It does admittedly reflect some homerism, but at the same time there's a reason why we still haven't heard about any offers that have topped 180 million at this point. There's flexing your financial muscle and splurging on a highly valued commodity, and then there is being silly and outbidding yourself while showing little financial restraint. There is rarely a black and white line on which is which, which is why it's easy to get into an arguement about numbers while negotiations like this one are going on. I've been convinced this entire time that whoever gets Teix is going to pay far more than he's worth. He's a damn good offensive and defensive first baseman, but he's no A-Rod or Manny. After thinking about this for the past 12 hours or so, I'm more optimistic now that Teix will ultimately end up in Boston. Every team, not just the Sox, sets a limit on how much they will give to any single player. And my jaw will be on the floor if anyone offers more than 23 million a year in the same off-season where the unquestioned top pitcher in this year's F.A class got 7 years at 161. A dominant power lefty in the prime of his career (even if he is a fatass and has thrown a billion innings) is probably going to be more valuable than a power hitting corner position player. When the Yankees signed Sabathia nobody was even close in terms of other offers. I have serious doubts that teams will be signing up for a contract worth 40 million more than what has already by classified as an overpriced deal.
It could very well be the number of years and not the per year amount. I see it conceivable that at least one team is willing to give him 10 years and it may be two. The farther out that money is dragged the less it's worth in present day dollars.
Hold on now... This is fucking reverse psychology/babyism at its finest. Henry merely said there are higher bidders, no one said Teixeira was going to bite on them.
There is no legitimate business reason for John Henry to call the AP from the tarmac and tell them that the Red Sox were out of it, unless his goal were to call Scott Boras' bluff. None. Actually works against them. Imagine you're John Henry. You've made a billion dollars over the years in high-stakes trading, and Scott Boras - a sports agent - tries to convince you that your $160 million offer is on the low end of the current market. Henry must have walked from that table ripping mad. So, he calls the AP and lets word get through to Teixiera that his market just tightened substantially. If John Henry is genuine, and you were the higher offer, why would that still be on the table anymore? The only risk to this whole game is is if the Yankees hop back in. Meanwhile, Boras is sending messages through his own favorite mouthpiece *cough *cough* Heyman *cough* so that he can show Teixiera that "a source" says that the Red Sox are still in it. It's all game playing. Teixiera's a true Hessian. I believe now more than I ever did that he'll go wherever the money is, and geography and playoff baseball won't I'm sure they've got Vlady's next contract in the back of their mind, also. They're either all-in on payroll wars, or they're not.
Well, Henry made that mistake before. With Damon. And lost. Those GMs who thought the Sox had the best bid were obviously wrong. "Red Sox executives flew to Texas on Thursday believing they were close enough in negotiations to complete a deal with Mark Teixeira. But after they arrived, they were informed that their offer to Teixeira -- something in the range of $165 million to $170 million -- was short by upwards of $20 million. " They had to be kidding thinking they would get him for 165. If they don't raise it at least 20 they will never get him. "One executive familiar with the meeting said the Red Sox were told that in order to finish a deal for Teixeira, they would have to offer about $23 million a year over eight years -- or a deal for about $184 million. The Red Sox walked out, and Henry issued this statement to the AP: "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." That is even funnier because that is the same number these fools leaked was the Boston offer. Obviously these writers no nothing and I wouldn't believe a word of this story either. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3782228
Yeah I just got done reading that. what's 2.5 million a year???!?!?! I don't understand why they wouldn't increase their offer, if in fact, there is a higher bidder.
I heard that same thing on the radio this morning. Lost? Explain how the Red Sox "lost" on that one. They may have miscalculated on what the single Yankee market would yield for Damon, but the results since that signing have ended the debate on that one forever.
The problem is, there ISN'T a higher bidder. Several stories have said that they have the best deal on the table, and Boras is trying to get them to go higher. They're calling his bluff. The more I think about it, the more I think the Sox are still the front runner.
Even if they were out of it, it's better for them not to say anything. If other teams still think they're in it, Boras can use that idea to drive up the price, and it would be in their best interest for any other team that does sign him to pay more.
Yeah, those "Coco's Better" t-shirts have been selling like hotcakes, huh? :lol: Damon's OPS+ with NY: 115, 97, 118. Easily better than league average, on the whole, no? Crisp's OPS+ with Boston: 77, 83, 93. Coco at his best in Boston almost sniffed Damon's worst season in NY. You're right. That debate should be ended forever. I had heard the Nationals are willing to offer $200 million. Don't know if that's an official offer, though. I'd heard different things about it (8/$200M vs. 10/$200M).
If it's anyone. Plus, they have no idea who it is, so why take the chance that it's the Yankees? Publicly announcing that they are out of it does no good at all unless it's to call his bluff. There's simply no other reason to announce it. Now, it may be that there IS a better offer somewhere and that's what Teixeira will take, but it looks like the Sox front office isn't buying it.
Or it could be that the Red Sox are finally doing what they and the Yankees should have done a long time ago: Tell agents to eat shit if they think these teams will be used as pawns in bidding wars. Both teams have to make a stand at some point, especially with Boras. If the Sox are considering themselves out, and they're saying so, it helps them more than hinders them. It tells everyone that they won't suffer being bullied into larger contracts. Either take what's offered (which is more than fair) or find a better deal elsewhere. If in the end the Sox are serious about this, and they don't bother with Teixeira, I'll actually gain some respect for the stand they took. And trust me, having anything even resembling something you might outwardly think about calling respect for a franchise north of Montauk is a big deal for me.
Here is my take on this whole situation... Henry...Stupid. Boras...Asshole. Teix...Moron. Sports Writers...Pawns.
The problem with that is there are times when both those teams WANT to be used in bidding wars. Why do you think the Sox talked to Sabathia? They can't have it both ways.
Yeah, I didn't mean it was a mistake to lose. I meant it was a mistake to think Boras didn't have that deal in hand. I doubt Boras doesn't have a higher offer now too. He would really look the fool if he doesn't.
