Santana not worth the tariff  —  Any contending team in a major market would want Johan Santana to anchor its starting rotation.  Yet the Minnesota Twins have not been able to trade the two-time Cy Young award winner despite months-long talks with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and more recently, the New York Mets.

Wilkerson in the mix  —  As was first suggested by MLB Trade Rumors, it has been learned that the Red Sox do have some interest in outfielder/first baseman Brad Wilkerson, although there still figures to be healthy competition for the free agent.  It has been reported that he is asking for a three year deal worth $21 million.

Rays aim to be destination spot  —  ST. PETERSBURG - Having spent considerable time and money over the past 27 months trying to make the Rays at least competitive, principal owner Stuart Sternberg took a break from writing checks Friday to acknowledge their progress.

Cano & Wang seek hefty raises; Yanks ink Betemit  —  The Yankees received bargain-rate production for most of the past three seasons from Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang.  —  No more.  —  The youthful Yanks want hefty pay raises more in line with the salaries of many of their veteran teammates in 2008 …

Talks stall on trade for Roberts  —  With less than four weeks left before pitchers and catchers report to camp, the Cubs are still pushing hard to add players, but their long-running efforts to make a deal with the Baltimore Orioles may have hit a dead end.

A-Rod turns mentor for UM ballplayer  —  A UM ballplayer meets his idol — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez — and gets to train with him  —  New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez is used to being followed by fans.  —  But one college-age kid who followed Rodriguez around …

Friend says Pettitte wasn't pals with Clemens  —  A mutual friend of Roger Clemens, left, and Andy Pettitte, right, says the two were never as close as the media made them out to be.  (AP Photo)  —  Andy Pettitte is said by friends to be upset with Roger Clemens because of Clemens' aggressive defense …

Name of Possible Witness Emerges in an Audiotape  —  For the past five years, it has been Jim Murray's job to tend to the needs of the New York-area clients of Hendricks Sports Management, the Texas agency that built its name on its representation of Roger Clemens.

Carpenter throwing post-surgery  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is throwing again and feeling good as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.  —  “I just started tossing on Monday,” Carpenter said Saturday at the 12th annual Cardinals Winter Warm-Up.  “I haven't had any problems so far.

Reds Sign Affeldt  —  According to Ken Rosenthal, the Reds signed southpaw Jeremy Affeldt to a one-year, $3MM deal plus performance bonuses.  First and foremost the Reds view him as a cheap rotation option, but they'll move him to the pen if it doesn't work out.  —  I'm very surprised that he signed for just one year.

Pen help on the way?  —  The White Sox are no strangers to pursuing relievers who recently wore the powder blue of the Kansas City Royals, but as of Friday afternoon, the club was keeping mum on reports that it had agreed on a two-year, $11 million contract with Octavio Dotel.

Mets avoid arbitration with Heilman  —  Righty signs one-year deal; five others remain unsigned  —  NEW YORK — More gadgets and toys probably will find their way into the Mets' clubhouse this year.  Aaron Heilman, the electronics-obsessive pitcher called “Wall Street” by some of Mets teammates …