Tex and the Nats...

[tomterp]

Joe Sheehan looked at each of the teams involved, and had this to say regarding the Orioles and Nats specifically:

The wild card in this has been the Nationals, who were apparently attempting to trade on Teixeira's ties to the region to make him the centerpiece of their run at becoming relevant. The notion isn't a terrible one—if you're going to make a signing like that, sign the best guy available, not Gil Meche. On the other hand, the Nats have talent along the left side of the defensive spectrum, and their talent base is so bad that adding Teixeira won't even be enough to get them to .500. Nor do they have much talent on the horizon. By the time they can win, Teixeira will be moving into his decline phase. Were this 2010, perhaps this move would have made sense for them. It makes less sense for Teixeira, who will get paid no matter where he goes, and would have a better shot at the postseason in most other locales.

Not far from the Nationals, however, are the Orioles. They haven't been relevant in a long time, either, but they're getting there, and they're closer to Teixeira's Maryland roots. Like the Nationals, they have plenty of money to spend, and revenue upside due to a city with a great baseball tradition and a popular ballpark that would fill up again should a successful team ever play in it. They have an opening at first base—Kevin Millar, free agent, got most of the time there in 2008—and would see both an offensive and defensive bounce from mixing in Teixeira.

The biggest reason to like the idea of the Orioles signing Teixeira, though, is that this team is much, much closer to something special than people realize. Nick Markakis is a star. Adam Jones is, loosely speaking, Vernon Wells with better defense and less power. Matt Wieters is the best prospect in baseball, and will be the best catcher in the AL by the end of 2010. Brian Matusz was the fourth pick in last year's draft and could be in Camden Yards by September, and a number two starter a year after that. The Orioles have put together a championship-caliber core, and Teixeira would be another piece in that, giving them five players more than capable of being the five best players on a great team. A lineup core of Jones/Markakis/Teixeira/Weiters might not be one of the best in the league next year, but in 2010 or 2011? That's a group of players who could combine for 35 WARP two years out. You win championships with that kind of core. Add in the fifth pick in this year's draft, and it's not hard to get excited about the Andy MacPhail Era in Baltimore.

It's very rare that you could suggest a 68-93 team make a seven- or eight-year commitment to a 29-year-old first baseman. This player, and this team, makes that kind of decision sensible. Teixeira is a player who would not be blocking anyone, would provide value on offense and defense, would give the Orioles the power threat their future teams may lack, and who is likely to sustain his value past his peak in a way that allows him to still be part of a core when the Orioles are contending. Remember, this is the American League East; you need to build towards 95 wins to have any realistic chance of post-season play. Adding Teixeira is a step in that direction.

The Orioles were all but declared out of the running earlier this week, so perhaps this won't happen. That's a shame, because it would be good for the game as well. Baseball is at its best when as many teams as possible are pushing towards a championship, and there's something to be said for the value of tent-pole franchises being strong. The Orioles were a tent-pole franchise in the AL for a quarter-century, and if they can re-emerge with a core of great young players supplemented by a well-chosen free agent to compete with the nominal "big two" in the AL East, that's a beautiful thing for the game.

[wpa2629]

Intriguing debate going on between Mel Antonen and Jeff Joyce on XM-175.

Basically they were arguing under the supposition that the Angels and Red Sox are both out of the Tex sweepstakes and they were debating if it was truly down to Nats and O's, which would be a better fit.  Both argued similar points.  Both claimed that the Nats were in better shape to win sooner because the Nats aren't competing with the Empire and the Frat Sox, both agreed that - as constructed - the Nats had the better farm system and the better pitching (which speaks ill of the O's pitching, I guess), but the differed on the better lineup.  Joyce argued that if Tex was added to Baltimore the Orioles would have one of the best lineups in baseball and Antonen argued that Tex would give the Nats the better of the two lineups and would dramatically improve the Nats offense. 

It was great to hear Mel Antonen defend our boys saying things like, "what most people don't realize is that the Nats had injuries at, literally, every position in 2008 - no other team can lay claim to that," and, "young hitters like Dukes, Milledge, Zimmerman and Anderson Hernandez would benefit from having a bat like Teixeira in the lineup."  He also went on to say that Guzman is probably the most underrated shortstop in the majors.

It was disappointing to hear Joyce relive the "Dukes v. Acta" handshake incident asking, "does Teixeira really want to play on a team where people like that are?"

Antonen is now talking about whether or not the Nats will draw better if Teixeira signs with the Nats - he says that Washington is a "workaholics" type of town and that they will only show up if ownership shows a commitment to winning. 

Great stuff Minty ... thanks!

[Minty Fresh]

That was the best hour of radio I've heard in weeks.  Great stuff Jeff Joyce and Mel Antonen!

[DCFan]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/12/teixeira_nats_world_series.html?wprss=rss_blog

They've even noticed this up in Boston.   

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/
 

Teixeira + Nats = World Series?
Posted by Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff December 22, 2008 01:29 PM

Who says Mark Teixeira would be signing with a loser if he chooses the Washington Nationals? Certainly not young Nationals starting pitcher Collin Balester. The Washington Post's Nationals Journal blog reports that Balester, a 22-year-old who made 15 starts last year, had this to say when asked, during an appearance on the satellite radio show "Minors & Majors with Grant Paulsen," about his team landing Teixeira:

    "If that happens it's going to be a dream come true. That guy is a great player and if he comes to the nation's capitol, watch out, we're going to the World Series and we are winning it all. I'm calling it right now. We're playing four games in the World Series, sweep, see ya!"

As my man Chico Harlan (a Globe sports intern once upon a time) points out, Teixeira has never won a playoff series, although he did hit .467 against the Sox in this year's American League Division Series.

For the moment, all is quiet on the Teixeira front in regards to the Sox. That doesn't necessarily mean nothing is going on, but the Sox have been silent since John Henry's e-mail Thursday night. Mercifully, though, we could be nearing the end of Teixeira's free agency. As Buster Olney hypothesizes today: "It seems that the game has played itself out, the last cards have been dealt, and now Teixeira is in position to make his decision."

I think we all hope Olney is right. But the way this has dragged out, would anyone be surprised if that ol' dealer doesn't have few more cards to throw out there?

[JeffCMSB]

Jeff Joyce is plugged in with the Red Sox as he used to work for WEEI in Boston, so any speculation on his part about the Sox he may have said (I didn't hear the hour) might carry a tad more weight. Just FYI

[sportsfan882]

Jeff Joyce is plugged in with the Red Sox as he used to work for WEEI in Boston, so any speculation on his part about the Sox he may have said (I didn't hear the hour) might carry a tad more weight. Just FYI

huh, what's that mean?

[DPMOmaha]

He may know more than Buster Olney about where Boston truly stands in these negotiations.  Maybe.

[natsfan4evr]

WE HAVE SWEETENED THE DEAL!
8 years 178-184
We will go as high as 9 or 10

According to multiple sources, the Washington Nationals have sweetened their proposal to first baseman Mark Teixeira, offering him an eight-year deal worth $178 to $184 million.

The Nats were believed to have an eight-year, $160 million offer on the table. They apparently have increased the total value, putting them ahead of the other contenders, based on the numbers that have been reported.

I'm also told that they're willing to go nine years - and there's been talk of 10 - which could be one reason why agent Scott Boras is dragging along negotiations. He's also trying to get the Red Sox back in the game and see if the Yankees and Orioles will react.

So just how flexible is that Orioles offer?

http://masnsports.com/2008/12/the-nationals-may-have-taken-t.html

[natsfan4evr]

I can picture Tex in a Nats uniform now.
This confirms my beliefs about Boras. Someone is trying to get the Red Sox to match us, but they don't want to.

We were that offer that had them beat. I kind of had this feeling when the FO said they didn't expect us to get him.

[spidernat]

If he hasn't jumped on this offer then he clearly doesn't want to play for the Nats and is delaying in hopes of getting the team he wants to play for to match the numbers. 

[wpa2629]

well, well, well ... the plot thickens

[natsfan4evr]

If he hasn't jumped on this offer then he clearly doesn't want to play for the Nats and is delaying in hopes of getting the team he wants to play for to match the numbers. 

HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO
If the Red Sox don't match this, he has to. The Players union won't appreciate him taking 25-30 million less.

He might not want to play here, but he is going to have to.
5 million I can understand, but 30? No way

[JeffCMSB]

Again I ask....why would the Nats sweeten a deal if they are already the high bidder...which i believe from our source and reported figures, they already are. Look, everyone I speak to and read online thinks the Nats deal was 10 yrs 200mil...our source wouldn't share the figures, but I would be willing to bet that is where the original is. if the deal was less, why wouldn't the Sox or Angels sweeten their deals..If the Sox came in at what was reported as 8 years 160...to get to 180 we are talking 2.75 more per...you think the Sox or the Angels would let Tex get away for 2.75 per year...no way. I frankly believe the Nats was 10/200 that gives Tex less per but much more security at age 38...a 38 yr old making 20 per...not bad for the current state of MLB

As for Jeff Joyce, yes I was saying that if he had any opinion on the Sox with regards to Teixeira (again I didn't hear the show today) he might have better sources from which to have a more informed opinion because of his time at WEEI and doing the post game show for the Sox.

[wpa2629]

If he hasn't jumped on this offer then he clearly doesn't want to play for the Nats and is delaying in hopes of getting the team he wants to play for to match the numbers. 

Or this deal was just "sweetened" very recently ... who the frick knows at this point -- what a circus

[natsfan4evr]

OH got a hold of this.
Wow, they are PISSED OFF

This is soooo sweet

[spidernat]

So what do you make of this latest report JeffCMSB?

OH got a hold of this.
Wow, they are PISSED OFF

This is soooo sweet

Can you share some of the fun?

[wpa2629]

the sticking point for Tex and/or Boras may be the opt out/no trade clause --- the sox are probably loathe to do either -- while the Nats are probably very willing ...

[natsfan4evr]

So what do you make of this latest report JeffCMSB?

Can you share some of the fun?

I couldn't care less if he went to D.C.

D.C. will suck with or without Tex for the foreseeable future. Their organization makes ours look like the New England Patriots.

I'd much rather see him rot away in the NL East then have to face him 19 times a year with the Sox or Yanks.

The Orioles have shown no signs of trying to complete for Tex. Aside from Belky and friends, we would have NO hope, and with him dissapearing, that's exactly what we have. What signs have we seen to say Angelos will go as high as this Nats offer? None! We are done. We have wasted our time for 2 weeks watching every twist and turn of this thing, and in the end, Boras is gonna get what he always does...a ridiculous deal with the player going to a lousy a$$ team! Sorry, but I am done with this. If this is the bed that Tex wants to sleep in, more power to him. He'll be paid well for the next 8-10 years, but he'll be playing in front of empty seats. Here he would have been a hero. NY and Boston he would have been in the National spotlight for his career. In Washington, he'll be nothing but an overpaid ballplayer! Take your money and just leave Tex!

If Teixiera wants to sign with the Nationals, fine by me. But he has to know he'll be playing on a losing team for the next decade. And he will never be able to face the Red Sox or Yankees.

But this could be good for the Orioles if they are some flexible dudes.

[natsfan4evr]

All of a sudden, we scare them.
The last couple of days they were saying that it was between them and the Red Sox.

This is just pure gold. Everyone needs to head over there.

[spidernat]

 

What's with all this hero bullcrap?

You can tell they harbor extreme hatred for the Nats. 

I'm not a member and I'm definitely not signing up.

[cmdterps44]

Damn, hope he acts on our offer soon. This is definitely us, take the offer Tex, make our christmas a good one.

[JeffCMSB]

The Sox and more specifically Theo Epstein said the Sox will not be offering ANY player an opt out clause. If it comes from Theo, it's pretty much gospel. If it comes from owner John Henry or Tom Werner..90% solid truth...from Larry Luccino....coin flip. In my humble opinion, all evidence reported from FOX, ESPN, and all of the others leads me to believe that our source was 100% on the money from the start. The Nationals are the ONLY team that hasn't moved in either direction in all of this...why would that be...common sense tells me they were the higgest to start and DIDN'T NEED to move.

[ronnynat]

All of a sudden, we scare them.
The last couple of days they were saying that it was between them and the Red Sox.

This is just pure gold. Everyone needs to head over there.

It's pretty much the same stuff people over here were saying about the O's when we thought they were going to get him.

[cmdterps44]

Plus, its funny how that guy said a losing team for a decade. So since they've been through it, they can determine who will next? even if we don't get Tex, in a few years we should be tons better.

[natsfan4evr]

The Sox and more specifically Theo Epstein said the Sox will not be offering ANY player an opt out clause. If it comes from Theo, it's pretty much gospel. If it comes from owner John Henry or Tom Werner..90% solid truth...from Larry Luccino....coin flip. In my humble opinion, all evidence reported from FOX, ESPN, and all of the others leads me to believe that our source was 100% on the money from the start. The Nationals are the ONLY team that hasn't moved in either direction in all of this...why would that be...common sense tells me they were the higgest to start and DIDN'T NEED to move.

If you got this right, I will tell everyone about your site.
You did an incredible job with this.