Twins GM is mum on Santana

Smith in no rush to deal ace lefty

Minnesota Twins general manager Bill Smith said last night he has no timetable on when and if he trades lefthanded ace Johan Santana, and was reluctant to indicate whether anything was imminent.

"There are enough rumors coming out of Boston and New York," he said. "I don't need to fuel any of them or comment on any of them."

There have been newspaper reports in New York that the Yankees have pulled out of the Santana hunt and that it was down to the Red Sox and Mets, but Yankee owner Hank Steinbrenner yesterday told the Associated Press, "we're still discussing it." Smith did not indicate that any team had been ruled out.

"Like I said, there's no timetable on my part," Smith said. "We're just trying to do what's best for the Minnesota Twins. We're trying to do the right thing by our team for now and in the future."

The Yankees have offered a package that includes center fielder Melky Cabrera, righthanded pitcher Phil Hughes, pitching prospect Jeff Marquez, and another prospect. There have been reports that the Twins prefer righthander Ian Kennedy, though Smith has not confirmed that.

The Mets have been trying hard to work a deal that includes one or both of their prized outfielders, Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez. Pitchers Mike Pelfry and Phillip Humber also could be part of the package.

The Red Sox have been very quiet as of late about their interest. A Jon Lester-Coco Crisp-Justin Masterson and possibly Jed Lowrie package could still be in play. But some Sox officials would prefer to keep their young players and not make the deal.

The Sox feel they are in a win-win situation regarding Santana. If they acquire him, they would have the best lefty-righty combination in the game with him and Josh Beckett; without Santana, they believe they can continue to develop Clay Buchholz and Lester.

Whoever obtains Santana most likely will have to work a long-term deal with him of five to seven years, worth $20 million-$25 million per season. The Red Sox could make such a commitment.

Santana, who has spent most of the offseason in his native Venezuela, told the Fort Myers News-Press, "I'm a Minnesota Twin. That's all I know. It's up to them. Whatever they have to do is going to happen. It has nothing to do with me at all.

"I said it from the beginning during the season last year, whatever will be best for this team and this organization, I'll agree with that."

Podres remembered

Brooklyn Dodgers great Johnny Podres, who died Sunday night, was a Red Sox pitching coach at one time, and his effect on the team as a roving minor league coordinator was great, according to former Sox farm director Ed Kenney Jr.

"He never got enough credit for all he did," said Kenney. "Roger Clemens, Bruce Hurst, Oil Can Boyd, they all came in touch with Johnny and he helped them. They all had good curveballs and good change-ups. Johnny had a lot to do with the success of the 1986 team behind the scenes."

He was a great influence on at least two other prominent Sox pitchers, Frank Viola (in Minnesota) and Curt Schilling (in Philadelphia).

Schilling addressed Podres in his blog, writing, "Outside of the Lord, my wife, and my father, there was no person who impacted my life more than Johnny Podres. A true man's man if there ever was one. As I enter the final year of my major league career and baseball life, I can only hope that when it's all over the body of work will be something Johnny would be proud of."

Schilling also gave credit to Podres for his postseason success.

"We spoke often about 'big games' and he instilled this belief in me, even before I had a chance to pitch in a truly big game, that when the time came, I'd answer the bell."

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.