There are reports the Red Sox reached an agreement with Mark Teixeira. I’m waiting for a somewhat more official announcement.
Update: The reports were wrong:
Red Sox owner just e-mailed several media members with a stunning twist in the team’s pursuit of Mark Teixeira. “We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
There must be a a ton of money or years on the table.
Holy cow! I figured for sure hearing that the Sox were pursuing that they’d sign for something like 10y/200m.
For them to say, however, that “it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor”…. the rumored 8y/160m offers we’ve been publicly hearing of must just be the bottom-level offers.
Thanks for the update!
I smell Yankees.
“I smell Yankees.” I hope you’re right but thinking it’s just a response by Sox ownership to Boras’ tactics.
This is good news for the Red Sox. I’m surprised to hear the Nationals still in the race, and the Red Sox not. I predict that if he goes to the Yanks, he’ll be another A-Rod, and the Yanks won’t improve that much. If he goes to the Nationals, we’ll never hear from him again.
I too think it is a bargaining tactic. A way of emphasing “you have our last offer” — whether true or not — rather than a declaration that the battle is over for the Red Sox, though I’d guess it does make it more likely Tex ends up elsewhere.
I just find Mark’s comment above interesting, in that it describes what Boras does as tactics, and the Red Sox merely responding, rather than seeing tactics in the actions of both sides.
The Sox might be asking themselves if Tex is the next Manny or A-Rod. That’s the kind of money Tex is asking for, but if you were a general manager, would you tender a 10 year, $200 million contract — Manny and A-Rod kind of money — to a player who has only hit more then 40 homers once in his career? And has had basically 30 HR / 115 RBI years for the past two seasons? Those are great numbers, but is it $20 million a year for the next decade great?
Manny and ARod are not the best defenders. Teix brings a more complete package on both sides of the ball. Also, you have to keep in mind the market, he is possibly the only player that can really bolster their offense from what it is, which IMO is not good enough to go to war with in 2009 and expect to be a top WS contender. I am totally fine with the Sox going as high as 8 yrs at 23 a pop, because that is what it probably will take to get a player of his caliber, and the next best option is Manny, and after that you might as well stand pat. It’s Teix or bust from where I see things.
A-Rod was an above average defensive SS when he signed his first mega deal. You can’t even really compare his defensive value with Tex, who is granted a fantastic gloveman at 1B. It just isn’t fair to say that Alex isn’t the complete package. He is. He can also steal bases (he used to regularly!).
Aye. As far as Manny is concerned, yeah, the defense wasn’t there.. But A-Rod was a gold glove defender at shortshop, the toughest defensive position on the diamond.