Temps Rising in Minnesota

The Twins are reportedly upset with the recent comments made by Hank Steinbrenner concerning a deadline for trade negotiations for Johan Santana.

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

It's absurd that anyone is even suggesting tampering charges. Considering that the Yankees didn't negotiate directly with Santana, there is no tampering. Bad negotiating tactics perhaps, but not tampering.

The Twins are also upset by reports that Santana gave them an ultimatum regarding what teams he would go to. Santana's agent, Peter Greenberg, contacted the Minnesota Star Tribune to deny the alleged 2 team demand made by his client. Greenberg, however, would not comment on Santana's demand to be dealt for the start of the 2008 season. Source

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Tampering Rumors Continue to Spread

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If you recall there were rumors back in September that A-Rod already had a deal in place with the Cubs, including partial ownership. While it sounded ludicrous and Scott Boras categorically denied it, Ken Rosenthal and others think back room deals were already taking place well before last night's opt out.

The deal is done. Or darn near close to it.

I don't know the team. I don't know the terms. But I know this much: There is no way Alex Rodriguez would have opted out of his contract with the Yankees unless he and his agent, Scott Boras, knew they had a bigger score coming.

Boras doesn't act on impulse. He routinely hoodwinks owners because he outworks and outsmarts them. And even if he doesn't know exactly how this will play out — which I doubt — he surely has, uh, surveyed the landscape.

Some will be outraged that Boras chose the final game of the World Series to drop his latest — and greatest — stink bomb. The more serious concern for baseball is the possibility that Boras already has shopped A-Rod to other clubs, winking and nodding if not outright tampering.

If it's true, hopefully MLB comes down hard on Boras, A-Rod, and whicever teams are involved.

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