Yankees ramp up the pressure on Twins

New York has suddenly given the Twins a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum about their offer for Johan Santana.

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: December 2, 2007 - 11:19 PM

The Twins entered the winter meetings refusing to be rushed into any decision to trade Johan Santana, but the New York Yankees and Santana could be trying to force their hand.

Yankees Senior Vice President Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press on Sunday that his team would likely withdraw from the trade talks today if the Twins don't agree to a package that is believed to include Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and a midlevel prospect.

Also, FoxSports.com reported that Santana has notified the Twins he won't waive his no-trade clause during the season, a move that would seem designed to spur a trade soon.

Santana's agent, Peter Greenberg, did not return a text message seeking confirmation of the FoxSports.com report, and Twins General Manager Bill Smith declined to comment.

Earlier, Smith said via text message, "Nothing to report today."

Smith and his top lieutenants were holed up in meetings at Nashville's Opryland Hotel when Steinbrenner issued his ultimatum.

"I'm not going to be played against the Red Sox," he told the AP. "That's not something the Yankees should ever do, and that's what I think [the Twins are] trying to do now.

"So if they want the best offer that has been offered to them, then they need to make up their minds."

The Yankees could turn their attention toward trading for another pitcher, such as Oakland's Dan Haren.

Santana has a no-trade clause, giving him considerable control over this situation. He is under contract for $13.25 million next season and already has rejected a four-year, $80 million extension offer from the Twins.

There are indications Santana is prepared to ask for a six-year, $150 million contract extension from any team that trades for him.

By notifying the Twins he won't approve a trade during the season, he would effectively force them to take the best offer they can get now or risk losing him to free agency, as they recently did with Torii Hunter.

Besides the Yankees, the Twins also have discussed a Santana trade with the Red Sox, Mets, Angels and Mariners. But the Yankees and Red Sox -- noted archrivals -- have been considered the favorites to land Santana.

The Red Sox reportedly indicated they would trade center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and pitcher Jon Lester -- but not both. Similarly, the Yankees reportedly have refused to part with top prospects Ian Kennedy and Austin Jackson in the same package as Hughes and Cabrera.

Steinbrenner didn't set a specific deadline for the Twins to accept the Yankees' offer. But he didn't mince words.

"This is not an act," he said. "It's not a bluff. It's just reality.

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

A Yankees pullout could hurt the Twins' leverage, since other teams have shown a reluctance to give up talent to the Twins before negotiating the hefty pay raise for Santana.

"We've made [the Twins] the best offer," Steinbrenner said. "And at this point, it's not going to get any better. So they can decide. At this point, it's up to them.

"I don't think they want to lose us in this thing, obviously. Nobody wants to lose the Yankees in a negotiation."

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