Hank Steinbrenner eyes MLB change

Updated: February 22, 2011, 4:29 PM ET
ESPNNewYork.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner says baseball's revenue sharing and luxury tax programs need changes, and that commissioner Bud Selig is open to the idea.

Steinbrenner said on Monday that he doesn't know what the final figure is, but expects the Yankees' 2010 payments for the two to total about $130 million.

"We've got to do a little something about that, and I know Bud wants to correct it in some way," Steinbrenner said. "Obviously, we're very much allies with the Red Sox and the Mets, the Dodgers, the Cubs, whoever in that area."

"At some point, if you don't want to worry about teams in minor markets, don't put teams in minor markets, or don't leave teams in minor markets if they're truly minor," Steinbrenner said. "Socialism, communism, whatever you want to call it, is never the answer."

Selig was not appreciative of Steinbrenner's comments. A baseball offcial told ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand on Tuesday that the commissioner called Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine and reminded them not to talk publicly about revenue sharing.

Newsday first reported Selig's call.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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