event, it has to make you think that the Twins aren’t at all satisfied with Boston’s offer.

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Hank Steinbrenner confirmed that, publically at least, the Yankees are no longer talking about Johan Santana with the Twins. It remains to be seen if the Red Sox will actually complete this deal. As PeteAbe writes, the Red Sox did back out of the A-Rod deal in 2003 when they couldn’t complete contract negotiations. Santana will want an equally complex and historic (for a pitcher) deal.

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