The Bronx--The New York Yankees announced today they had obtained the rights to the Dominican Republic for a reported 275 million dollars. The deal, which required approval by the Dominican National Congress, gives the Yankees contractual rights to every male citizen of the South American Nation born after January 1, 1983 who is not currently under contract to any other Major League team and already living in the United States.

Under newly enacted Dominican law, any Dominican remaining in the country who is under contact to any other team faces criminal indictment and a mandatory prison sentence to run concurrent with the length of the newly illegal contract. The agreement between the team and the Dominican government also gives the Yankees naming rights to the Republic.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a telephone interview that despite his unexpected rise to political power in the Dominican Republic, he has no desire to become involved in the day to day operations of the country. Mr. Steinbrenner did criticize Dominican Vice-President Salvador Gallegos for his frequent presence at diplomatic functions. In an unrelated change in the executive level of government, Minister of State Moises Puljols resigned and was replaced by Yankees bench-coach Don Zimmer.

Reaction to the deal has been mixed. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said through a spokesman that he is still studying the details of the transaction, but believes that contractual rights to foreign born players should be awarded based on the outcome of spring training split squad exhibition games. Boston Red Sox president Larry Luchino was slightly more pointed in his reaction, suggesting the Yankee organization is "a thinly veiled clearinghouse for terrorist organizations seeking to destroy the American way of life. "

Ken Berquist, a freelance sports writer, can be contacted at kpberq@hotmail.com. Ken says he "won't be quitting his day job any-time soon," but The Becker Sports Report just hopes he saves enough time to send some more submissions.