All the good stuff happens late at night.

Steinbrenner's huffy ultimatum he spoke about to the media yesterday reportedly raised the hackles of the Twins' front office, prompting thoughts about filing a complaint alleging tampering and most assuredly pissing off Twins' personnel. Cashman took a much wiser route by refusing to go on record and give his thoughts. The Yankees' offer "deadline" passed at midnight, so presumably that means they are done with negotiating for Santana, right? Just like they said they wouldn't negotiate with A-Rod, or that they wouldn't give Posada more than four years, or that they wouldn't offer Phil Hughes in trade- I'm sure this "deadline" is not just ill-advised and hollow blustering. Everyone who believes Steinbrenner when he sets a "deadline" like that, raise your hands. Anyone? I suspect we'll see the Yankees back in this again.

Whether he meant it or not, it may be too late either way-- SI reported that the Twins and Yankees reached what one person called an "impasse'' shortly before midnight. As talks with the Yankees broke down, the Globe reported that talks between the Sox and the Twins intensified, going until the wee hours of the morning. Even more telling: the Sox and Twins have exchanged medical information on Jon Lester and Johan Santana... indicating that a deal may already be in place. No official announcement yet, but the reported first line package for the Twins is: Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie. If the Twins like what they see in Lester's medical records, reportedly they will take that 4-man trade. If not, or if they change their minds, Jayson Stark indicated it would turn into a 3-man trade for Jacoby Ellsbury, Masterson and Lowrie.

One source who spoke with the Red Sox delegation told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick that the Red Sox group was just sitting around their suite Monday night, watching the Patriots-Ravens game, when Smith called and asked to see Lester's medicals.

That got those teams' wheels turning again -- and did so, coincidentally, at the same time the Yankees were almost simultaneously beginning to talk themselves out of this trade.

Great news: after the contract offer last week, and the arbitration offer backup on Saturday, it's now being reported that Mike Timlin's one-year deal will be announced as soon as he passes his physical.

Jacoby Ellsbury has reportedly dropped his agent Joe Urbon-- and has hired mega-agent/Satan's spawn Scott Boras. Unbelievable that this guy is still getting new clients after farking up the A-Rod trade, and getting shoved out of negotiations by Kenny Rogers. Jacoby, dear, I cannot support this decision.

The Sox have received inquiries on Julian Tavarez from at least two teams- no word on who those two teams might be. Any guesses as to who could use a Freddy Krueger lookalike?

There's also interest from the Sox in Rockies relief pitcher Brian Fuentes- and Colorado would reportedly be interested in Jed Lowrie in return. Obviously that possibility cannot play out unless and until it's sorted whether Lowrie is headed to Minnesota.

Curt Schilling also weighed in on the Santana sweepstakes:

A rotation featuring Beckett, Santana as the top two is pretty much as good as it can get. The thought of pitching behind these guys has to fire ya up. That being said I look at it like this.

If we make the move we'll have done so with Theo knowing whatever he had to trade to acquire him he can restock those spots either from within, or via trade. How much is too much when you're talking about trading for the best left handed pitcher in the game? How much is too much when you consider what he and Josh could do over the next 5-6 years.

Whatever is too much I am more than confident that we won't get there. Based on the offers I know are out there I can't see anyone out bidding us talent wise. The second part of this deal is the one that really narrows this down to a few suitors at most. Whatever contract Johan negotiates God Bless Him. If you were going to set a record for a contract with a starting pitcher this guy and about 3-4 others in the game would be the best bets.

I don't see any of the other players holding this deal up from either NY or Boston. Neither team will let him slip through their hands because they want to hold onto a AA or AAA potential star. I think it's going to come down to the value Minnesota places in Philip Hughes/Melky Cabrera vs the top 2-3 players in this deal from our side.