The Angels have made keeping star first baseman Mark Teixeira their top free agent target and will make him an offer, and while it isn't known when the offer will be made, competing executives expect it to be a very serious one whenever it is extended. As of Thursday afternoon, it is believed no offer had been made by the Angels.
But one competing executive predicted this eye-popping figure will be extended by Los Angeles of Anaheim: $160 million over eight years. That's just a guess, but it may be a pretty good one. The Angels, though, will attach a deadline in hopes of locking up their top target quickly, and unlike some other teams, they seem to stick to their deadlines.
Teixeira is an East Coast guy (he's from Severna Park, Md.) but is said to have loved his time in Anaheim, where he batted .358 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs after being acquired from Atlanta for Casey Kotchman in late July. The Nationals, Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Giants and Mariners are believed to be among the teams interested in Teixeira, whose overall numbers in 2008 were .308, 33 and 121.
Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, is believed to be using the $153-million, eight-year contract the Detroit Tigers gave Miguel Cabrera last March as a baseline. The Nationals and Orioles -- Teixeira's two hometown teams -- are viewed by competitors as at least two more clubs who may be willing to hit or exceed the target figure.
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Comments (6) Add A Comment
To me this is the Big Cahoona of all free agent signings this winter and I want my Red Sox to land this prize. However, it seems every day some new team in jumping in and claiming they want Mark just as badly as the other guys. Something tells me, dealine or no deadlines, this thing won't be settled until just before Christmas.
SeaBeachFred
Arcadia , CA
Total Comments (44)
Sorry Boston no Teixeira for you...
As a senior, Teixeira was one of the best high school players in the country but went to Georgia Tech instead of signing a pro contract. The Red Sox had talked about choosing him in the first round, but wanted him to commit to a pre-draft contract. Teixeira refused a reported $1.6 million deal and fell to the ninth round, when Boston selected him.
After the '98 draft, Teixeira held hard feelings against Boston, telling the Baltimore Sun in 1999: "The Red Sox then spread the word I wasn't interested in signing. That was unfair. I don't think after what happened that I want any future involvement with the Red Sox."
Stevem
Rancho Cucamonga , CA
Total Comments (11)
8 for $160? Not gonna get it done.
8 for $184, is my prediction.
hyperRevue
Total Comments (11449)
I agree with Fred and Hype. Texeria is the key to the Red Sox entire off-season. He is the crown jewel. I could care less if we sign a starter or not, we need a big bat in the middle of our line-up. Hype has it, I'm guessing 8yr/$180mil gets it done. Theo gets his man.
wakefieldfan49
Medford , OR
Total Comments (1)
Why bother to make an offer? Whatever it is, Borass will just use it as starting point for his blackmail style of negotiation. How did that Cabrera contract work out for Detroit? The three biggest free agent signings last season were A-Rod, Cabrera and Santana (trade and sign). None of those players even made the playoffs, in fact all finished with worse records than the year before. I hope the Red Sox are not so foolish as to blow up their salary structure for Teixeira. Signing any player to a guaranteed 8-10 year contract is just plain lunacy. If Teixeira gets injured in year two of the contract, paying that contract will cripple the team for 6 more years. Pitching and defense wins games, NOT home runs, a lesson that the Sox finally learned in 2004.
mishagothe
New London , CT
Total Comments (300)
I remember the days when Red Sox fans criticized the Yankee way of buying players, well look how the worm has turned. Now Dice-K 102 million, Drew 75 million, Lugo 45 million and now they want to buy Teixeira for 180 million. Looks like the Yankee way is the way!
SALVATOP
Brookfield , CT
Total Comments (5)
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