is, at least in a technical sense, tampering. It is a violation to communicate--directly or indirectly--with a player who is under contract with another club.  It seems clear to me that the above violates that rule. I would assume that the ultimate penalty here would be a fine.

It's pretty irrelevant to me, though.  Who cares about what a blowhard Hank Steinbrenner is? Smith's job is to get the best deal for the Twins--if that's the Yankees package, he should do that regardless of how much Steinbrenner blusters.  

As for the threat--ack.  Again, Smith has to determine how real it is, and how much of a risk it is to call them.  I have no problem with the Yankees saying their offer is only available until a certain time.  I have no problem with the Twins trying to wrangle the best deal.  This is what happens.  

I like the ending part of a New York Times article that says, to quote: Even if they pull out of talks for Santana, the Yankees could still trade for him if the Twins come back to them. That is how it worked in the winter after the 2004 season, when the Yankees backed out of talks for Arizona's Randy Johnson, citing unrealistic trade demands, only to acquire him in January because the Diamondbacks had nowhere else to send him. The reason was simple economics. The Yankees were the only team with the resources to pay Johnson, who, like Santana, had approval over any deal. As frustrated as Steinbrenner is with the Twins, he remains very high on Santana. End quote.

Of course, you hope that there are more teams that could pay Johan, even though Mr. Santana and his agent have to be salivating at the thought of maybe even a $200 million payout if they wait until free agency and Santana has a pwoerful 2008...with the Twins.

But this is so wrong in baseball. Will the same thing happen with C.C. Just because you can afford to throw away money, does it make you the ultimate home of the best players, if you so choose to pay them? What would a salary cap accomplish when stuff like this basically fills the airwaves?

On an end note, my thoughts, again, on Hughes and Melkey. Well, Melkey is a good temporary fix for 2-3 seasons until Span (unlikely), Benson or Revere come up thru the system. Maybe they might offer something better, or at least different. Hughes...look at this one plus...we didn't have to sign him after drafting him. He, unfortuantely, wants to be a Yankee and Minnesota is a step away from the Big Apple (and endorsements and the like). Will he be happy, and can he live with the mid-market world of frustrations until he truly proves his worth and success?

Arrgh to Steiney!

"I do want Santana, and the fact is that this is their best offer," Steinbrenner said. "I think it's probably the best offer they're going to get from anybody. I don't know what Boston's going to do, but that won't determine what I do."

It seems kind of silly to object to someone acknowleding they want a player when they're already openly offering players for him. But it's still tampering, and should be called, that for him to address Santana directly. Someone on the Strib site explained it in a way that made me realize why.

Suppose the Twins are seriously considering raisiing their offer to resign Santana themselves. What does it do to their bargaining position to have the Yankees telling him, essentially, if he holds out a year, there's a job waiting for him in NY -- obviously at higher pay?

Steinbrenner should keep his big fat mouth shut. The Twins right now have the EXCLUSIVE right to bargain with Santana. It's tampering to tell a player on a team you want that player, because it hurts the team that has him, plain and simple. It forces them to pay more, or lowers their chance of signing him at all.

If he can't understand that, how about this scenario. What if last year, while A-Rod was weighing whether to opt out of his contract with the Yankees, the Red Sox had openly urged him to do so because there was a job waiting for him in Boston? How would Steinbrenner have liked that? He would have screamed tampering from the rooftops, and been right to do so.

In reality, it's obvious that any team would "want" Santana, and it's silly not to acknowledge that. But there has to be a clear line, and that line is you can't communicate with a player while he's on another team.

I think there should be a fine from the commissioner. A token fine is fine, but I think the league should explain the rule to Boy George and make him say he's sorry. You've got to stop bullies when they throw their weight around or they'll do it even more.

Oh, and as for not wanting to be played against each Boston? I guess Hankie doesn't get the concept of the auction: Santana is being offered to the highest bidder. That's how EVERY TRADE IN THE WORLD WORKS. Duh.

I'd hate to see Hank on ebay -- I bet if there's no "buy it now" option he gets livid and smashes his computer.

I made someone spit! That's like winning an award! Thanks, Nate!