Hank and Cash on Same Team

Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman have both denied ESPN radio reporter Andrew Marchand's claim that the Yankees had pulled their offer for Johan Santana off the table, thereby ending trade talks.

"It's still in the deciding process," Steinbrenner told the Associated Press last night outside Legends Field at the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa, Fla. "We're still discussing it. There's still a little talk back and forth."

Brian Cashman chimed in some time later last night.

"I know what [the Twins] want," Cashman said. "If they call and give us something else to think about, we'll discuss it."

One player with a vested interest in the proceedings is Robinson Cano, who is best friends with Melky Cabrera. Though he would miss his friend, Cano, who spoke to school kids in Randolph, NJ yesterday, told Melky that a deal might be the best thing for him.

"I love Melky, but he would play every day in Minnesota, so if there's a deal it's probably going to be great for him," Cano said. "I'm going to be happy for him, that's what I told him."

Cano is also excited at the prospect of getting Santana in a deal.

"It's a sweet deal if we can get Santana, we need a No. 1 guy."

With Spring Training only a month away, you have to wonder if the Twins won't feel pressed to deal their ace so it doesn't become more of a pre-season distraction than it already is.

photo courtesy of SI.com