Breaking: Sox Not Signing Teixeira
Big-time news I just discovered: the Red Sox are not going to sign Mark Teixeira. At least not if this AP report is true. In case the link goes bad, here’s what it says:
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have been outbid for free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira and “are not going to be a factor” in acquiring him, owner John Henry said in an e-mail on Thursday night.
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him,” Henry said. “After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Boston Red Sox officials were in Texas on Thursday for talks with agent Scott Boras in an attempt to reach an agreement.
I have no idea what to make of this. Either somebody stepped in and went nuts with their bid, or ‘Ol Tex is about to throw us all for a curve.
Could this mean good news for the Orioles? I have my doubts, but I’ll say that this is the last thing I expected to read as I sat down to write my “Teixeira isn’t coming” post.
I think “developing” is the operative word now.
I’m definitely at the “not sure what to believe anymore” point. The more I think about this, the crazier it seems.
Are the Red Sox calling a Boras bluff?
Have the Yankees stepped in with a mega-offer?
Have the Orioles and/or Nats and/or Angels entered into a bidding war that makes even the deep-pocketed Sox call “no joy”?
Did Teixeira and Boras tell the Sox that the lure of playing close to home is so strong that they’d have to go to 10/200 to change the game?
Is this just yet another in a long line of iffy reports?
Is this a Festivus miracle?
None of the above scenarios would surprise me.
I also keep parsing the phrase:
After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.
Notice how money isn’t mentioned? “After hearing about his other offers” could mean a lot of things, and “we got outbid” is only one of them.
I really don’t want to get optimistic, but it’s hard.
I’d rather sit here and say nothing.
I’d rather sit here and think that the Red Sox have a trick up their sleeves and this is just the wind-up for the sucker punch.
I’d rather ponder what we can do with 180 million dollars besides make us fans happy and make our lineup really kick.
I’d rather think about how unfair the league can be.
I’d rather know that it’s all really about the money, and that Tex loves the home team, but he’s a free agent, and that mean money talks.
I’d rather just say “fuck it” and move on with my life already.
I’d rather hate the motherfucking Yankees and Red Sox and it to be justified in my eyes.
I’d rather not hope.
You would rather. But you can’t help but hope.
Gentlemen, one thing is (almost) certain, at least Tex won’t be cheered on in “Fenway South” by hordes of Pink Hats. That would have been unbearable.
Guys…. this could be it.
Also think about the phrase “not a factor”. If they had simply been outbid, why word it this way?
“Not a factor” is generally a phrase you use for something that’s irrelevant, not for something that’s relevant but not optimal. What did Teixeira/Boras tell them that led to that description?
What I’m getting at is, basically, that something is brewing. I don’t think someone as smart as John Henry chooses those words and phrases unless he’s trying to spin.
There’s also the very real possibility that I’m reading way too much into it.
Also: I really wish I had Andy MacPhail’s phone number, and a reason for him to answer when I called.
I have to hit the pillow. Here’s hoping we get an early gift tomorrow.
Okay. I might be off the grid a little until Monday (when I’ll slip into the phone booth and “be out”, back in Columbia – oh I’ve missed Maryland – of again), so I may miss some stuff. Or The Stuff. But, here’s what I’m thinking right now as I struggle to keep my heart rate down and pack up before I collapse.
It makes no sense for the Red Sox to publicly say “We’re out of the bidding” if they intend to remain in the bidding. At the very least, you might see some story tomorrow that Boras lets slip that the Sox are most likely trying to see if the market deflates a little…but yes, it doesn’t help the Red Sox to basically invite the Yankees into the bidding, nor does it help them to tell the other clubs that they probably need to up their offer.
Anyway, the ONLY stories I can muster enough to believe are the ones with direct quotes from GMs or owners. ESPN “sources”, OH “sources”, speculation from Jon Yankee-loving Heyman…these things can just as easily be floaters from the Boras camp as the genuine truth. And you know what? We don’t have a goddamn clue who is ahead in this.
Here’s what we do know, for certain: The Angels, Orioles, and Nationals are bidding for Tex. We have no actual reason to think the Yankees are in it, nor that the Red Sox remain in it. We’ve heard the Angels GM say “We’ve made a fair offer” as if to say they won’t increase it…which I guess is their way, like Boston’s, of publicly declaring that they won’t be used by Boras to up other teams’ offers. Now he can’t keep going back to Jim Bowden and saying “Well, the Angels just upped their deal again…and the Red Sox called back and…” Nah. The owner says they’re done, I can only imagine that it’s because he doesn’t want to be used, and they’re genuinely done.
Which is great. It means the odds of seeing Tex in hated laundry is at an all-time low. And it means that there are PROBABLY fewer competitors to see him in beloved laundry now. Now, we don’t KNOW anything about specific deals. In fact, the only things that have been commented on are that the Orioles hadn’t yet upped their initial offer but intended to a few days ago, the Nats and Angels put offers as well which are to be considered “fair”. We don’t know anything about what those deals are supposed to be.
I kinda love the hot stove because of this secrecy spy bullshit.
But then I remember that I hate it.
I’ll be back either Monday or when he signs (for whoever). In the meantime, don’t believe most things you read in the paper.
My opinion – The Nats have recently made a “secret” ridiculous offer that Boras is using as leverage. He went in to the Sox and said, can you up the years to 9 or 10 and come close to the annual average of the Nats? Henry said no. I really think it’s going to come down to two comparable offers from the Angels and O’s, and one absurd offer from the Nats. I think the Nats are going all out here. And I hate to say it, but never discount the fact that the Yanks could enter at the last minute, once they know what all the “final” offers are. Boras will def let them know and give them a last chance to outbid before Tex signs anywhere. Should be interesting…
I still think Tex is gonna sign with the Os. . .maybe wishful thinking, but hope springs eternal!
Neal,
I think you are right to tear apart the semantics. I see the scenario as this:
Sox Brass sit down with Tex/Boras & offer 8yr @ 23per. Mark looks up with big eyes like a kid at a candy shop and Uncle Scott says “No thank you, we have a much better offer on the table”
The Sox Brass are disgusted. They walk out and offer up that statement to the media before they even leave the building. They think they are calling Boras’ bluff (IMO) and hoping Mark will call from a payphone to work it out (the way A-Rod did)
Sportscenter update at 1136 related Bosox out of the bidding, but the report ONLY cited the Angels and Nationals as still in the hunt. . . no mention of the Os. . .
the beat goes on.
ESPN won’t mention the O’s and Tex in the same sentence until dude hits his first home run as an Oriole. Pay no attention to that.
Orioles Hangout crashed after one their “insiders” (who I do have some faith in, but of course with a grain of salt) proclaimed that an announcement was on the verge of breaking. Didn’t say anything else though, such as what team, when, etc. So. There you go. Nothing new, really.
amen to the comment re: the press ignoring Baltimore. . .now the word is the BoSox are back in it. . .what garbage.
MacPhail is going to pull this one off, and then the press can eat their Yankee/Red Sox bias. . . .and we can begin to enjoy the Tex Era!
Re: the Hangout – it’s shit like that that gives other independent sites a bad name. We should all be in it together, holding ourselves and each other to a higher standard.
To be fair, I didn’t read the post you’re referring to. But it seems like par for the course of late.
And, yeah, you can’t take ESPN’s “list of suitors” seriously either.
The O’s have to win the AL East now. Otherwise my faith in Baltimore as a whole will be shaken.
Just got laid off due to the Provident/M&T merger.
Fuck you Ravens fans.
Or your stadium anyway.
Merry Christmas.
FUNEMPLOYMENT, DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!
Care to provide some social services? I may need ‘em.
ESPN just showed a graphic listing the Red Sox, Angels, and Nationals all with 8 year/20+ mil and the Os with a 7 year offer.
Hopefully MacPhail’s “flexibility” encompasses another year and few more mil.
btw: at 20 mil per season, with 600 plate appearances, the young man would make over 33K per plate appearance or over 123K per game in a 162 game season.
Yikes! In this economy that’s somehow obscene, but that’s the business. Nonetheless, I’m hoping Tex is willing to skip a few mil to play for his hometown team. . .after all, there can only be so much greed. . .right???
Two things:
1) I think I’ve finally figured out the Orioles part in this whole farce, thanks to Roch. And if I’m right, I must say I approve the notion. Let me explain.
My theory is that the Orioles figure that the only way Tex ends up in Baltimore is if he wants to be in Baltimore more than elsewhere, assuming the money is even. So they put in a good faith first offer to show they are serious (and it’s a good opening bid that is probably pretty closely matching what he’s actually worth – as opposed to what he’ll end up with due to the bidding war). Then they wait. When Boras and Tex get the deal they want on the table from Boston, Washington, or Anaheim, if Tex in his heart wants to be an Oriole more than a Sock or an Angel or a Gnat, he’ll come back to the Orioles and say “This is what it takes. Match this offer and I’ll sign the deal right now”. Then they can offer or not offer but really have the whole situation in their own hands, and not get in a bidding war, which they probably figure would only make him more expensive in the end anyway. Now, if Tex really doesn’t want to be Oriole, then we probably can’t outbid everyone else enough to sign him anyway, so no sense getting in the bidding war anyway.
If that’s true – and it’s just my theory, but it feels about right, matching with what we’ve heard about geographic advantages and so on – I think it’s the right way to play it, honestly. In this case, if Tex never comes back to us with an offer to match, this is on him. The O’s made a good offer to open and have openly indicated a willingness to expand the deal to get it done. But there really is no use in getting into a bidding war with bigger market teams (RSN or no RSN) in Anaheim and Boston.
That’s my theory, and my opinion on the hypothetical situaton. In reality, we continue to know fuck-all. Hot Stove Fever, Catch It!!!
2) I was driving through the Catskills this morning, racing the winter storm that eventually engulfed all of New York, and stopped in a one-horse town by name of Hancock, up near the northeastern corner of PA. There’s nothing out there, but it is a wonderful country. I’ve been camping in the area before, and it’s really, really nice. But there ain’t nothing up there at all. But I climb into my car after a rest stop and tune through the radio stations I can get, looking for Mark Teixeira info, when whose voice do I happen upon?
Charlatan Fisk himself, talking something about being disappointed in MacPhail or something – I only had the signal on this overcast grey morn in the mountains for about 45 seconds…but it was a real “Holy Shit” moment for me to hear the weakest radio signal in the Maryland area loud and clear (albeit briefly) in the wilderness of Upstate New York. God Bless you, Drew, it made me real happy to hear some honest-to-God Baltimore sports talk after an admittedly horrible night (I was rushing around to evacuate Rochester and get to New York City before the storm engulfed me, and had been up at that point for around 30 hours straight).
Does this matter to any of you? Nah, but I thought I’d share one of the many, many ways Baltimore sports keep me sane through the winter madness.
Cheers.
@air: you’re right that this is the right move if he wants to come to Baltimore, and ends up doing that. But I take issue with this: “Now, if Tex really doesn’t want to be Oriole, then we probably can’t outbid everyone else enough to sign him anyway, so no sense getting in the bidding war anyway.” If he doesn’t really want to be here and will sign elsewhere, wouldn’t it make sense to drive up his price by getting into a bidding war? Just a thought.
I suppose that the Warehouse would, if this were the case, say that they can use the time and energy that would be lost in said bidding war on other things, like signing some pitchers, who hammering out contract details with our arbitration eligible guys, or signing a catcher (although seriously, do we really need a nationwide search for Baltimore’s Next Top Catching Mentor ™?? Just sign freaking Gregg Zaun already and be done with it)
That story is great, Ai(oo)R. AM radio is so weird and so cool, and I’ve gone through phases where I completely nerded out for it. Like the time a few years ago when I listened to the Orioles play the Yankees — on the New York Station — while I was in North Carolina.
I think your theory sounds about right. At least, it’s as plausible (if not more so) as any other.
Brace yourselves. The Angels are supposedly out of the bidding now. With teams supposedly dropping like flies out of these negotiations, I can’t imagine that Teixeira and Boras wait too much longer to make a decision before the money isn’t there anymore.
And I’ve thought long and hard, and I can’t picture any scenario that makes sense to me where Tex signs with Washington. I really can’t. I know he’s a Boras disciple who always goes for the value of the dollar, but I just cannot see it happening.
Not that it makes a ton more sense to sign with Baltimore, but I digress.