From Adam Kilgore:
Red Sox owner John Henry just e-mailed several media members with a stunning twist in the team's pursuit of free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Henry's words: "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."
I did not see that coming.
20 Comments:
hahaha i just read this on overthemonster.com and i must say now i dont know what to think or say but WOW !?!?!?!?!
Think maybe it's just talk? Playing hardball with Boaras? Calling a Boras bluff?
Maybe the Sox have the feeling that Tex really wants to play for the Red Sox, and that they don't feel like they need to pay $20-$30M more than the O's or Nats like Boras is probably asking. If the offers from those two teams are in the $160M range, I could see Boaras exaggerating things and telling the Sox that they'd need to pony up $200M. Then, the Sox, knowing there's no way anyone is going to pay him that much, pull back, putting the ball in Tex's court.
This wouldn't be the first time that Boras screwed his own client. I don't think the Red Sox are out of the running by any means, unless they were never serious in the first place.
While it's probably not going to happen (especially based on the innuendo by Hal and Cash at the press conf today), this would be the perfect time for the Yankees to swoop in, tell Tex they'll give him $160M over 7 years with an opt out after 3-4 years and see if they can steal him. But anyway, I just don't see that happening anyway.
Best case scenario right now is Tex ends up in Wash, with Bal a close 2nd best scenario. At least he could hurt the Sox as much as he hurts us then.
Pinstripes,
You're absolutely right, this could just be a negotiating tactic.
I also agree with you when you say
"this would be the perfect time for the Yankees to swoop in, tell Tex they'll give him $160M over 7 years with an opt out after 3-4 years and see if they can steal him."
And yes, if the Yankees don't sign him I hope he ends up in the NL.
What's you fishiness factor at right now? Mine is at about a 60... and probably rising...
yea its been confirmed that the sox only wanted to go to 185 at MOST, and that the yanks are still very much interested on ch 5
Mine's about 75-80. Even if the Sox were backing out, I doubt they'd come out and say so like this, for fear of allowing the Yankees to do exactly what I said.
I do find it very odd that Henry would e-mail a bunch of the media with a comment like that. Seems to me like a purposeful spreading of information as a negotation tactic.
While it could certainly be the reality of the situation (the Sox have just decided they're completely fed up with Boras and are of the idea that the money might as well be spent elsewhere), I'm leaning more towards ploy.
Anon,
What channel 5? In Boston?
Its good because it hurts them without his bat,. But I still don't want him over Manny.
I just think Manny is scary behind A Rod. Tex is a scary bat, but not like Manny will scare teams.
HANK, Hal.. is you are reading.. ORDER CASH to get it done.. like now.
Via a message on sosh.net...
Mike Lynch on Ch 5:
Sox are OUT
A source says there is a $200M deal on the table
The Yankees are in it
Boras believes he’ll have a deal sometime tomorrow
Sox only wanted to spend $160M, then were willing to go to $185
Thanks Anon, very interesting.
the sosh.net link doesnt work but that was over in the over the monster blog posted by someone
Interesting. The Yanks are poised to do something big. Could this be it?
Here's a quote from Scott Boras, in response:
"The Boston ownership was kind enough to request and travel to meet with Mark Teixeira. While it was a very positive meeting Mark was candid and advised he is in the process of making a decision and is now attempting to eliminate teams."
(source: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/mark-teixeira-6.html)
Maybe I'm reading too much into that comment, but it sounds to me like Teixeira declined Boston's offer.
I still don't think the Yankees are involved, but you never know/
It was believed that CC had a 6/140 mil deal on the table and turned out to be 7/161, so the reports about Teixeira 8/180 I think its going to end up more like 8-10 yr 200-220 mil and if that’s the case and the RS are out of it I don’t want him for that price, I take Manny and during the season or next year try to land one of this players:
Figgins
Holliday
Crawford- I doubt that TB will pick up his 10mil option
Ankiel
Howard- I think PHI could trade him if the Mets take over.
Maybe he'll just go for the Natty Ice...
Interesting take on the Texiera situation poster over on WEEI's website:
http://www.weei.com/For-Red-Sox-and-Teixeira--Sound-and-Fury-Signify-B/3523486
What I found truly interesting are these quotes by Theo Epstein:
"In baseball, if you convince yourself you need a certain player, you’ve already lost. One player doesn’t have that much impact. It’s about building organizations. It’s not about adding players."
and:
"There’s no player you can have to make up for an inherent weakness in the organization—a foundational weakness. You need to build the foundation up where you don’t need that one player. Yeah, you can pursue that player. He may be a great fit. But if it doesn’t work out or if the money gets ridiculous, you can turn to another player.”
This is something fudamentally lacking with the Yankees. The idea of having to "win every year" as much as I admire it, it is a handicap. The Yankees consistently find themselves in positions where they have to be the highest bidder because of a lack of ability to fill holes from within. While I applaud the addition of Sabathia, and to a far lesser extent Burnett, I find this to be a glaring weakness which consistently keeps the Yankees in a revolving door type of situation, where both chemistry and philosophy are sacrificed. Part of the reason the teams of the late 90's were so successful, was because when players were acquired via trades or free agency, there was an established culture and attitude which had been instilled in the "core" players from the farm system on up. A work ethic and a dilligence. I don't know about any of you fellas, but the last 5-7years I have felt the absence of that. Many times talent can just overwhelm that vacancy, but at crucial moments it rears its head, and perhaps that's why there's been no hardware in the Bronx for almost a decade now. Just a thought.
Maybe he just "really want to be a Yankee"... or someone else's money...
Bobby, I'm going to have to disagree. The Yankees got their share of players in the late 90's and had a few players from within (all happened to be stars). The system is better than ever now, but they're not ready for the bigs just yet. If they were just blowing the farms for overpriced vets in years past, Hughes, Kennedy, Melky, and Jackson would be gone already and we would have gotten Johan last season. However, they have the ability to buy whoever they want (losing a late first rounder) and still compete every year without depleting the farm, which no other team can even dream to do.
Don't complain. Be happy we have the most dedicated fans and the most committed owners in all of sports, always putting a competitive team on the field year in and year out.
Check out the blog:
Theyankeesdollar.blogspot.com
Bobby,
I don't think that mentality is a bad thing at all I just think it's repeated too often. It doesn't have to be said over and over again for these players to realize it. They look around that clubhouse and they know what their mission is. It goes without saying. And that SHOULD be the goal when you spend money like the Yankees do.
"The Yankees consistently find themselves in positions where they have to be the highest bidder because of a lack of ability to fill holes from within."
I think this has more to do with a mismanaged farm system. This is why Cashman didn't trade for Santana, and why they've overhauled their entire scouting department over the past few season. It has already led to much better drafts and a stronger system.
"Part of the reason the teams of the late 90's were so successful, was because when players were acquired via trades or free agency, there was an established culture and attitude which had been instilled in the "core" players from the farm system on up. A work ethic and a dilligence. I don't know about any of you fellas, but the last 5-7years I have felt the absence of that."
That's true, that is something that has been lacking, but again I don't think the win now mentality is the cause of it.
I have to agree with Bobby on this one. This whole win every year stuff is silly.
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