Courtesy of LEN III at Strib online.
It's this quote from Hank Steinbrenner that is causing some within the Twins organization to become upset, not only for threatening to pull his team's offer from the table, but also for this comment:
There are two points worth discussing in that one quote. First, Steinbrenner was speaking in regards to the Twins possibly playing the Red Sox against the Yankees, in order to get themselves the best possible deal. Apparently he doesn't like competing with other teams to get what he wants; Hank wanted a bidding war of one. Second, his comment about wanting Johan is directed at the player personally, but with no clear view of what league tampering rules (and punishments) are, all that can be said is that Steinbrenner is trying to send a message to Johan: We want you.
Any insights into tampering rules and regulations are welcome.
Curt Schilling weighs in on the Sox/Yankees Santana bit.
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UPDATE: La Velle has posted that the Twins could be meeting with both Boston and Yankee officials as soon as tonight, and "more than one Twins official" has denied that New York put a deadline on whatever offer they've laid out.