Tex and the Nats...

[cmdterps44]

About the NY guy and our offer, didnt bowden come out and say we offered 8/160?

[UMDNats]

what the hell, i know the meetings are over, but i want the teixeira hysteria to continue, damnit! someone needs to post controversial reports or something

[cmdterps44]

what the hell, i know the meetings are over, but i want the teixeira hysteria to continue, damnit! someone needs to post controversial reports or something

yea i know, this week was hectic, and im still refreshing every 2 minutes checking in on MLBTR and stuff.

I WANT INFO

[hammondsnats]

what the hell, i know the meetings are over, but i want the teixeira hysteria to continue, damnit! someone needs to post controversial reports or something

i can always bash the lerners (only kidding)

my guess is he's thinking over the offers right now, talking it over with his family, etc.   

[houston-nat]

yea i know, this week was hectic, and im still refreshing every 2 minutes checking in on MLBTR and stuff.

ditto

[MrMadison]

Jayson Stark of ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove08/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3763494

The Teixeira Watch
No agent who ever lived moves slower than Scott Boras. So even though CC Sabathia and Frankie Rodriguez already have managed to find their next homes, the Scott Boras Negotiating Olympiad has barely begun for guys such as Teixeira.
So all of a sudden, the crazy bidding rumors are flying. Eight years, $160 million from the Nationals. Seven years, $140 million from the Orioles. Seven years, $160 million from the Angels. No formal offers whatsoever from the Red Sox. Yet.
You can believe those numbers if you want to. You can believe none of them if you're as wary of Boras spreading inflated negotiating fiction as many people in baseball are. But somewhere in there, you can find the plot line that's beginning to form here.

The Nationals have decided they need to make Teixeira the face of their franchise. (Hey, it beats Elijah Dukes.) That's the sales pitch they've been throwing at Teixeira and Boras relentlessly.

It's also helpful that they've been throwing more money at Teixeira than they've paid their entire baseball team in the past three seasons combined.

But will it work? And will it work even if the Nationals outbid everybody else -- which seems entirely possible? That's the question people in baseball keep asking.

"Here's what I wonder," one GM said. "Let's say the Nationals' bid is $5 million higher than the Red Sox or Angels. What happens then? Scott's clients always take the most money. But if Teixeira goes to the Nationals, how does he spin it? He sure can't say it was about winning. I guess he'll have to say it's about going home. Playing the family card always works."

Maybe that going-home speech is already in the hands of Boras' speechwriters. But in the meantime, you can bet Boras will be working 28 hours a day trying to prod the Angels and Red Sox to step up and outbid the losingest team in baseball this year.

and further down in the article:

And you can bet your inauguration tickets that Adam Dunn will land in Washington if Teixeira doesn't.

[BerkeleyNat]

Jayson Stark of ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove08/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3763494

and further down in the article:

"Here's what I wonder," one GM said. "Let's say the Nationals' bid is $5 million higher than the Red Sox or Angels. What happens then? Scott's clients always take the most money. But if Teixeira goes to the Nationals, how does he spin it? He sure can't say it was about winning. I guess he'll have to say it's about going home. Playing the family card always works."

Tex doesn't have to spin it any way. If he wants to go play in Washington, he'll go. I just hate this elitest attitude that prevails in baseball. It's so unlike the other sports. They act like the guy will just disappear into a black hole if he comes to Washington, never to be heard from again. It's like "how dare you try to compete in this league if you're not from NY, Boston, Chicago, or California". Tex will be huge if he comes here. He'll automatically become one of Washington's biggest stars, with the likes of Ovechkin and Portis. I can see lots of positives playing here. Anyways...I'll get off my soapbox for now.

[HalfSmokes]

I just hate this elitest attitude that prevails in baseball. It's so unlike the other sports. They act like the guy will just disappear into a black hole if he comes to Washington, never to be heard from again. It's like "how dare you try to compete in this league if you're not from NY, Boston, Chicago, or California". Tex will be huge if he comes here.

I don't know ESPN already has LeBron in NY.

[wpa2629]

Tex doesn't have to spin it any way. If he wants to go play in Washington, he'll go. I just hate this elitest attitude that prevails in baseball. It's so unlike the other sports. They act like the guy will just disappear into a black hole if he comes to Washington, never to be heard from again. It's like "how dare you try to compete in this league if you're not from NY, Boston, Chicago, or California". Tex will be huge if he comes here. He'll automatically become one of Washington's biggest stars, with the likes of Ovechkin and Portis. I can see lots of positives playing here. Anyways...I'll get off my soapbox for now.

It's not a soap box ... it's the absolute truth -- this is not Kansas City, it's Washington DC, the most powerful city on earth -- the Redskins are a premier NFL franchise (and the richest sports entity in the world) -- we are not second rate to anyone -- there is nothing embarrassing about coming to and playing in Washington -- ask Alexander Ovechkin, the greatest player in the game today how he feels about DC -- or Clinton Portis who could go anywhere else he wanted -- I'm with you 100%-I'm sick of the elitist snobs in baseball and that includes the frickin media -- get off your high horse already - the Nationals being a competitive franchise is GOOD for baseball -- retards

[hammondsnats]

It's not a soap box ... it's the absolute truth -- this is not Kansas City, it's Washington DC, the most powerful city on earth -- the Redskins are a premier NFL franchise (and the richest sports entity in the world) -- we are not second rate to anyone -- there is nothing embarrassing about coming to and playing in Washington -- ask Alexander Ovechkin, the greatest player in the game today how he feels about DC -- or Clinton Portis who could go anywhere else he wanted -- I'm with you 100%-I'm sick of the elitist snobs in baseball and that includes the frickin media -- get off your high horse already - the Nationals being a competitive franchise is GOOD for baseball -- retards

[BerkeleyNat]

Burnett just signed with the Yankees. It's for 5 years at 82.5 million. Please tell me Tex is the next big domino to fall....hopefully in DC.

[hisownfool]

It's like "how dare you try to compete in this league if you're not from NY, Boston, Chicago, or California".

Last night, I watched ESPN's "Hot Stove" show and Ravech asked Kruk what if Tex signed with DC. Kruk's reply was "then he's only playing for the money."

It made me angry. I understand and applaud a player taking less money to play on a contender but I have nothing but contempt for people who say that if he signs elsewhere he's only in it for the money. First, duh, of course he's playing for money. It's easy for me to say that you should take less -- it's not my life.

More importantly, Kruk's response is ESPN-speak for "how dare he not sign with an ESPN-approved team, i.e., Boston, NY, Chicago or LA?" Sure, there are other post-season contenders but none of them are offering Boras-type money and, more to the point, none of them probably ever will.  Tampa, Minnesota, and company are not going to offer anyone $150+ million. Their markets won't support it.

Thus, all premium free agents must sign with ESPN-approved teams. Period. I wonder if they realize just how arrogant that is? I know that ESPN is the object of a lot of hate and scorn but they deserve it. They are desperately ginning up the idea of Tex and the Yankees, not because there's any real sign of Yankee interest but because they can't talk about baseball otherwise.

And this isn't an anti-NY rant: I'm a life-long Mets, Giants, Knicks, etc. fan.

[tomterp]

Last night, I watched ESPN's "Hot Stove" show and Ravech asked Kruk what if Tex signed with DC. Kruk's reply was "then he's only playing for the money."

It made me angry. I understand and applaud a player taking less money to play on a contender but I have nothing but contempt for people who say that if he signs elsewhere he's only in it for the money. First, duh, of course he's playing for money. It's easy for me to say that you should take less -- it's not my life.

More importantly, Kruk's response is ESPN-speak for "how dare he not sign with an ESPN-approved team, i.e., Boston, NY, Chicago or LA?" Sure, there are other post-season contenders but none of them are offering Boras-type money and, more to the point, none of them probably ever will.  Tampa, Minnesota, and company are not going to offer anyone $150+ million. Their markets won't support it.

Thus, all premium free agents must sign with ESPN-approved teams. Period. I wonder if they realize just how arrogant that is? I know that ESPN is the object of a lot of hate and scorn but they deserve it. They are desperately ginning up the idea of Tex and the Yankees, not because there's any real sign of Yankee interest but because they can't talk about baseball otherwise.

And this isn't an anti-NY rant: I'm a life-long Mets, Giants, Knicks, etc. fan.

    

Excellent rant, fool.      Welcome to our world.

[BerkeleyNat]

Last night, I watched ESPN's "Hot Stove" show and Ravech asked Kruk what if Tex signed with DC. Kruk's reply was "then he's only playing for the money."

It made me angry. I understand and applaud a player taking less money to play on a contender but I have nothing but contempt for people who say that if he signs elsewhere he's only in it for the money. First, duh, of course he's playing for money. It's easy for me to say that you should take less -- it's not my life.

More importantly, Kruk's response is ESPN-speak for "how dare he not sign with an ESPN-approved team, i.e., Boston, NY, Chicago or LA?" Sure, there are other post-season contenders but none of them are offering Boras-type money and, more to the point, none of them probably ever will.  Tampa, Minnesota, and company are not going to offer anyone $150+ million. Their markets won't support it.

Thus, all premium free agents must sign with ESPN-approved teams. Period. I wonder if they realize just how arrogant that is? I know that ESPN is the object of a lot of hate and scorn but they deserve it. They are desperately ginning up the idea of Tex and the Yankees, not because there's any real sign of Yankee interest but because they can't talk about baseball otherwise.

And this isn't an anti-NY rant: I'm a life-long Mets, Giants, Knicks, etc. fan.

Kruk is a complete and utter idiot. I can't believe that ESPN couldn't find someone else to fill that spot on Baseball Tonight when it opened. He also played for the Phillies, which ads to his scumbag factor. The one thing I'll always remember about that tool is his Nutrisystem commercial and this classic line:

" My wife told me I'm not as disgusting to her as I used to be."

What a loser!

[ronnynat]

Kruk is a complete and utter idiot. I can't believe that ESPN couldn't find someone else to fill that spot on Baseball Tonight when it opened. He also played for the Phillies, which ads to his scumbag factor. The one thing I'll always remember about that tool is his Nutrisystem commercial and this classic line:

" My wife told me I'm not as disgusting to her as I used to be."

What a loser!

All I know is that kids used to call him "Johnny One Nut" a while ago.

[shoeshineboy]

Kruk is a complete and utter idiot. I can't believe that ESPN couldn't find someone else to fill that spot on Baseball Tonight when it opened. He also played for the Phillies, which ads to his scumbag factor. The one thing I'll always remember about that tool is his Nutrisystem commercial and this classic line:

" My wife told me I'm not as disgusting to her as I used to be."

What a loser!

It's amazing that attitude comes out of anyone other than some know-nothing 12 year old fan, but coming from a baseball commentator, it's ridiculous. Isn't the purpose of signing good players to improve? And aren't these star players supposed to be part of making a team better by playing for them? And if a team replaces a couple of weak links with a couple of proportionally superior links greatly improve the chances that it will start winning? People who say this stuff assume two things. One - that players are supposed to win by going to teams that already win regardless and that they are not supposed to have anything to do with. And Two - that the only teams that ever win or will ever win are the same few teams. Nonsense.

[DPMOmaha]

Remind me, how much money does the club get from Angelos for being on MASN?

[cmdterps44]

Angels made eight year offer to Tex.

"Angels general manager Tony Reagins confirmed on Friday night that the Angels have presented an eight-year offer for free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.

"It was made during our conversations [with agent Scott Boras] at the Winter Meetings," Reagins told MLB.com, having returned home to Southern California from Las Vegas. "We have a proposal in place for eight years. The specific dollar amount, I won't get into that."

The bar has been pretty firmly set at $20 million a year for Teixeira, the hottest property on the market after the Yankees' signing of CC Sabathia.

The Nationals came forward on Wednesday with an eight-year, $160 million offer across eight years for Teixeira, and it is believed the Angels have at least matched that number.

"It's something they can consider -- or should consider," Reagins said. "They have the right."

The Red Sox and Orioles also have made no secret of their interest in Teixeira, and the Yankees also have expressed the possibility of getting involved with the 28-year-old switch-hitter from Annapolis, Md. "

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081213&content_id=3716284&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp&partnerId=rss_mlb

Come on, go to Washington! Or increase our offer!

[2k6nats]

Teixiera has had nothing but good things to say about the Angels, but I guess we'll only really know the truth once he decides where to sign.

[blue911]

Remind me, how much money does the club get from Angelos for being on MASN?

$25M + an increasing share of the ownership, which I believe stands at 14%.

[PatsNats28]

So if we were to get Teixiera, he would be paying a portion of his contract

[houston-nat]

Why has no Boston offer been publicized at any time?

Is it even remotely possible that the Red Sox have realized they don't need Teixeira and are, like the Yankees, a Boras-conjured phantom to raise the Angels' price?

[hammondsnats]

$25M + an increasing share of the ownership, which I believe stands at 14%.

Haha this is what we should offer Teixeira.

[MrMadison]

raise your bid, Lerners.

it's the only way to get him.

[hammondsnats]

raise your bid, Lerners.

it's the only way to get him.

yup.  please shut me up and raise!!!  we need TEIX!