AP
A day after Red Sox owner John Henry strongly suggested that he’d hit his limit with his latest bid for free-agent star first baseman Mark Teixeira, Teixiera’s agent Scott Boras was back in dialogue with the Yankees and Angels, people familiar with the talks told SI.com.
Boras was believed to be looking for offers of at least $180-million, or perhaps more, from at least a couple of the other interested teams after talks with Boston stalled. It’s believed the Red Sox were bidding close to $180 million before Henry publicly suggested that he was done bidding. While Henry and the Red Sox have not pulled their offer and are said by those in the know to remain in contention, the other contenders are getting another chance now to move to the top of the pack.
Yankees people were thought on Friday to be debating the merits of Teixeira vs. Manny Ramirez, Boras’ other available slugging superstar, and there may be a split vote in the pinstripe hierarchy. While they all love Teixiera’s all-around play and character, Ramirez may be favored by some for his unmatched clutch hitting prowess, unique ability to tweak the rival Red Sox and to draw attention and dollars, but especially because he’d require a shorter term (perhaps three or four years as opposed to at least eight for Teixeira).
Some have suggested the Yankees are merely monitoring the Teixeira situation since he’s Boston’s top priority, and there’s no concrete evidence they’ve outbid the Red Sox yet. Although, the sides were believed to be discussing parameters on Friday, and the Yankees also know that if they steal Teixeira from Boston they’ve clinched the winter in a landslide.
Meanwhile, there are signs that the Angels, who were thought to be trailing Boston a few days ago with a bid in the area of $165 million, might be readying for a move now. Some Angels baseball people figured that $160-to-170 million might be owner Arte Moreno’s limit, but that doesn’t look at all clear now.
Angels star outfielder Torii Hunter, in fact, seemed to suggest the opposite in a late Thursday email to the Los Angeles Times, writing, "What the Angels did was spectacular. They gave him an offer that blew everyone away, and it shows how badly they want this guy. I’m so happy they did that. I can sleep better at night. We can’t let Tex go. He’s very special on this team."
The Angels also made a cost-effective move by signing Juan Rivera to the outfield for $12.75 million, leaving a lot of dollars available. Rivera gives them another corner outfielder and may limit their likelihood to bid on Ramirez. But it does nothing to hinder their goal of retaining Teixeira, who hit .358 for them with a .449 on-base percentage after coming over in trade from Atlanta.
A frustrated Henry suggested Boras implied to him that there were other offers above theirs, and while the teams’ bids remain secret, it is clear that Boras and Teixeira were comfortable enough to let Henry go back alone to Boston after their high-powered meeting at Teixeira’s Dallas-area home.
With up to five teams still seemingly in the running – including also Teixeira’s twin hometown teams, the Nationals and Orioles – it’s no certainty now that Teixeira will sign a deal before Christmas, as he had hoped.
Kim Cloutier
Irina Shayk
Men's Grand Slam All-Time Leaders
Roger Federer's Grand Slam Titles
Comments (121) Add A Comment
I say manny yanks tex angels and scott tends to do this all the time but the yanks need him but they might just go for manny w/e still i'm thinking he'll sign in a few days
DaReS(BX)DrAmA
Bronx , NY
Total Comments (43)
Has anyone else noticed that anything Heyman said about this whole Teixeira mess has been wrong. Would everyone just stop speculating about what they think will happen, because its become apparent that nobody knows whats going on, so stop pretending like you do. The national media (ESPN, SI, Fox Sports...) will say anything to make the most populous cities happy, regardless if they have enough factual information to back it up.... For the love of God, enough with the speculating.. Let the situation play itself out. There is no need to change what you think is happening every 3 hours, because we all know (unless its fact) its most likely wrong.
Dadders
Memphies, PA
Total Comments (2)
The Yankees need Teix. He fills the hole left at first base and will def take some of the pressure off A-Rod (Not saying that Manny won't do the same.). Heres what I think, Yanks sign Tex, put Swisher in center, Damon in left, and Nady in right. Have Melky backup Swisher in center and gardner backup Damon in left and Nady in right. Matsui fulltime DH. A-Rod, Jeter, Cano and Teix for infield, Molina and Posada split time behind the plate.
Screw the trade for Cameron.
Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Pettitte
Hughes/Kennedy
Joba setup for Mo.
Yankees in '09.
Yankeefan1985
Bronx, NY
Total Comments (12)
Totally agreed. They need him. I mean, come on... The Yankees pretty much suck without him. If Tex isn't on their team, they will not compete.
iI they don't sign him they're stupid... A-Rod needs that pressure taken off of him because he has only been one of the most productive baseball players this last decade. Its not because Yankees fans are stupid and don't appreciate a good player when they have him, he's just been a terrible ball player and sucks.
Dadders
Memphies, PA
Total Comments (2)
The Yanks could have done much better than they did last season. I'm not saying that A-Rod is perfect but he is still a damn goopd player. The thing with playing in NY, (and this is comming from a yankee fan since the day i was born) is that the steinbrenner oath is that if u don't come home with a ring u've failed. Thats the pressure that A-Rod has had on him since he got here. Teix is gonna help relieve some of that. Cashman sign Teix and you will have everything you need to go all the way this season.
Yankeefan1985
Bronx, NY
Total Comments (12)
Everything Heyman writes has a Yankee slant. Everything. Why doesn't SI just hire a Yankees beat writer for crissake. I mean Heyman is on WFAN in NYC at least a couple of times a week. They claim them as their own. Just get rid of him
Spenser4Hire
Newtonville , MA
Total Comments (1)
Joba burnt out arm from college
CC burnt out arm from end of last year
Wang very overrated
Burnett total garbage
Phil Hughes great
Yankees will choke in the first round from pathetic pitching even if they somehow get there
If they really need Teix to win a ring, thats pathetic with the money theyve already spent and the talent theyve had. just P A T H E T I C
I definitely am also sick of the media spoon feeding us random rumor garbage. teix will sign when he signs, heyman doesn't know anything. Espn, si, and everybody else should have to take account for all the rumors they report that are completely false. so frustrating.
lexi shmexi
Fleetwood , PA
Total Comments (1)
The yankees wouldnt be half as bad contributing to the competitive imbalance in baseball if the Sox decide to sign Teixeira with the Championship caliber team they already have, not to mention they don???t even have a vacancy at 1st base. In fact, the right side of their infield is manned by last years MVP and one of the runner ups.
The Yanks were crumby last year, came in third. Havent had a real first baseman since Tino, 8 years ago. they need him more than the Angels too. Some would call it piggish but they have 35 mil more cominmg off the books next offseason. i saw that the Yanks had terrible lineup and defense last year. Still do. Giambi, abreu gone, Posada and Matsui coming off of surgery. Tex is the right guy, wrong time possibly due to the Sabathia contract. If they pass up on Tex and Manny, i would figure Matt Holliday to be thier target next offseason.
I would trade Cano. Would help chemistry, he's far from a leader. I think hudson would be a terrific upgrade, and i'm not saying orlando hudson is anything special. Cano is a one dimentional player and doesnt bring any electrcity whatsoever, like abreu. At Cano's best, he hits for average slightly above .300, singles and doubles, last guy i would want up in a big spot. He doesnt walk, he doesnt steal when he gets on. Hes below average defender. There have been questions about his character. No intensity, no intangibles. Teams will still want him but that premature contract he got last winter makes it less attratctive for the yanks to move him now because they might have to eat the contract or get nothing back for him.
Keep joba in the pen. Best one two punch in the world.
mrbaseball00000
Howard Beach , NY
Total Comments (9)
Everything you posted is pretty much silly..
Da1CliQ_is_Back
Nyc, NY
Total Comments (4)
I must be missing something here but why on earth do the yankees "NEED" Teixera? They just paid 200 million for two top pitchers and have a very formidable lineup. Why don't they just sign Teixera and Manny! What the hell, they obviously have the money to do it and they can keep their prospects. That was sarcasm in case you did not know. I am a sox fan and I think the Yankees are already scary as long as everyone is healthy.
shamus245
Attleboro , MA
Total Comments (21)
I agree. Chicken little needs to go back to his bunker and wait for armageddon.
muttley23
Vail , CO
Total Comments (8)
Hey shamus where did you go to hih school? I went to Bishop Feehan.
muttley23
Vail , CO
Total Comments (8)
You obviously don't know what your talking about.
avirex34
Total Comments (132)
All of these so-called baseball "insiders" (Gammons, Olney, Heyman, etc.) will have eggnog on their faces when Tex becomes an Oriole. Merry Christmas, Baltimore!
C. J.
Total Comments (3)
Never believe a word that Heyman writes. Remember when he said "Sabbathias close friend says he won't sign with the Yankees". Who do you think that friend was? Heyman just makes things up. He is no fan of the Yankees and they hate him even more. He ripped the ONeill trade in '95 and has been a pariah in their locker room ever since.
Wait it out and don't listen to the so called experts, Gammons is the only one who is believeable.
RobPLS
Total Comments (134)
You are so right. National media can say anything because they have no accountability.
they just have to say "sources say that..."
Ump
Total Comments (3)
His byline should read By John Heyman, Boras Corporation. This guy is essentially the slimy agent's mouthpiece.
bheff
Boston , MA
Total Comments (3)
You are so right. The national media can write anything because they have no accoutability .
Ump
Total Comments (3)
Yes! Put Joba in the bullpen!
Ump
Total Comments (3)
lol...let the Yankees "win the winter" they do it every year and come up short when it matters. I wonder how many people would think Cashman is such a genius if he didn't have a pocket full of blank checks to throw around. So far for a bazillion dollars they have replaced Mussina (if CC goes 20-9) and Pavano (Burnett) and added .230 hitting Nick Swisher, pretty lame, if you ask me.
tommy9central
Newport , RI
Total Comments (128)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.