The Mark Teixeira Update: Dec. 17

by Randy Booth on Dec 17, 2008 4:29 PM EST in News

I think I should just make a special section here at OTM called "Mark Teixeira," because I seem to be posting about him 34 times a day.

Here's the latest around the web concerning Teixeira and the Sox:

Nick Cafardo writes that according to one GM of a team involved in trying to sign Teixeira, the Red Sox are in the lead in the Teixeira sweepstakes. He said "they're in the lead" and he's "not sure who who's bidding against them at this point."
Big Buster Olney says that Teixeira to the O's is unlikely. The O's haven't increased their offer and it would take a serious desire for Teixeira to play there for him to accept their offer.
According to MLBTradeRumors.com, it looks like the Red Sox, Nationals and Angels have offered 8-year deals while the O's are still at 7. The Nats and Angels seems to sit around $160M, while we still don't know what the Sox have offered. I'll assume they're in the $165, $170M range -- maybe more. But maybe not more, because I'd think Teixeira would make up his mind if the Sox were that far from other offers.

I'm sure more will come out soon, but I really have to believe that we're getting close to D-Day. The offers don't seem to be changing much, so it all comes down to what Teixeira wants to do. Honestly, I can't see this thing NOT ending with Teixeira become a Red Sox.

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Umm... why not?

Clutch: A measurement of how much better or worse a player does in high leverage situations than he would have done in a context neutral environment. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/glossary/

by bdalebs on Dec 17, 2008 4:33 PM EST reply actions

Typo…

I suck.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 17, 2008 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

Oh. Okay.

I was seriously re-reading that trying to find a reason why not.

by bdalebs on Dec 17, 2008 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

For the record,

we keep whipsawing over at Camden Chat. What else is there to talk about?

The ridiculous thing is what’s being passed off as “news”. Case in point: The Olney article had absolutely zero new information in it. He wrote that “since the Orioles have not upgraded their offer”, Tex won’t be playing in Baltimore. Gee, thanks for the prognostication Olney! Except none of the teams have publicly upgraded their initial offers. It’s a big game of cat and mouse. Yet somehow, the fact that the Orioles haven’t means they’re done. Or something. Some dude got paid to write this?

And lest you think I’m blowing smoke, here’s O’s GM Andy MacPhail from this afternoon:

Although the Orioles have not upped their initial offer to free-agent first baseman and Maryland native Mark Teixeira, the possibility remains that they will, according to the club’s top official.

“We have indicated before that we have flexibility,” Orioles president Andy MacPhail said today. “I don’t think anyone expects [Teixeira’s agent Scott Boras] to lean over and accept the first proposal.”

Oops! Kinda makes Olney look like what he is—a Yankee schill trying to provoke the O’s into bumping their offer to drive the buying price for everyone else (primarily the Sox) higher. Fortunately, we have a very deliberate GM who plays his cards close to the vest (although not as close as Epstein) and he didn’t take the bait.

This thing will be over when it’s over. Everything between now and then is pretty much rumor and innuendo. I do think you’re right that the Angels are out of it (barring some overwhelming deal that I don’t think they’re likely to make).

by zknower on Dec 17, 2008 6:10 PM EST up reply actions

If the Angels are out of it, don’t you think the O’s are out of it? As an O’s fan, wouldn’t you prefer to just rebuild the team instead of spending $200M and losing draft picks?

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 17, 2008 6:15 PM EST up reply actions

1) The Angels are out of it because there’s plenty of money on the table on the east coast. One of the other three teams will make a bid comparable to the Angels, and it’s no secret Tex wants to play on closer to home. Comparing the Halos to the Birds in this situation is apples and oranges. Unless (and I said this above) the Angels make an overwhelming offer that no one matches.

2) We are rebuilding. This doesn’t change that. We have a great nucleus in Weiters/Jones/Markakis and phenomenal arms on the horizon. We’ve drafted very well the last couple of years. Of course we won’t challenge for the next two years, but by 2011, we will most likely be competing in the East. And once we arrive, we’ll be there for a while.

You’ll actually find most O’s fans split on whether to pony up for Tex, but the general consensus is, this isn’t just any free agent. He’s a genuine franchise-type player and we’ve got nobody in the pipeline for 1B (and there are no interesting players on the horizon). He’s a hometown favorite. Plus, signing him makes Baltimore more attractive to the free agents we’ll need in two years to get over the hump (not to mention it helps in retaining Brian Roberts). I think there are a lot of FA signings that our FO would ignore, but Teixeira is an unusual case.

by zknower on Dec 17, 2008 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

One knock against Teixeira

Is that he’s not considered a leader-type persona in the locker room. He’s not going to be the voice of the franchise and he doesn’t make the guys around him better. I think that guy is Markakis for the O’s.

Teixeira is an excellent, professional hitter. Boston has more than enough personalities and doesn’t need another mouth. Pedroia talks enough smack for the entire team.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Dec 18, 2008 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

It's not that they haven't upped their offer once.

It’s that they’ve been outbid and haven’t upped their offer.

by bdalebs on Dec 18, 2008 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

If something doesn't happen soon

I’m gonna go insane…I’m in sports purgatory today, no football, no Bruins, and the friggin’ Sox haven’t done anything yet!!!

"Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said...'I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.' "
-Ricky Bobby

by nepats108 on Dec 17, 2008 4:40 PM EST reply actions

Get a video game console, play Madden 09 until your eyes bleed.

by bdalebs on Dec 17, 2008 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

My 360 died on me. Hoping I get it back from Xbox early next week so I can continue to play NCAA Football ’09….

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 17, 2008 5:40 PM EST up reply actions

Lucky

I’m stuck with an old PS2, hoping for Guitar Hero World Tour for Christmas. Another one of my friends 360s died on them too.

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 17, 2008 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, well, this is like the 4th time, so I’m not THAT lucky.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 17, 2008 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

I was never big on the 360

Those action games are extremely overrated and girly. DOOM is far more badass, and that game is like 5 mbs big.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 17, 2008 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

I like the 360

Good mix of action, adventure, sports, and strategy games.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Dec 18, 2008 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

PS3 mucho better.

Except mine’s an old one, only 20GB, and overheats every once in a while [about once an hour now that I’m playing UF-OU every chance I get].

by bdalebs on Dec 18, 2008 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

I still remember my first console

A Nintendo 64. I saved my money for two years…. then bought it off eBay for $66. I still have it, including all the games. And yeah, I wish I had a PS3, those graphics… good God. And I was playing a 360, NBA Celtics vs. Cavs. Those are even better graphics, IMO. But it was high-def.

So much for keeping this a sports-centered blog.

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Dec 18, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions