Tex and the Nats...

[CJames0569]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but it says we've offered 7 years at $150 mil

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ys-motateixeiranats121008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[houston-nat]

Jon Heyman says two teams have offered Tex $160m. MLBTR reports that the Nationals have offered "at least" $150m and the 7 years reported on Yahoo!.

[ronnynat]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but it says we've offered 7 years at $150 mil

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ys-motateixeiranats121008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

This alone should shut some people up. It's an offer. If Tex agrees, we get him. If he doesn't, we still made the offer.

[natsfan4evr]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but it says we've offered 7 years at $150 mil

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ys-motateixeiranats121008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

I like 10 years at 200 mil. I see no reason why he can't last at least 10 years more.

[cmdterps44]

yea the 10 years 200 mil seems more but this is 21 mil per year, if the offer is true.


And to the whole Lerners raking in money thing, it really isnt a reasonable example with you taking your wife to Outback.

They own a team that is supported by fans who give them they're revenue. In order for them to help out the fans, they need to make the team better, IE offering tex alot of money to come play here.

Taking your wife to outback only affects you two

Spending the dough for an investment affects not only the team but the fanbase/ every other thing that increases revenue.

If they dont spend money then i can guarantee they will lose money in the long run unless some miracle happens in our farm system and they get lucky.

[hammondsnats]

Never said that, but thank you for playing.

So let's say your raking in the loot. Do your friends call you cheap because you take your wife or sig fig out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse instead of the most fancy and expensive restaurant in DC? Shouldn't you do so because you are raking in that loot?

What I'm saying is they spent money to buy the team, but outside of that what have they spent on?  They owed the city money and finally paid it off.  They missed out on free agents for the past few years - including last - and went into the '08 season saying the stadium is their marquee FA signing (they went on to lose 102 games).

People inside the organization (and those formerly employeed) have said time after time how frugal spenders they are and have really swung and missed on a lot of opportunities to get better. 

I'm all for the plan, but when you miss out on a draft pick and when you have a season of 100+ games, terrible tv/radio ratings and expect moderate ticket prices (add in a poor economy) ... it's time to start talking with the wallet.  I'll stand by this team and will still go to games, but it's time to make a move.  We're still a new franchise and you don't want to allienate the fanbase after five years from moving to town.

But I'm ending it there.  No more LAC talk out of me today (unless someone calls me out).  I don't want to tick off Chief

Let's remain positive until Teix/Dunn/our targets sign with us/somewhere.  Go Nats. 

[ronnynat]

I like 10 years at 200 mil. I see no reason why he can't last at least 10 years more.

Wow. The chances are really low that he could last that long w/out at least having one major injury. These days, any contract over 5 years is REALLY risky, IMO.

[natsfan4evr]

Wow. The chances are really low that he could last that long w/out at least having one major injury. These days, any contract over 5 years is REALLY risky, IMO.

A minor injury is one thing. I mean he should be able to play the game for at least 10 more years. Hitters are far less risky than pitchers.
Even if he is injured for a total of 1 year out of 10, that is still a great deal.

[hammondsnats]

The funny thing is 10yr/$200mil was just a number thrown out I believe a month ago and I highly doubt nobody would go over that.  It sounds like the best he may get is 7/8 years deal.

[ronnynat]

A minor injury is one thing. I mean he should be able to play the game for at least 10 more years. Hitters are far less risky than pitchers.
Even if he is injured for a total of 1 year out of 10, that is still a great deal.

Unless it happens in the first or second season and ruins his career. Okay, I'm gonna stop there. Depressing myself.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

yea the 10 years 200 mil seems more but this is 21 mil per year, if the offer is true.


And to the whole Lerners raking in money thing, it really isnt a reasonable example with you taking your wife to Outback.

They own a team that is supported by fans who give them they're revenue. In order for them to help out the fans, they need to make the team better, IE offering tex alot of money to come play here.

Taking your wife to outback only affects you two

Spending the dough for an investment affects not only the team but the fanbase/ every other thing that increases revenue.

If they dont spend money then i can guarantee they will lose money in the long run unless some miracle happens in our farm system and they get lucky.

Your taking the metaphor a little too far, I think. The restaurant does not matter, what matters is just because your friend rakes in loot doesn't mean you should expect them to extend themselves every chance they get, especially when it isn't your money and it doesn't make you, personally, happy.

I don't disagree Teix is a valuable investment and I don't doubt the Lerners are richer than me, but really, they are calling the shots, know their situation, know their limits (and everyone has them), and we don't. Not everyone is a Steinbrenner.

[MrMadison]

Your taking the metaphor a little too far, I think. The restaurant does not matter, what matters is just because your friend rakes in loot doesn't mean you should expect them to extend themselves every chance they get,

but they should extend themselves AT SOME POINT IN TIME. not every chance they get. but when the situation calls for it.

you may take your wife to Outback, but do you take that very important client(Tex) that you are trying to wine and dine and convince to make a major investment into your company(sign here to play for the Nats) there?

no, you spend the money and take him/her to the best place in town, and you try to show him why he should invest here.

[wpa2629]

but they should extend themselves AT SOME POINT IN TIME. not every chance they get. but when the situation calls for it.

you may take your wife to Outback, but do you take that very important client(Tex) that you are trying to wine and dine and convince to make a major investment into your company(sign here to play for the Nats) there?

no, you spend the money and take him/her to the best place in town, and you try to show him why he should invest here.

Isn't that what they're doing??  7/150 is serious cash money

[natsfan4evr]

Unless it happens in the first or second season and ruins his career. Okay, I'm gonna stop there. Depressing myself.

Hitters can bounce back from a serious injury... Pitchers can't
Hitters don't forget how to hit the ball, but a slight issue with a pitchers arm or elbow can ruin a career or totally lose their dominance.

Pitchers are like playing Russian roulette to me. If I was an owner, I would hate signing free agent pitchers for that reason.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

What I'm saying is they spent money to buy the team, but outside of that what have they spent on?  They owed the city money and finally paid it off.  They missed out on free agents for the past few years

Missed out? They were up front in saying they wouldn't be going for them, instead using money to build the farm system. Which they did. Taking it what? From 29th to 9th in the league?

Those cheap bastards.

went into the '08 season saying the stadium is their marquee FA signing (they went on to lose 102 games).

I remember a bunch of the "Lerners Are Cheap" crowd saying this but I never remember the Lerners actually quoting this anywhere. Either way, whoever said it, it is stupid.

People inside the organization (and those formerly employeed) have said time after time how frugal spenders they are and have really swung and missed on a lot of opportunities to get better.

Ex-employees and sources not actually in the organization who went unnamed and would not tell what positions they held in the organization. Questionable to say the least. Bic Pens do not win championships.

I'm all for the plan, but when you miss out on a draft pick

You really wanted the Nats to overpay for a beer guzzling, burger eating, turd? Please.

terrible tv/radio ratings

Have you forgotten the deal we were stuck with? Do you remember this? Are you really Hammondnats?

expect moderate ticket prices (add in a poor economy) ... it's time to start talking with the wallet.

If you add in the economy excuse, you gotta wonder how it is effecting their own businesses outside of baseball which funded most of this magic. Just because your rich doesn't mean you don't have to be careful or you have no threat of financial problems?

I'll stand by this team and will still go to games

Cool.

[MrMadison]

the fact of the matter is, the ONLY way we'll land Tex, is if we offer the most money. and even that isn't a sure bet.  Money is the only thing we have to convince him to come here.

don't believe for a minute that you can get all sappy and sentimental with him about "owning the town" and "it's close to home" and crap like that, and that will convince him to play here for less than or equal to what powerhouse franchises like the Angels and Red Sox offer.  they have "if you want to play for a winner and have a chance at a Championship Next Year, sign here" on their side. We don't have that luxury.

if we offer 7 years 150m, and say, the Red Sox offers 7 years 160m, there is no way in hell he signs with us for any reason whatsoever.

so if the Lerners are serious about acquiring him, they NEED to extend themselves. they have to know this by now.

if we really want Tex, and are not just giving lip service to the fans, then we NEED to have the high bid.

If  we offer 7/150 and Tex signs somewhere else for 8/160 and we don't up our bid to match, then "oh at least they made an offer" does not fly. Nobody else should offer more than what we do, IF we are serious about it.

if we offer 7/150 and he signs with Boston for 7/140, then there's nothing to be said.

if the Nats have the high bid, and he still doesn't sign here, then nobody has anything to complain about. that is my idea of a good faith effort to sign him.

[MrMadison]

Isn't that what they're doing??  7/150 is serious cash money

yes, I was just responding to NOTLD's metaphor.

[ronnynat]

Hitters can bounce back from a serious injury... Pitchers can't
Hitters don't forget how to hit the ball, but a slight issue with a pitchers arm or elbow can ruin a career or totally lose their dominance.

Pitchers are like playing Russian roulette to me. If I was an owner, I would hate signing free agent pitchers for that reason.

I agree w/ all of this, but I'm a fan of NJ's team. I'm kind of forced to be worried.

[CJames0569]

I think the 7yrs 150 mil will be our initial offer, I could see on of the big boys (most likely Sox, possibly Halos) offering same amount or slightly less for 8 years. Then it is to be seen if we could make a second offer that is higher than another teams counter offer.

[ronnynat]

I think the 7yrs 150 mil will be our initial offer, I could see on of the big boys (most likely Sox, possibly Halos) offering same amount or slightly less for 8 years. Then it is to be seen if we could make a second offer that is higher than another teams counter offer.

I really don't think he'll sign w/ the Angels. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think it's between us and the Red Sox now.

[wpa2629]

scuttlebutt on the other board has the O's ready to offer 8/175 - "they" say it's between them and the red sox

[CJames0569]

I really don't think he'll sign w/ the Angels. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think it's between us and the Red Sox now.

My initial statement all along. The halos spent last year to sign Hunter and resign Vlad so I'm not sure if they could must up enough payroll to make a legit bid. The Sox are also reportedly trying to sign pitching, FWIW.

[MrMadison]

according to Sheinen, the Nats are being very wary of simply being used by Boras to up the price for some other team(which is a very viable worry), while not being in serious consideration. which is why they are trying to keep things close to the vest in regards to offers.

[natsfan4evr]

These aren't closed bids right? They are allowed to go back to the Nats and say the Sox offered 8 years at 160, right?
Also, can't we put in some player and team options that stretch this into 10 years at 200 mil or even 10 years at 210?

[CJames0569]

scuttlebutt on the other board has the O's ready to offer 8/175 - "they" say it's between them and the red sox

I'll believe that when I see it, it's being reported that 4 teams are in the hunt for Tex. Only two have made legit bids one being us, reported by multiple sources, and I would guess the other would have to be the Sox (although maybe it's between us and the O's lol)