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The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

While the Red Sox and Twins have spent much of their time at the winter meetings in Nashville attempting to hammer out a trade for Minnesota pitcher Johan Santana, Boston rookie sensation Jacoby Ellsbury has anxiously awaited word on whether he’ll be included in a deal.

The Red Sox had considered him untouchable in any transaction. But earlier this week, general manager Theo Epstein dangled the 24-year-old outfielder’s name to the Twins while the Yankees were still in talks with Minnesota for Santana, its two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Whether Epstein was using Ellsbury as leverage in the Yankees’ negotiations or if he really wanted to trade the rookie for Santana’s services remains to be seen. Ellsbury served as a sparkplug for the Red Sox during the regular season and especially in the postseason, helping the club to its second World Series title in four seasons.

As of late last night, he was still a member of the Red Sox. Ellsbury is home in Oregon working out in preparation for the 2008 season. That won’t change no matter where he’s playing, but it’s been difficult for him to ignore the speculation.

“I’ve been trying not to pay too much attention to it,” he said. “But it’s hard when all your friends, my parents and brothers are calling me because they want the inside scoop on everything. It’s tough just knowing that I have no control over where I play or anything like that.”

The Red Sox selected him in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2005 draft, and since then he has grown comfortable in the organization. Leaving it would difficult.“It’s something I hope gets done sooner rather than later, and I’m sure Johan feels the same,” he said. “I’m just working out here in Oregon and staying in shape for anything possible. Wherever I go, I’ll obviously give them my 100 percent.”

Still, he said he would like to remain in Boston.

“Definitely,” he said. “Coming through the minor-league system, winning the World Series and with the team we have coming back — I want to be a part of that next year. I would love to come back, but unfortunately I don’t have any say whatsoever where I end up next year. Wherever I do [go], I will definitely give 100 percent. But I would like to stay a Red Sox.”

The one thing that may discourage the Twins from trying to acquire Ellsbury is the fact that he recently switched agents and is now represented by Scott Boras. The super agent represents eight other Red Sox players, so the rookie felt it was in his best interest to make the change.

“Theo (Epstein) and Scott have a very good relationship, and I was basically looking for the best representation available to me,” said Ellsbury. “Going with Scott allows me to be the best player that I can be. [Now] I can just go out there and play and not worry about too much.”

Boras actually contacted Ellsbury while he was in college, according to the center fielder. At the time, Ellsbury felt being represented by Boras was not the right fit for him, but after last season, things have changed dramatically.

“We’ve talked for a while,” said Ellsbury. “This wasn’t a rash decision. A lot of thought has gone into it.”

Ellsbury said he has talked with other Boras clients, including his teammates, and decided it was finally a good fit.

Yesterday Ellsbury took a little time to promote A&E’s upcoming DVD release: The Boston Red Sox: 2007 World Series Collector’s Edition.

In case you didn’t get enough Red Sox baseball during the 2007 season, you’ll be able to watch a collection of eight DVDs with more than 20 hours of spectacular footage from the season. Ellsbury said he has seen the footage and thinks it’s pretty cool.

“It’s very neat,” he said. “I’m still getting used to seeing myself on TV, and for this to be professionally done and put on a DVD is pretty neat. It’s definitely a good stocking-stuffer for Christmas.”

The DVD features uncut broadcasts of every ALCS game against the Indians and the World Series victory over the Rockies. It has 30 minutes of bonus footage that includes clubhouse and on-field celebrations as well as the MVP and World Series trophy presentations. Regular-season highlights are also included.

Ellsbury said watching himself and his teammates on the DVD is spectacular, but actually living the childhood dream of winning the World Series still hasn’t sunk in.

“I still can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s a dream come true. From where I started this year in Double A and just trying to get to Triple A, hoping to get called up, then hoping to be put on the postseason roster and to start all four games and become a World Series champion — I couldn’t have asked for any better in my wildest dreams. It’s still sinking in and I can’t believe my dream as a young kid is now reality. It’s unbelievable.”

The last month or so has been a virtual whirlwind for Ellsbury, now that he’s a World Series champion.

“I’ve never had to have a calendar before; I could always do whatever I wanted,” he said. “Now I have to be organized with obligations such as charity events and things like that to go to. But the fans have been awesome through the whole run ever since I got called up.”

He said fans have been approaching him in restaurants, at the mall, virtually everywhere he goes, to congratulate him.

“I really appreciate that,” he said. “Pretty much my whole life has changed since the World Series.”

jmcdonal@projo.com