And just like that it appears the Red Sox brass is at it again. A full sunrise and sunset after GM Theo Epstein predicts a quiet off season, and all of the sudden the Sox are the leading candidates to acquire the services of the best pitcher in baseball.

I previously wrote in a post ( http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/bigsoxfan/2007/11/23/Is_Another_Twin_City_Star_Coming_To_Shine_In_Boston) about trading Bucholz, Lester, and Ellsbury for Nathan and Santana, and received mixed reviews. The most common comment was "your giving up the farm." That's to much." "There's to much of an upside for those guys "

Agreed, it's quite a package, but it's the price you pay if you want to make a deal like that. Hey, I love those prospects, but they are just that, prospects. I'll take a proven commodity over a hope any day! If I wanted to watch prospects, I wouldn't have purchased MLB's extra innings package to watch the Sox. I could've watched the Pirates games for free.

But given the big trade that the Twins pulled off with the Ray's yesterday, the landscape of the deal has been entirely transformed. Now it appears the Sox could pull this off by including 2 major league players (Coco Crisp and Jon Lester) as well as 2 prospects (Jed Lowrie and either Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden). It gets a little more complicated, as most things do, when you break down the financial aspects of the deal as well.

For Minnesota, they receive a quality starting pitcher who many organizations have tried to pry away for so many years (Lester), who they can slot right into the starters role to help fill the void of Santana. They get a tremendous defensive centerfielder at a bargain price in today's free agent market (Crisp), who's more then capable to cover the carpet departed fan favorite Torii Hunter has left behind.

Now that they've traded short stop Jason Bartlett for Brendan Harris, they would be able to insert Lowry at the short stop position, and move Harris to second base. The position most scouts think he is more suited for. Bowden or Masterson could conceivably be in the bullpen, or spend another season in the minors and be major league ready by next year. Best of all for the Twins, they dump salary so they can focus on resigning Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer and they would still be able to move into that new stadium in 2010, with a contending team.

The Sox side is a little more difficult. Yes they would be getting an ace of diamonds to go along with their ace of spades Josh Beckett. But, they're going to have to pay the man. Santana is reportedly looking for a 5 or 6-year deal worth in the vicinity of $150 million. A couple of problems exist, the biggest one would be only having a 72-hour window to negotiate an extension. If they failed to do it, Santana would be staying with the Twins for another two weeks before the Yankees came in and made the deal happen. 2004. A-rod. Ring a bell anyone?

Sure the Red Sox have the money but 20-25 million is a lot to invest in a player who can only help you once every 5 days. Injury is always a concern, but consider this. In the past 4 seasons Santana has pitched at least 5 innings in every start except one. The one he didn't was only shortened due to a rain delay 4 2/3 innings in.

He will be turning 29 at the beginning of the season thus entering his prime years. A time when good pitchers become great, and great pitchers become legends.

As I said before, the money is there. Consider he's only due $13.5 million this season, if Crisp goes, essentially your only paying him around $9 million. That my friend's, is a bargain. You won't even find a deal like that at your local flea market. 220 innings, 230 strikeouts, an ERA around 3.00 and 20 wins.

Next year the money could be there as well. Schilling's $13 million comes off the books, as well as Crisps $5 million. Cut your ties with veteran knukleballer Tim Wakefield ($4 million) and I believe you've found your first $20 million right there. And this is assuming that they pick up the $20 million option on Manny Ramirez. We are yet to hear what the deal is regarding that situation.

If the proposed trade goes down, he is even more affordable to the Red Sox because of the young talent they have, at a very low price. The likes of Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Delcarmen, Kevin Youkilis, Clay Bucholz, and Jonathan Papelbon will all be under their control for the next 3-5 years. Hell, Josh Beckett's only do $30 million the next 3 years and they've got Dice-K for 5 more years at $48 million.

It looks good right now. The deal is there. The money is there. The will is there. The only problem is so are the Yankees. If they don't act quickly, New York will most likely try to sweeten their offer. Theo, don't think twice. If they accept this proposed trade as is, you need to make it happen.