The beat rolls on in the Mark Teixeira saga and there is word today from ESPN that a decision (from Tex/Boras) could be coming soon.
No need to re-hash where we’re at in this whole thing, but we’ll re-cap it like this: There’s Baltimore, by far the biggest gamble for Teixeira as an on-field product but also the place he’d most like to go if all things were equal (which, they aren’t) - the Nationals, who have no marquee players to speak of and would make a major impact with Teixeira’s signing - Los Angeles/Anaheim, where he would probably feel the least amount of pressure for his Brinks-truck act, and, finally - Boston, where he’s virtually guaranteed to win a title at some point in the near future.
Take this for what it is: My “bird on a tree” at The Warehouse says the O’s are comfortably confident that they’re going to land Tex. “This is a highly complicated negotiating session and we have the best negotiator in baseball on our side of the table in Andy MacPhail,” said my Warehouse confidant. “We’re feeling good about this whole thing. We think we’re getting him.”
Fair enough.
I think - based on what’s been published and what’s NOT been published - that the Orioles are going to land Teixeira as well.
I’m betting - because he is more dishonest than honest on a variety of levels - that Boras does NOT have the leverage he’s hinting that he does. I’m betting he’s trying to milk the most money he can because he really doesn’t care if the Orioles’ franchise is successful. Does anyone out there believe that Scott Boras cares about the attendance and revenue improvement of the O’s? I don’t.
Remember last August when Scott Boras told everyone that Matt Wieters absolutely was not going to sign an O’s contract for anything less than a $10 million signing bonus? Remember that? I do. Do you remember what Wieters eventually signed for? I do. $6 million.
Boras doesn’t care if Baltimore’s attendance has dropped to 12,000 a game and the team has become an afterthought in the Charm City sports market. He doesn’t care that Tex is a “Baltimore guy” and would be step one in the foundation-building process for a new era in Orioles’ baseball.
If Boras can squeeze a 10-year, $220 million offer from Washington, for example, he’ll do back-flips to try and convince Tex that DC is a great place to play baseball for the next decade.
I’m betting AGAINST Boras. I don’t think he has an honest bone in his body.
And I’m betting that Teixeira winds up in orange. Orioles’ orange.
Folks at The Warehouse believe that.
And so do I.
Of course, there’s also a chance the O’s aren’t “on the level” with their offer and their interest.
It’s a game filled with people who speak while they have their fingers crossed behind their back.
In this instance, though, I’ll bet against the guy who fibs the most. I’ll bet against Scott Boras.
Drew's Bio
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December 16th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Drew,
Who did you make the bet with that you could crash the Oriole Hangout forums?
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December 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Wow Drew, I can’t decide which is better, hearing that Tex may actually be on the verge of signing here, or hearing that the warehouse is back channeling info to you!? Ok, I am more excited by Tex, but I am very glad to hear the warehouse PR blackout on you has been lifted. As a fan of both the Orioles and WNST, I think it’s about time! (DF: Not so fast, no one in the PR department talks to me, EVER…they treat me like a dog. Actually, dogs get treated BETTER, truth be known.)
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December 16th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Drew - Your updates are appreciated. Tex fever is definitely in the air today. Maybe I’m just setting myself up for (more) O’s disappointment, but I think he signs here too. And wouldn’t that be something?
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December 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Drew,
“The best negotiator in baseball on our side of the table in Andy MacFailure”…..Are you kidding me???
This is the same GM that said, “I just do what I’m told”!!!!!!!!
Regards,
Scott Boras
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December 16th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
If Tex signs here for equal money and says how much of a dream it has always been for him to wear the orange and black, **** be an instant hit. Also, and these are big “ifs”, if he is signed and he’s introduced at the Warehouse, would the O’s have the marketing savvy to have him wear the new Baltimore away jersey at the press conference?
Lastly, since everyone has to upgrade to HD broadcasting in February, can you see Pete taking MLB back to court to say how he’s at a competitve disadvantage over not having HD (due to lack of attendance money because of the Nationals)and forcing them to pay for his upgrades?
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December 16th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Roch says he’s not confident it’s the O’s if Mark is close to deciding because the O’s made their offer and have yet to hear back from Boras.
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December 16th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I would rather have MANNYWOOD and Giambi. Screw Tex! Drew has said that winning does not follow him so let’s pass and give the moneyto proven winners
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December 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am
HI Roch…..
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December 17th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I would be dissapointed if Mark Teixeira signed with the Orioles. He is an athlete who has chosen to compete in a team sport. By definition competition means trying to succeed. While the sportscasters and commentators around town choose to regurgitate the spin put out by the front office, baseball players understand the reality of a team’s chances. Have you ever heard the ownership of a baseball team say we have lousy players and very little chance to win half our games but we need you to buy tickets . . . yet the same teams loses year after year. Teixeira should sign with a team that has a reasonable chance to win.
The Orioles are made up of players who are locked in becasue of rules, contracts or journeymen who will play anywhere for a paycheck