Tex and the Nats...

[MrMadison]

i would give Tex a no-trade clause

in a heartbeat.

not like he'd need one with that contract though.

however, this seems to be a sticking point with the Red Sox. from what I know, they don't typically give no-trades.

[wpa2629]

in a heartbeat.

not like he'd need one with that contract though.

yeah right ... pretty much

[MrMadison]

I understand his logic though re: the no trade.  he's been shipped all over the country and he just wants to stay in one place.

[cmdterps44]

Maybe he just wants to stay in DC thats why he wants a NO TRADE CLAUSE eh eh?

[MrMadison]

Maybe he just wants to stay in DC thats why he wants a NO TRADE CLAUSE eh eh?

the power of positive thinking.

[hammondsnats]

git-r-done!!!

[MrMadison]

more Tex Tidbits. this time from the Baltimore Sun:

Orioles go big on offer to Teixeira
Club reaches slugger's final 4 with proposal of $140 million to $150 million over seven years

By Jeff Zrebiec | jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com
    11:41 PM EST, December 10, 2008

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles have apparently made it to the final four of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, though it remains to be seen whether they'll be able to offer enough money to lure the free-agent slugging first baseman back home.

However, the club has made a strong bid, offering a seven-year contract for between $140 million and $150 million, one industry source said.

With the New York Yankees' signing of ace CC Sabathia early on Day 3 of baseball's winter meetings, the chase of Teixeira, who grew up in Severna Park, heated up, and now appears to be down to the Orioles, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox.

All four teams have made lucrative, long-term offers, with Orioles president Andy MacPhail extending his bid to agent Scott Boras in a meeting late Tuesday night. MacPhail declined to divulge specifics of the offer.

"We are involved in the process," MacPhail said. "Where it takes us we don't know."

Boras said he had gone back and forth and made counteroffers to the interested teams, and the speculation around the lobby at the Bellagio Hotel was the agent had at least eight-year offers in hand from all the interested parties. The Washington Post reported the Nationals made an eight-year, $160 million bid to Boras, and the Angels reportedly had made a similar offer.

However, as of last night, the Orioles hadn't gone as far as eight guaranteed years, according to an industry source. MacPhail said he has been keeping owner Peter Angelos abreast of the negotiations. Angelos has been long enamored with the first baseman, but, according to the source, he is against offering Teixeira a 10-year, $200 million contract, which is what the player and his agent had originally been seeking.

"Suffice to say, I keep him apprised of where we are," MacPhail said. "I don't go anywhere without his prior approval. We talk about it on a daily basis. Of course, he's involved. We wouldn't be one of the four clubs left standing if he wasn't a sincerely interested party."

Boras created quite a scene at the posh hotel when he emerged from the elevators about 4:15 p.m. Pacific time and was engulfed by a pack of reporters. The crowd grew so big that security officials from the hotel ordered the group interview moved elsewhere.

Boras described Teixeira's decision as "complex," saying it depended on multiple factors, including a potential desire to play closer to his hometown in either Baltimore or Washington.

"There's regional ties. Certainly family is going to be part of his consideration," Boras said. "The club's ability to win long-term, commitment by the owners, long-term, to the franchise being successful. Where they play, the city they're in. He's played in both leagues. He has an opportunity to make an analysis of what's best for he and his family. And, of course, the economics."

Boras also was unlikely to give a time frame for Teixeira's signing, even though the 28-year-old first baseman has said he wanted to know where he was going to be by Christmas.

"We've been working around the clock," Boras said. "We've certainly had time to meet multiple times with multiple teams. And I've been through these things before. They could get done in a short period of time. They could certainly go beyond the time frame of these meetings as well. There are things that could occur that could allow that to happen. I can't say at this time that we're that close to a deal."

MacPhail said there is no deadline on his offer, but the club certainly would like to know of Teixeira's plans sooner rather than later.

"I don't think it's so much bidding," MacPhail said. "You just don't want to get a sizable chunk of what you can do so tied up in one deal that other ones slip by. That's the only thing that we have to factor in. That's the only restraint. I've never been a huge deadline guy, but I do think they're aware that we don't want to have nothing happen and lose an opportunity to have something else slide by."

MacPhail acknowledged the Orioles are "handicapped" if the most important factor for Teixeira was winning immediately.

[MrMadison]

I'm wondering now, just were the OH guys are getting all their optimism from.

everything I've seen indicates that the O's are low-balling.

maybe this is just a set-up for the O's to swoop in like heroes with an offer he can't refuse or something. *shrug*

[spidernat]

obviously i want teix to go to the nats, but i'd rather see him go to any team other than the red sox.

I'm sure you wouldn't mind him on the birds roster either. 

[MrMadison]

11:54 p.m. — BoSox getting close with Teixeira?

The Red Sox are making progress in their quest to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to a major-league source.

"Headway was being made earlier today," one source said.

A rival general manager whose plans could be affected by the Red Sox's addition of Teixeira also indicated that a deal was getting closer.

Teixeira is the Red Sox's No. 1 offseason target. They view him as the perfect fit for the middle of their order.

Teixeira is seeking a 10-year contract for at least $20 million per season. The Red Sox preference would be to sign him to a deal between six and eight years.

damn you Rosenthal.

[cmdterps44]

Lies, the red sox wont win this.

I want news now!

[sportsfan882]

freaking Red Sox. They have plenty of hitters already. They don't need him.

At this point, I'd be shocked if he signed with someone OTHER than Boston.

[ronnynat]

Minaya is a moron. Both relievers he acquired are older and have shown like they are going to go on the decline. I hope both moves backfire.

Heck, the Mets might not have many wins to save because their starting pitching isn't that good at all after the 1 and 2 pitchers.

That's just Mets hate speak. K-Rod is 26 and Putz is 31 and both have an intimidating presence on the mound. On a winning team, that is an unbelievable pair to have to close out games.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

damn you Rosenthal.

You gotta keep the Red Sox mentioned or no one will read your articles.

[HalfSmokes]

That's just Mets hate speak. K-Rod is 26 and Putz is 31 and both have an intimidating presence on the mound. On a winning team, that is an unbelievable pair to have to close out games.

K-Rod is not what I would call unhittable anymore

Here is his k/9 and h/9 - he's definitely aging

2002     20.65 4.76
2003     9.94 5.23
2004     13.18 5.46
2005     12.16 6.01
2006     12.08 6.41
2007     12.03 6.68
2008     10.14 7.11

[PANatsFan]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2008/12/finally_stuff_happens.html

MrMadison, you might want to change your avatar, as you are now semi famous

[tomterp]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2008/12/finally_stuff_happens.html

MrMadison, you might want to change your avatar, as you are now semi famous

Yeah, nice shoutout by Tracee for MrMadison.  Maybe she liked his avatar.

[MrMadison]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2008/12/finally_stuff_happens.html

MrMadison, you might want to change your avatar, as you are now semi famous

ha.

[Minty Fresh]

One thought...

Boras keeps mentioning financial reasons.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but could the Nats build some incentives into his contract to pay him more money to get voted into the All-Star game?  If he goes that route, the Nats would make more sense than the Orioles and perhaps less sense than the Red Sox.  You've gotta think if he plays in the AL and he doesn't play for the Sox or Yankees he's not going to get voted to the All-Star game, whereas if he comes to the NL he's likely to get a much fairer shot since there is less team bias in the NL.  He could be THE MAN at 1B in the National League, whereas if he's not on the Sox, he's likely to lose out to Youkilis or (even worse) Ortiz in the AL.

If All-Star appearances factor at all into this equation, Tex should be looking at Boston and Washington exclusively.

[PANatsFan]

Varitek offered 2mil by Boston. Obviously a ploy to get Tex. If that ends it, Tex is a moron and Boras is totally corrupt. Can't these dorks text each other and not let their fantasy football team affect 200 million dollar deals?

[MrMadison]

Boston Herald says 8/180.

As of last night, Teixeira had received two firm offers - one from the Washington Nationals for eight years, $180 million, the other from the Baltimore Orioles, thought to be approximately $150 million over seven seasons.

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view/2008_12_11_Red_Sox__Mark_Teixeira_play_high_stakes_poker:_A_hand_of_showdown/srvc=home&position=recent

the drama continues.....

[tomterp]

.  You've gotta think if he plays in the AL and he doesn't play for the Sox or Yankees he's not going to get voted to the All-Star game, whereas if he comes to the NL he's likely to get a much fairer shot since there is less team bias in the NL.  He could be THE MAN at 1B in the National League, whereas if he's not on the Sox, he's likely to lose out to Youkilis or (even worse) Ortiz in the AL.

 

Er, some folks think that Pujols is a decent player......

[natsfan4evr]

Let's assume we get Tex. Is Milledge a leadoff guy? He has the speed, and a bit of pop

I'd go with:

Milledge
Guzman
Zimmerman
Teixeira
Dukes
Willingham
Flores
Hernandez
Pitcher Spot

[MrMadison]

Let's assume we get Tex. Is Milledge a leadoff guy? He has the speed, and a bit of pop

I'd go with:

Milledge
Guzman
Zimmerman
Teixeira
Dukes
Willingham
Flores
Hernandez
Pitcher Spot

swap Guzman and Milledge, and you are set.

[HalfSmokes]

Let's assume we get Tex. Is Milledge a leadoff guy? He has the speed, and a bit of pop

I'd go with:

Milledge
Guzman
Zimmerman
Teixeira
Dukes
Willingham
Flores
Hernandez
Pitcher Spot

I would say swap Dukes and Guzman, but then again I'm a Guzman hater (i.e. I think last year was a career year)