Does Lil' Steinbrenner Understand Tampering?

Apparently not, or he just doesn't care. It's no secret that the Yankees want to acquire Johan Santana, but baseball's rules against forbid teams from publicly coveting players from another team ... and yet Hank Steinbrenner is so brazen as to say this:

"Because as much as I want Santana, and you can make that clear - for his sake, to know that I do want him - but the fact is that I'm not going to play the game.'

The quote was in reference to the Yankees' so-called "deadline" for the Twins to consider their last offer (a farce in itself), but he went over the line in making the point. I don't know if he's naive (which is possible, since he just got into doing this baseball stuff full-time) or if he's just arrogant enough not to care about MLB's restrictions, but he's clearly breaking the rule. Don't think the Twins haven't noticed. From La Velle Neal III in the Star Tribune:

A Twins official this morning confirmed that the club is not pleased with comments made by Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner about trade talks involving Santana.

When asked if he thought the comments constituted tampering, the official replied, "We're not happy. We'll deal with this internally.''

Does that imply a call to the commissioner's office? Probably not yet -- tattling on a prospective trade partner is one way to guarantee they won't be upping the ante. But in a fair world, Bud Selig would at least slap Hank on the wrist for this one, even if it's not at Minnesota's request.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-03-2007 @ 8:03PM

Nick Dee said...

GO YANKS...

12-03-2007 @ 8:09PM

mannysea18 said...

I dont know if you can call it tampering since it is no secret the Twins have entertained offers and have made counter proposals.

12-03-2007 @ 8:51PM

numba1stunna74x said...

LMFAO THAT IS THE DUMBEST SH*T I HAVE EVER HEARD..GO YANKEES..THEO EPSTEIN MUST'VE MADE THIS RULE UP..HERES A NEW RULE FOR THE RED FLOPS..THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUILD A MAJOR LEAGUE STADIUM SOMEWHERE INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM PLAY IN A LITTLE LEAGUE PARK..

12-03-2007 @ 9:51PM

bostonsux! said...

deadsocks will forever OBSSESS over the YANKEES.
26 WS rings to THREE! Gotta love it..If/WHEN the Yanks sign Santana, they will be jumping out of buildings in chowderhead town!

12-03-2007 @ 10:05PM

DA24JG said...

HEY JOHAN,
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN A NEW YORK YANKEES PIN STRIPES??? THEN, WE DON'T WANT YA!!! GO SOME WHERE ELSE AND REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR........SO CALLED PITCHING CAREER FANTASY PUNK!! I'LL GO ON RECORD TO SAY YOU'LL "SUCK" IF YOU GO ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN THE YANKS!!! >-)

12-03-2007 @ 10:31PM

Bob said...

Hank Steinbrenner is a liar. Hank Steinbrenner is a farce. Hank Steinbrenner is a weasel. He specifically said if A-Rod opted out of his existing contract (and voided the Texas Rangers subsidy money on his original deal) that the Yankees would have NOTHING to do with renegotiating with him. Hank said "he wasn't bluffing." We all saw how long he held to those words. Now, he's issuing ultimata to the Twins about Johan Santana and how and when the deal will go down, if it goes down at all. Oh, and did I mention, "he's not bluffing." Somebody needs to fleece this two-bit, four-flushing blowhard big-time like Robert Shaw got taken in "The Sting." Hank Steinbrenner is fast approaching Jim Dolan status in the world of professional sports ownership.

12-04-2007 @ 9:21PM

phillyintuition said...

This is such a moronic post. How you could even post this without thinking for a second baffles me. The rule doesn't forgo common F*&*in sense. This rule is set up to prevent tampering, ala J.D. Drew. Its meant to keep players from knowing what they otherwise wouldnt know and let that factor into their decision to for example opt out or demand a trade. The individuals in baseball are not blind to the obvious fact that once a team has made it public that they are looking to dish a player that other teams will be interested. It is not a hidden fact that people are interested in players on other teams. You ask every team if they would want Albert Pujols and I guarantee every team will say yes cause its friggin obvious! It has not been hidden that the yankees and red sox both "covet" Santana, the best pitcher in the league, who wouldnt? One only has to look at the the many back and forth trade offers that have been made to outbid one another to realize that HEY! THEY ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING JOHAN SANTANA!

12-04-2007 @ 12:36AM

john said...

Bllsht Bob....The Steinbrenners are learning how to run a multi billion dollar operation including all of the other companies and assests that George will soon be leaving them to operate. Hank Steinbrenner held true to his word on A-Rod...coming down on salary options...yet creating a way for ARod to make more by incentives..years from now...not now...If Arod never approached the Steinbrenners, then the Yankees would be shopping for a 3rd baseman Bob. You know what?...WHO GIVES A SHT if Santanna goes anywhere Bob...The Steinbrenners have had enough of the Twins BLLSHT game all they want to know is if the Twins will accept the package the Yankees are offering....thats all Bob....If fans can't see that its a fkn game the Twins are playing, then your all blind. I am reading accusations again from all you fkn Yankee haters about tampering....I swear all you people just hang around and wait for Yankee news so you can bitch about THE STEINBRENNERS OR $$$$$....LET IT GO!!! none of you can control it...they actually might be nice people that none of you actually know and we do have a dynasty....that needs tweaking Bob...it might take a little while, but we will be back ....Hey Minn....WILL YOU ACCEPT THE DEAL OR NOT...ITS SIMPLE.....ITS A YES OR NO....Honestly with Pettite back I would prefer Harden from the A's....or Nathan from Minn.....God

12-04-2007 @ 1:46AM

Mr.Yankee said...

GO STICK IT! TWINS, HANK STEINBOSS IS RIGHT THE HECK WITH YOU! I HOPE THIS TRADE FALLSTHROUGH YOU GET NOTHING AND SATANA LEAVES AS A FREE AGENT!

--> .....see what you can in the open market, I say

I say pursue Erik Bedard or, Go after Sabathia in F.A. Next year who's comming into his own, and in my opinion not overworked or an old "29" and may have a brighter future than Santana? who knows?

Hey Johan this message is to you if you want to become a Yankee hey dont sign the paper hit the market in 2008!

because, I for one dont want this trade!

................And trade WHO??? ...Joba the phenom or Phil the next spector or steady Ian , no way! If he wants to become a Yankee he'll wait til 08 as F.A. There is something to be said about comradary and "The Big Three" as they're refered to as of now of Kennedy, Hughes and Joba even though Joba is a bit of a lone wolf renegade (All came up together!)
Ask Jeter, Posada, Pettite and Mariano!
I'd only trade Cano with Cabrera and Clipard and a few others minor league B+ type pitchers and or Austin Jackson or Tabata with maybee Wang maybee and try to entice Minnesota by eating the majority of contract! ... If this isn't good enough than "F" them

12-04-2007 @ 1:42AM

PichingAce said...

Good blog.
I say dont trade Hughes, at all puruse the O's Beddard or wait til next years free agent class. Where if Santana doesn't sign an extended offer he and Sabathia Beddard and about 10 other A-class pitchers become free agents.

If Santana wants to become a Yankee,"And thus play for the best Yankee team possibily" (One that has Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain)

he'll refuse any trade to the Sox or any other team and wait til free agency. This way the Yankees can take off Hughes off the bargaining table

12-04-2007 @ 1:47AM

SteinGrabber said...

lol hank steinbrenner is a star go lil george lol steinbrenner on steroids lol dont take no crap from the twins well get sabatha or bedard is right and still keep hughes

good blog http://memotosteinbrenner.blogspot.com/2007/11/and-i-swear-that-i-dont-have-gunno-i.html