Etch-It-In-Stone #3: Santana will stay in Twin Cities...for good.

This time last week, the perception was that Johan Santana would be a part of the Yankees collection of $20 million players.
This time yesterday, the feeling was that he was about to turn the Red Sox into an even bigger juggernaut for the next half dozen years.
The Yankees had the best offer on the table. Phil Hughes has been widely considered the best pitching prospect in baseball. The only player the Red Sox have that is of equal talent and ceiling is Clay Buchholz, and the Sox said he was off limits from day one. The Red Sox were willing to part with Jon Lester, but he's not close to the same talent as Hughes.
When the Twins didn't accept Hughes, Melky Cabrera and a prospect from the Yankees, I had a gut feeling that they wouldn't trade him. At the July trade deadline, every team that talked to the Yankees wanted Hughes. Now, when the Twins had the chance to get him, plus an above average center fielder and possibly a 5-tool talent in Austin Jackson, they turn it down, to me that signals that they are expecting too much in return for Santana.
Santana may be the best pitcher in baseball, and for that, the Twins should receive a bounty of talent for him. But he doesn't have a contract after the 2008 season, so since the team receiving him has to throw down a hefty chunk of change to keep Santana, that drives down the price they should have to pay for him. Twins GM Bill Smith needs to understand that.
Personally, I wouldn't give up arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball, and then have to give Santana $150 million over six years. I'd just as soon take my chances with Hughes and save $24 million a year.
When the Yankees pulled out of trade talks on Monday night, that was another thing that made me feel like he wouldn't be traded. The Red Sox may want Santana just as badly as the Yankees, but they can't financially take him. Sure they may have the budget right now, but if they trade for him, they'd have to give him the $150 million he wants. That's all fine and dandy until 2007 Cy Young runner-up Josh Beckett comes knocking on GM Theo Epstein's door asking for a pay raise from the $10 million he's going to make over the next two years.
No pitcher has ever made more than $20 million in a season, so I don't think the Red Sox are too eager to have two pitchers in the same rotation making over $20 million. Chances are Beckett would want something similar to Santana's deal. Two pitchers making a combined $50 million is absurd, even for the Yankees and Red Sox.

My money is on the Twins keeping Santana, and not just for this season. I have a feeling Twins management will find a way to pay him. After all, Twins owner Carl Pohlad is one of the richest owners in baseball. And with the new stadium opening in a few years, they will have a lot more revenue money coming in.
You heard it here first, Santana will stay with Minnesota beyond 2008. The money may not be what he wants, but I think he will get enough to make him the highest paid pitcher in baseball.