From the lobby

Ran into Don Mattingly, who informed us that Joe Torre - who is not at the Winter Meetings - is preparing to undergo knee replacement surgery. Torre had often spoke of eventually having to get the procedure for his chronically ailing right knee. Though it'll interrupt the Skipper's golfing this January in Hawaii, his game will be better in the long run.

Mattingly still feels a little strange to be out of pinstripes, but his son - who plays in the Dodgers organization - is thrilled to have dad in the fold. As a Dodger coach, Mattingly is representing the Dodgers here in Torre's absence.

Here's the latest on Johan Santana: The Red Sox are said to have two offers on the table - one that includes CF Jacoby Ellsbury, and another that includes SP Clay Buchholz. Ideally, the Twins want two blue chip pitchers, so they will go back to the Yankees at some point today (though it hasn't happened yet). However, the Yankees are still firm in their stance that they will not deal both Hughes and Kennedy in the same trade.