Tex and the Nats...

[PANatsFan]

The Tejada comparison isn't entirely accurate.  Javy Lopez and Rafael Palmeiro signed with the Orioles at that same time, so while he was going to a perpetual loser, he was part of an influx of hitting talent.  I guess you could the say the same could be true for Tex, though, with Willingham coming here.

The Gil Meche comparison is more apt.

I guess -Palmeiro even before the 'roids was royally overhyped, and Tejada knew what he was getting into. But yeah, that was a big simulataneous money sink.

[ronnynat]

I guess -Palmeiro even before the 'roids was royally overhyped

Statistically, Palmeiro pretty much always deserved to be hyped as a great player. He put up some awesome numbers throughout his career.

[PANatsFan]

Statistically, Palmeiro pretty much always deserved to be hyped as a great player. He put up some awesome numbers throughout his career.

Ok Orioles + Roids + sleazy testimony = serious bias on my part

[HalfSmokes]

A Rod to the Rangers would be signing with a perpetual loser for money

[KnorrForYourMoney]

A Rod to the Rangers would be signing with a perpetual loser for money

Again, not entirely accurate.  The Rangers had won 3 division titles in 5 years just prior to the ARod signing.

[houston-nat]

Again, not entirely accurate.  The Rangers had won 3 division titles in 5 years just prior to the ARod signing.

Maybe this tells us something about the efficacy of big deals for big players for mediocre teams.

[HalfSmokes]

Again, not entirely accurate.  The Rangers had won 3 division titles in 5 years just prior to the ARod signing.

But it was the AL west

[HalfSmokes]

Maybe this tells us something about the efficacy of big deals for big players for mediocre teams.

No team has since modern free agency has every won the world series with a single player making more than 20% of the teams pay roll.

[Minty Fresh]

No team has since modern free agency has every won the world series with a single player making more than 20% of the teams pay roll.

True.  But if we sign Tex this year, we still aren't going to the World Series.  We're still looking at 2-3 years before serious contention and by that time maybe Tex isn't making more than 20% of the team's payroll.  It's a building process and that's what you have to sell to Tex.

[HalfSmokes]

True.  But if we sign Tex this year, we still aren't going to the World Series.  We're still looking at 2-3 years before serious contention and by that time maybe Tex isn't making more than 20% of the team's payroll.  It's a building process and that's what you have to sell to Tex.

at 20 per than means our payroll has to rise over 100 mill. While I don't think the learners are as cheap as some people do, I don't see that happening in the next two years.

[spidernat]

No team has since modern free agency has every won the world series with a single player making more than 20% of the teams pay roll.

They used to say crap like this about winning in Lambeau Field in January.

[blue911]

If Tampa Bay signs Sabathia they won't make the playoffs?

[spidernat]

If Tampa Bay signs Sabathia they won't make the playoffs?

That's beautiful. We were thinking the exact same thing. 

[HalfSmokes]

If Tampa Bay signs Sabathia they won't make the playoffs?

Teams have made the playoffs, none has won a world series. Personally I would place money on CC breaking down this year.

[UpperDec]

20% is a somewhat arbitrary figure.  The Red Sox won the 2004 World Series with 16% of their salary taken up by Manny Ramirez which didn't seem to hurt their cause.  I guess their are other similar cases, but I don't have time to look them up.

I get the point you are trying to make, but this team needs something to build with and a young player who plays a position that is relatively safe isn't a bad idea to me.

[HalfSmokes]

20% is a somewhat arbitrary figure.  The Red Sox won the 2004 World Series with 16% of their salary taken up by Manny Ramirez which didn't seem to hurt their cause.  I guess their are other similar cases, but I don't have time to look them up.

I get the point you are trying to make, but this team needs something to build with and a young player who plays a position that is relatively safe isn't a bad idea to me.

I'm in favor of getting Tex, but not if it means we trade off arb eligible players or don't offer long term contracts to guys we already have, or don't agressively pursue who ever we draft with the number 1 pick. Tex would be great, but not if he is an excuse for management to do nothing else

[tomterp]

Rosenthal just reiterated his claim* that the Nationals remain a significant player in the Tex sweepstakes.  Said Red Sox, then Angels, remain the favorites.  He had not heard any updates from the Orioles.


*heard on XM175

[PANatsFan]

Rosenthal just reiterated his claim* that the Nationals remain a significant player in the Tex sweepstakes.  Said Red Sox, then Angels, remain the favorites.  He had not heard any updates from the Orioles.


*heard on XM175

Rosenthal >> Olney

[MrMadison]

http://danny-knobler.blogs.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/entry/8590096/11825704

The Nationals have publicly played down their interest in signing free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, but multiple baseball officials have said in the last two days that the Nationals are willing to offer Teixeira "scary money."

While it's unclear exactly how high Washington will go in pursuit of Teixeira, one official said today that agent Scott Boras has told the Nationals they would need to offer $200 million over 10 years to have any chance of signing him. Teixeira grew up in nearby Maryland, but his reluctance to sign with the Nationals would be understandable. The Nationals were 59-102 in 2008, and in four years since moving to the Nation's Capital, they have yet to post a winning record.

The Nationals haven't totally been focused on Teixeira. At the general managers' meetings earlier this month in California, they were also asking about big-name, big-money hitters who might be available in a trade.

continue discussion.

[tomterp]

From the Boston Globe:

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

AL GM: Angels can't let Teixeira go   

Can the Angels afford not to sign Mark Teixeira? One American League GM doesn't think so. He told the Globe's Nick Cafardo: "The Angels have been waiting how long to have a hitter like this to protect Vlad Guerrero in the lineup, and they'd let him escape?"... Here's what we know about the hunt for Teixeira: 1) He hopes to have a deal done with some team by Christmas. While attending the Georgia Tech-Miami football game Thursday, Teixeira told ESPN's Erin Andrews: "I don't want to put a timetable on it, but Christmas morning. I want to know where I'm going to be for the next couple of years, so hopefully, by Christmas it will be done." 2) According to his agent, Scott Boras, the interest in Teixeira is widespread (what else is he going to say?). 3) The teams rumored to be interested in Teixeira include the Red Sox, Yankees, Nationals, Angels, and Orioles. 4) He is from Maryland and apparently would consider playing in DC for the struggling Nationals, an unnamed source close to him told MLB.com. 5) He is considering teams on both coasts and wants to play for a winner. He told Andrews Thursday night, "Whether it's the East Coast -- that's where I'm from -- but I loved playing in Anaheim, too, so we'll see what happens." 6) Many pundits, including the Globe's Tony Massarotti, believe the Red Sox will make Teixeira a top priority and expect them to make him a huge offer before the offseason is over. The 28-year-old Teixeira is a switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate who has averaged 35 home runs and 118 RBIs the past five seasons. He is a two-time Gold Glove winner at first base who finished this year with more walks (97) than strikeouts (93), making him a perfect fit for the Sox in every way.

[Minty Fresh]

Rosenthal >> Olney

Really what it amounts to is Rosenthal always states that he gets "rumors" or he says, "nothing concrete yet," whereas Olney spouts off everything like it's fact.  Despite his affiliation with FOX, I'm really starting to dig Rosenthal.

[sportsfan882]

rumors rumors rumors. Yawn.

Please Mark just sign with the Angels already so we can put this subject to rest. 

[PANatsFan]

Really what it amounts to is Rosenthal always states that he gets "rumors" or he says, "nothing concrete yet," whereas Olney spouts off everything like it's fact.  Despite his affiliation with FOX, I'm really starting to dig Rosenthal.

Also, sources trust Rosenthal and give him scoops others wouldn't get.

at making fun of spider

[HalfSmokes]

Also, sources trust Rosenthal and give him scoops others wouldn't get.

at making fun of spider

you mean they don't want to hear their name as a source on Mike and Mike?

[UpperDec]

I'm in favor of getting Tex, but not if it means we trade off arb eligible players or don't offer long term contracts to guys we already have, or don't agressively pursue who ever we draft with the number 1 pick. Tex would be great, but not if he is an excuse for management to do nothing else

I agree, but we shouldn't have to do any of the above.