NEW YORK -- The Yankees have added Phil Hughes, the most highly rated of their top young starting pitchers, to the package they are offering the Minnesota Twins in exchange for two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.
New York also is offering to send the Twins center fielder Melky Cabrera and a third player, who would be a midlevel prospect, according to a baseball official who spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing. New York won't include Joba Chamberlain and doesn't plan to include both Hughes and Ian Kennedy.
If the Yankees are unable to reach an agreement in the next few days, they might terminate talks. Heading into the winter meetings, which start Monday in Nashville, Tenn., Oakland's Dan Haren is another starting pitcher who might be available in a trade.
Boston is considered to be the Yankees' chief rival in the talks to obtain Santana. The Red Sox are believed to have offered pitcher Jon Lester and center fielder Coco Crisp, but Boston is thought to have thus far refused to include pitcher Clay Buchholz or center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels also are thought to be interested in Santana, who is due $13.25 million next year and can become a free agent after the 2008 season.
Any team reaching an agreement likely would do so on the condition it be contingent on reaching an agreement with Santana on an extension. The team would then be given a 72-hour window to strike a deal on a contract.
Minnesota already made a move Wednesday, sending pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett to Tampa Bay in a six-player deal that brought the Twins outfielder Delmon Young and shortstop Brendan Harris.
