Tex and the Nats...

[MrMadison]

OOOOOH GOOD QUESTION!

Why would a high-priced free agent want to sign with and play for the Nationals this year?

[Natskins]

Karl Ravech on SC this morning


It appears as if the idea that he wants to play for a competitor in the East, while that’s a priority, it’s almost neutralized by the fact that there’s an enormous attraction to the Orioles. He grew up in Maryland. His family is there. His wife has very, very close ties to that area. There’s something that kind of keeps bringing he and (agent) Scott Boras back to the Orioles as a hometown, ‘I’d love to play for the team I grew up watching,’ (destination).

http://blogs.weei.com/alexspeier/2008/12/16/report-teixeira-anticipates-22-28-millionyear/

Yikes. Well, if he's hell-bent on playing for the O's, there's really not a whole lot anyone can do about it.

[MrMadison]

it looks to me like the wilnieves plant guy was there just incase there wasn't enough interest of questions, they could save face.

but now they seem to be flooded with unique questions, so now they are starting to answer.

that's my theory. I imagine that they are pretty surprised by the amount of questions being forwarded.

[MrMadison]

Yikes. Well, if he's hell-bent on playing for the O's, there's really not a whole lot anyone can do about it.

basically.

[wpa2629]

Yikes. Well, if he's hell-bent on playing for the O's, there's really not a whole lot anyone can do about it.

Pretty much

[houston-nat]

it looks to me like the wilnieves plant guy was there just incase there wasn't enough interest of questions, they could save face.

but now they seem to be flooded with unique questions, so now they are starting to answer.

that's my theory. I imagine that they are pretty surprised by the amount of questions being forwarded.

Yeah, probably at least the last part is true. It's always possible that wilnieves is really just some independent sycophant, or JimBo's mom or something. But they've probably got too many questions and are trying to sort through.

[MrMadison]

I'm shocked that last question made it through the team filter.

looks like a long answer too.

[houston-nat]

BTW wilnieves' first question was asked at 10:53.

[MrMadison]

BTW wilnieves' first question was asked at 10:53.

so he basically pre-submitted 40 billion questions.

[PANatsFan]

Maybe jimbo fell asleep

[blue911]

Karl Ravech on SC this morning


It appears as if the idea that he wants to play for a competitor in the East, while that’s a priority, it’s almost neutralized by the fact that there’s an enormous attraction to the Orioles. He grew up in Maryland. His family is there. His wife has very, very close ties to that area. There’s something that kind of keeps bringing he and (agent) Scott Boras back to the Orioles as a hometown, ‘I’d love to play for the team I grew up watching,’ (destination).

http://blogs.weei.com/alexspeier/2008/12/16/report-teixeira-anticipates-22-28-millionyear/

If he signs with the Angels he'll never hear the end of it from his parents and in-laws. Never underestimate how much pull grandmas have.

[PANatsFan]

I asked about Shawn Hill moving to the bullpen and Fuentes

[houston-nat]

I think he's stalling so this can be the last question, or so they can pull out something by wilnieves like "Who would win an all-clubhouse Rock Band tournament?"

[MrMadison]

http://blogs.weei.com/alexspeier/2008/12/16/report-teixeira-anticipates-22-28-millionyear/

Here is a transcript of Ravech’s comments this morning on ESPN:

“The five teams that have always been pursuing him—the Angels, RS, Yankees, Nationals and Orioles—continue to be the five teams pursuing him. Someone very familiar with the negotiations said, it’s almost fascinating what’s happened. Every time one team steps up its offer, the other four teams do the same thing. It appears as if the idea that he wants to play for a competitor in the East, while that’s a priority, it’s almost neutralized by the fact that there’s an enormous attraction to the Orioles. He grew up in Maryland. His family is there. His wife has very, very close ties to that area. There’s something that kind of keeps bringing he and (agent) Scott Boras back to the Orioles as a hometown, ‘I’d love to play for the team I grew up watching,’ (destination).

“They look at the numbers being thrown out there. The Angels, who gave Torii Hunter $18 million a year, and of course Alex Rodriguez’ deal was almost $30 million a year, the numbers almost favor a comparison to A-Rod. So he’s looking at an eight-year deal that’s going to be worth between $22 and $28 million a year. A pretty good Christmas present. The sense I got from the people I spoke with was that the decision is getting closer and closer to being made. They’re almost looking as if one team would drop out of it to make the decision easier. They’re making it very hard on them. It’s a decision we’d all love to have to make.

“If you’re looking at eight years, $180 million, you’re north of $18 million a year, which is really sort of the starting point. This thing just continues to escalate. Even people like Scott and Mark, who have been involved in these things before—he’s been dealt a few times, he passed up a huge offer at one point from the Rangers, and this was a couple years ago. They identified the market, and the market seems to come back to them. Obviously, the Orioles and Nationals would love to use him. The Orioles look at Teixeira the same way they did at Ripken for so many years. They’d have this guy as the foundation, as the face of the organization.

“In so many ways, he’s the perfect representative of whatever franchise he goes to. He’s heavy into the workouts, he’s never had any injuries, he’s had no problems off the field to speak of. You understand why these teams would want to get a switch-hitting, great Gold Glove first baseman.”

[MrMadison]

I think he's stalling so this can be the last question, or so they can pull out something by wilnieves like "Who would win an all-clubhouse Rock Band tournament?"

that's very, very likely.

[wpa2629]

Also according to the link the Nats have stepped up every time they needed to ... which is very good to hear -- so no matter where Tex ends up, I'm satisfied by the effort -- and really -- in the absence of Tex - a plan B of Dunn and ODog would suit me just fine

[PANatsFan]

http://blogs.weei.com/alexspeier/2008/12/16/report-teixeira-anticipates-22-28-millionyear/

Ravech can't multiply. Idiotic.

8 years, 180 millions is well above 18 million per year

[houston-nat]

BTW, Bowden's bio appears to have been written by an aspiring poet: "During this process, he has placed continued emphasis on scouting, player development and the acquisition of young talent wherever it might reside."

It's like a friggin' Art Garfunkel song. For Smiley, Wherever I May Find Him.

[HalfSmokes]

So he’s looking at an eight-year deal that’s going to be worth between $22 and $28 million a year.

If we put out an offer like that, you can't blame the FO or ownership for not getting it done

[PANatsFan]

BTW, Bowden's bio appears to have been written by an aspiring poet: "During this process, he has placed continued emphasis on scouting, player development and the acquisition of young talent wherever it might reside."

It's like a friggin' Art Garfunkel song. For Smiley, Wherever I May Find Him.

Meat Hook, Harris, Flores, and Flop

[MrMadison]

huh. Bowden handled that "why would a free agent want to come here" question pretty well.

[houston-nat]

Meat Hook, Harris, Flores, and Flop

There must be 50 ways to build a ballclub

[houston-nat]

huh. Bowden handled that "why would a free agent want to come here" question pretty well.

Yeah, really good answer.

[MrMadison]

from Lodson:

Any chance the Nationals would sign Dunn to play first base?
-- Fritz S., Rockville, Md.

If Teixeira decides to sign elsewhere, I believe Dunn will be the Nationals' next target. From what I understand, general manager Jim Bowden has made contact with Dunn's agent.

[houston-nat]

Bowden just said we may go after free agent pitchers after all.