Different tampering rules for Steinbrenners?

[MNBrew]

Isn't it tampering when you're in one team's front office and talk publicly about acquiring another team's player? Isn't that what Steinbrenner's doing when he talks about going after Sabathia, Sheets, et al., during free agency? Technically, don't players have to actually be free agents before you can discuss them as such? Any potential free agents are still under contract with their present teams, which would seem to make Steinbrenner's comments fair game for tampering charges.

 

Hank's only been in charge for a year or so, but he sure has his father's knack for putting himself and his mouth in the spotlight. Not very impressive or classy.

 

LINK

 

While the verbiage is indirect and not really quoted, why is it we always hear what the Yankees want to do in the offseason first, and typically before the season' over? How can they get away with that?

[RyDogg66]

What did he say?

[Ranier]

Link?

[TooLiveBrew]

I thought tampering only applies when a front office exec is talking directly with a potential FA target.

[ILuvDaBush]

Wasn't there another incident, where Hank Steinbrenner was telling Johan Santana through the press that he was going to make him the highest paid pitcher in the history of MLB? I don't have a link, but I do remember that there was much hullaballoo about it. Obviously, Bud feels that it is in the best interest of baseball to have a Steinbrenner threatening to make players even more ridiculously overpaid, and who is anyone to argue with the commish?