Thursday, January 3, 2008

Hank Just Can't Quit Talking Johan

Hank Steinbrenner, newly appointed Yankees emperor and outspoken mouthpiece, felt it necessary to deem the bombers' offer for Johan Santana as "the top offer" over the Red Sox and Mets. He also laid down another ironclad deadline for a decision on trade talks involving the two-time Cy Young winner.
Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner believes his team has made the top offer for Johan Santana, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

"I think the Twins realize our offer is the best one," Steinbrenner told the newspaper. "I feel confident they're not going to trade him before checking with us one last time and I think they think we've already made the best offer."

Multiple reports have pegged the Yankees' offer to the Twins for Santana to be right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes, outfielder Melky Cabrera, right-handed pitching prospect Jeff Marquez and another prospect.

"I either have to do it [a Santana deal] or don't do it, same thing for the Red Sox, I guess," Steinbrenner said. "I think the Twins would like to keep him, so I don't think there's any hurry on anyone's part. It all depends on what [Santana] asks for in an extension. You obviously have to be very careful with pitchers, for obvious reasons."

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports, meanwhile, that trade talks involving Santana have moved so slowly it's now possible a trade may not get done "for several weeks."

Stark says the most surprising aspect of those talks to some baseball people is that the Mets remain in the mix. It may be because the Twins would like to move Santana to the National League if possible. But while the Mets have made a four-for-one offer built around center fielder Carlos Gomez, indications are that the teams remain far apart.
Hank Steinbrenner: every sportswriter's dream and every Yankee fan's nightmare.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I disagree. It's nice to hear a Steinbrenner voice again, even if he is insane. It's the banter I love. It's way better then these corporate type owners who issue meaningless press releases through their PR people (kinda what George has become in the last 5 years). I want to hear it straight from the horses mouth or ass, as the case may be with Hank.

I always joke around with my baseball friends how I will miss George after he is gone. Yeah he drove me crazy for most of the 80's and 90's but at the end of the day he gave 6 titles and 17 trips to the playoffs. what sport fan wouldn't want an owner like that for his favorite team? Yeah Hank has a big mouth but thats OK with me.

Bronx Liaison said...

Fair points, though I disagree with your first notion. It's not that he talks too much so much, it's he compromises the front office's ability to do their job. This is probably why Brian Cashman did not want to talk extension - if it means Cash doing Hank's bidding instead of doing his job.

Sure, if the result of Hank's tenure as owner ends in a handful of championships I will certainly eat some crow, but I tend to believe Steinbrenner's big mouth with end up catching up with him & forcing him to filter himself better.