Twins Give Santana Big Deal

Less than two years ago, Johan Santana was in Minnesota’s bullpen. Back home in Venezuela this winter, he had bodyguards.

Winning the American League Cy Young Award certainly heightened Santana’s profile. It also raised his price.

Santana and the Twins agreed Monday to a $40-million, four-year contract. The deal, contingent on Santana’s passing a physical, marked the end of a whirlwind off-season for the 25-year-old left-hander.

“A lot of things happened to me,” Santana said from Fort Myers, Fla., where he is preparing for spring training. “The good thing about it is they were all positive. As long as it’s positive, you are fine. I think I can deal with all of that with no problems.”

Santana, who had been scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing today, led the league with a 2.61 earned-run average and 265 strikeouts in 2004. He became the first Venezuelan to win the Cy Young and the first unanimous winner in the AL since Pedro Martinez in 2000.

After making $1.6 million last year, Santana -- who would have been eligible for free agency after the 2006 season -- had asked for a raise to $6.8 million and had been offered $5 million by the team.

Both sides were more than happy to avoid arbitration.

“Definitely, it’s something that we were looking for,” Santana said. “It’s good to know that I’ll be in a Twins uniform for four more years.”

Santana set a team record by winning 13 consecutive decisions and didn’t lose in 15 starts after the All-Star break, going 13-0 with a 1.21 ERA to help Minnesota win its third straight AL Central title.

“You take everything into consideration,” General Manager Terry Ryan said of negotiating the deal. “He’s a very professional young man. He’s very humble. Obviously, he’s going to get a lot more attention.... I just think this is one of those spots where Johan is ready to take on some of that responsibility.”

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Jose Canseco’s autobiography accusing several top players of steroid use and charging that baseball long ignored performance-enhancing drugs appeared to be a hit on its first day in bookstores.

Amazon.com listed “Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big” as third on its best seller list Monday.

The book had an initial printing of 150,000 copies and Regan Books does not disclose sales figures, spokeswoman Jennifer Suitor said.

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Baseball’s new steroid testing policy won’t be ready when spring training starts today because the agreement is still being drafted by lawyers for owners and players.

When the sides announced the agreement Jan. 13, they said they hoped it would be in place by the time players reported to camps.

Rob Manfred, executive vice president for labor relations in the commissioner’s office, said the agreement was nearly completed and believed it would be ready by the mandatory reporting date, March 1.

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Derek Jeter is willing to accept Jason Giambi’s apology.

Without admitting that he used steroids, Giambi apologized last week to his New York Yankee teammates, fans and the media for distractions he caused.

“We’re here to support him,” Jeter, the Yankee captain, said after working out at the team’s minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. “He’s obviously in a tough situation. I’ve been on teams that had guys that have made mistakes in the past.

“When you’re a team, everyone is one family. I’m sure he’s going to hear a lot about it over this year. We’re going to be there to support him because he’s one of us.”

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Robert Fick and the San Diego Padres are close to finalizing a minor league contract that would pay him $450,000 if the first baseman/outfielder is added to the major league roster.

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Todd Van Poppel agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets and will join the team at spring training. Van Poppel, 33, would get a $500,000, one-year contract if he is added to the major league roster.

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Right-hander Jorge Sosa and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays avoided salary arbitration by agreeing on a $650,000, one-year contract.