MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins say that Donald Watkins hasn't proved he has the money to buy the team.

Watkins says they never asked him to.

The team and its prospective buyer traded barbs after the Twins responded to a letter from two Minnesota lawmakers asking for an update on Watkins' offer. Twins president Jerry Bell, in a letter to Rep. Harry Mares (R-White Bear Lake) and Sen. Dean Johnson (DFL-Wilmar), said that no buyers "with adequate resources to consummate a transaction" have made an offer.

Mares and Johnson are the co-chairmen of the Minnesota House-Senate's conference committee considering financing a new stadium, which would keep the team in Minneapolis.

Watkins responded with a letter of his own, saying that he submitted a written proposal on Feb. 11 to purchase the team and build a new ballpark (reportedly for $125 million to $150 million, pending seeing the Twins' financial books), and the Twins have not asked him or his advisors for anything further. Included in the proposal, according to Watkins' letter dated May 2, was Watkins' "MLB financial net worth disclosures form prepared for me by one of the few investment bankers in the nation who holds all four principal designations (licences) in investment banking, plus a CPA license.

"My asset pool, which is private and proprietary, is described in great detail on my disclosure form," Watkins wrote. "These assets are strong, and capable of monetization expeditiously. They enable me to pursue MLB acquisition opportunities much larger than the Twins deal."

The Twins and key legislators met Wednesday to discuss Bell's hand-delivered letter.

"Mr. Watkins is not in the ballpark," Johnson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "That's what I got from (the meeting)."

Watkins' office in Birmingham, Ala., faxed its response to Johnson and Mares on Thursday.

A Major League Baseball official declined to comment on the story, except to say that "everyone is treated fairly."

Watkins is rumored to be interested in acquiring the Anaheim Angels from the Walt Disney Company (which owns ESPN and ESPN.com). Watkins said in his May 2 letter than he is negotiating with another team and has obtained letters from "two respected investment baking firms arranging the first $200 million needed for the acquisition of this team."

Bell wrote to the legislature that "If Mr. Watkins were to reliably demonstrate his ability to secure $150 million in funds that are fully committed and readily accessible for the acquisition of the Minnesota Twins, I can unequivocally assure you that he would have every opportunity to become the owner of the team." Bell's letter was quoted in Thursday's St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Bell said that the team would release Watkins' financial information to the legislature if he would release the team from a confidentiality agreement.

Watkins told the Pioneer Press on Wednesday that he hasn't seen the Twins' books and there has been no response to his Feb. 11 bid.

"In short, there has been no dialogue with the Twins concerning my financial capacity to buy their team, and no negotiation sessions," Watkins wrote in his letter to Mares and Johnson.

The Minnesota legislature has agreed to meet next week on the ballpark bill.

"I have no desire to enter the political fray in Minnesota over the ballpark funding legislation for the Twins," Watkins wrote. "(But) I do have an interest in protecting my good name and reputation now that the Twins have thrown me into the political mix."