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Battle For Teixeira
ESPN's Buster Olney gives his take on the Mark Teixeira situation in his blog this morning. Olney believes the Yankees will "bid heavily" on Tex, perhaps $120MM over six years. Teixeira turned down $140MM from the Rangers last year, though that was for eight years. Ken Davidoff of Newsday believes that since the Yanks are prioritizing pitching, they'll probably go with cheaper options like Casey Blake or Kevin Millar.
Olney says there's debate about Boston's level of interest in Teixeira - do they truly want him, or are they trying to drive up the price for the Yankees? He suggests a scenario where the Sox sign Teixeira and keep Mike Lowell - Kevin Youkilis goes to left field, Jason Bay to right, and J.D. Drew to center (pushing Jacoby Ellsbury to a utility role and leaving Coco Crisp out of a job).
Meanwhile, the Angels told Francisco Rodriguez's agent that their initial focus this winter is signing Teixeira. Dylan Hernandez and Mike DiGiovanna see the Halos in the six-year, $120MM range.
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Why would you move a Gold Glove corner infielder with below average speed and range to left field?
I know Teixeira is a stud, but I can't see that scenario happening at all. Think of that outfield defense... They'd be really downgrading.
Posted by: MorneauVP | November 04, 2008 at 10:34 AM
I love Tex and have wanted to see him in a Sox uni forever. But that scene with the outfield shift is a no-go.
Drew has yet to hold up since his Boston arrival. I like him and he has great skills. But he played just over 100 games this season. And putting him in center? Not over Coco or Jacoby......
I agree with MorneauVP....Youk in LF everyday isn't the best idea. Good for a shift around when needed for an inning or two, but not every inning.
We don't know also how Papi and Lowell will be next year. The ability to at least have the depth and assess the situation in spring training or through the first few months of the season is not a bad idea. Signing Tex CAN work for the Sox.
Posted by: turnthe2 | November 04, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Has Buster Olney never seen Jason Bay throw?
Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | November 04, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Of course, it won't stay at the 6 yr/$120 million amount, but if it did the Giants could play at that level, at least for a bidding round or two.
Posted by: Buck Henry | November 04, 2008 at 11:05 AM
The fact is - Tex just isn't a great fit in Boston. However, to keep the price high for the Yanks/Angels they need to at least have a pretense of what they could do if he were signed.
Last week it was trading Lowell. After trouncing that idea (since NOBODY will take Lowell now and we don't know how his recovery will go) they come up with this hair brained scheme.
Frankly, it's all a little silly.
Posted by: bjsguess | November 04, 2008 at 11:05 AM
I would expect that Teixeira will try really hard to beat the 8/140 offer from Texas. Or at least Boras will try to beat that.
The only way Tex makes sense for Boston is if they can actually make a decent deal for Lowell where they don't have to eat a bunch of cash.
I think the Yankees are really the best option. Unless Jesus Montero moves over to first, they really have no long term options there, and really need a power bat for their lineup to complement Rodriguez, as well as help to knock in Damon and Jeter. And they have some money, too, I think..
Posted by: scribbletone | November 04, 2008 at 11:14 AM
If the Red Sox are really interested in Teixeira, they need to realize that moving Lowell at the same time would be necessary. It is pointless to try and squeeze all three of the corner infielders into the everyday lineup. I mean Bay in right is a scary thought and Drew in center everyday is not too exciting either.
Posted by: Bravesfan89 | November 04, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Normally you'd think that a post in which a writer claims moving Youkilis to LF is the craziest idea, but the Yankees signing Millar to play 1st base is just insane.
Posted by: Paul | November 04, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Absolutely no way Youk will move to left field. There's just no chance. He's a gold glove first baseman, and his natural position is 3rd base. I'm thinking Lowell will be the odd man out. We NEED to sign Teixeira. He's not a luxury. He's a need. We've got loads of speed and pitching, and for the first time in about 6 years we actually need more offense. We didn't have enough, especially in the postseason.
Posted by: bosox21 | November 04, 2008 at 11:39 AM
bosox21.....
agreed. We need a bat. We lost Manny no matter how much of a nutcase he is, we missed his production when he was mentally available. Tex fits the bill for solid offensive numbers across the board. ANd his defense is spectacular.
Offer him a deal that takes him into his mid 30's. Move Youk to 3rd. Figure out the rest later.
Posted by: turnthe2 | November 04, 2008 at 11:54 AM
If the Red Sox really are serious about signing Teix, it makes sense. While it looks like they'd have 1 too many infielders, no one knows what Lowell will contribute next season. Nor does anyone know about Big Papi. That extra man could very well be a combination of Big Papi and Lowell as the DH, depending on their DL stints. As you've watched with Drew, Crisp, Jacoby, and Manny/Bay, having one extra OF has worked out well.
At a minimum, you keep your players fresh. At a maximum, it keeps Julio Lugo from seeing playing time.
And if everyone is healthy, by July you can always trade Lowell, who I believe is in the last year of his contract.
Posted by: DodgersBruin | November 04, 2008 at 12:05 PM
I don't want to see Youkilis batting behind Ortiz next year. We need a real threat like Tex to protect Ortiz. I would be more comfortable with Youkilis in the fifth or sixth spot.
Posted by: SierraM | November 04, 2008 at 12:54 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3681876&name=gammons_peter
This just in.........
Posted by: turnthe2 | November 04, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Could anybody see the Red Sox keeping Lowell, Youkilis AND Teixeira?
Have a rotation like in the outfield.
Some days Youk gets the days off and some days Papi could even get a break.
It keeps guys fresh for October.
Just an idea.
Posted by: soxcurse | November 04, 2008 at 01:12 PM
I see it as being no different from when we had Shea, Mueller, Papi and Millar......it would just be more expensive as the group we have now (Lowell, Youk, Papi, and poss Tex).
No matter how you see it, someone gets jettisoned out of Beantown. Shea was traded for Kim, leaving Papi to DH, Millar @ first and Mueller to man the hot corner. Granted, as far as we know, none of these players had off season surgery.
Posted by: turnthe2 | November 04, 2008 at 01:30 PM
i think the sox should deffinitly sign tex but move youk to third.if we pull the trigger on a holliday trade for a couple prospects, our outfield can be holliday in left, bay in right, and drew in center. by the way how much longer do we have papi
Posted by: RMB915 | November 04, 2008 at 05:43 PM
You sox fans better stop dreaming Tex is not in your future
Posted by: Turnkey | November 04, 2008 at 08:59 PM