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Mark Teixeira

Rosenthal’s Latest: Yankees, Teixeira, Bradley, Furcal

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Ken Rosenthal has his latest article up. Let’s go through it.

  • Milton Bradley is weighing his options with the Cubs and Rays. Joe Maddon and the Rays may be a better fit than Lou Piniella and the Cubs. And spending time at DH would allow him to "protect his oft-injured body." But will the Rays meet Bradley’s asking price when they can turn to Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Garret Anderson, or Pat Burrell instead?  Rosenthal adds that the Reds, Angels, and Nationals are also interested in Bradley.
  • Rosenthal says the Yankees are aiming to keep their payroll lower than last season. Despite gorging this holiday season, they’re shedding more than they’re putting on.
  • With regards to Mark Teixeira, Rosenthal reports one general manager says there is a lot of bluffing going on right now to get the Red Sox to go higher.
  • Ty Wigginton has received calls from four teams since being non-tendered by the Astros. His replacement in Houston has yet to be established. Chris Johnson, the team’s third base prospect, had a .539 OPS in Triple A last season.
  • Jerry Hairston Jr. is receiving interest from the Reds and three AL clubs, the Mariners likely being one of them. Says Rosenthal, "Hairston, 32, plays six positions and was a favorite of new M’s manager Don Wakamatsu when both were with the Rangers."  Not sure where the Phillies fit in, but Jay Bruce said Hairston was considering them.  And John Perrotto has the Pirates in the mix for Hairston.
  • The reason Rafael Furcal rejected the A’s offer was that he wants to stay with the Dodgers, so says "one agent." Meanwhile the Dodgers appear to be daring Furcal to leave for a lesser club before making an offer.

Yankees Pursuing Manny

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3:26pm: Ken Davidoff has a different opinion on the subject of Manny’s future in New York, as well as a couple of other interesting free agent names. From his Sunday update:

"I would not bet so much as a penny on the Yankees acquiring Manny Ramirez, Ben Sheets or Mark Teixeira. Andy Pettitte can come back, and Mike Cameron will come aboard if the Brewers take Kei Igawa. If deals involving those two guys can’t happen, then maybe a starting pitcher/centerfielder in those price ranges (one-year investments for about $10 million) will wind up in the Bronx. But that’s about it."

9:21am: The New York Post’s George A. King III reports that if the Yankees can’t get Mark Teixeira, they’re "right there on" Manny Ramirez.

"If they pass on Teixeira, the Yankees will try and bolster a sagging lineup with Ramirez… And to clear some money, they might entertain offers for outfielder Xavier Nady, who made $3.35 million last year, is arbitration eligible and a free agent after the 2009 season."

The article mentions a three-year deal despite Scott Boras seeking five.  King suggests Jermaine Dye is another option; however, Dye has the Yankees listed as one of six teams to which he would veto a trade.

This article was updated by Alex Walsh, who can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.

Teixeira Rumor Shot Down

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11:20am: An Orioles official says Teixeira is not attending today’s Ravens game as a guest of Angelos.  Peter Shmuck also addresses the rumor on his blog.

10:58am: Steve DeClue of the Baltimore Examiner passes along an ESPN report: Mark Teixeira will be a guest of Orioles owner Peter Angelos at today’s Ravens-Steelers game.  Teixeira suggested in November that he’d like to have his situation resolved by Christmas Day.

Angels Made Eight Year Offer To Teixeira

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8:44 am: According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, the Angels are “believed to have offered at least $160MM.” This would match the Washington offer and put pressure on Boston to match or exceed the offer.

12:03 am: Angels GM Tony Reagins said this evening that he has made an eight-year offer to free agent Mark Teixeira.  Yesterday we learned the Orioles are around seven years, $140-150MM and the Nationals are at eight years, $160MM.  We’re not sure about the Red Sox.

Odds and Ends: Burrell, Braves, Red Sox

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Links for Friday night…

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Tigers, Braves, Red Sox, Pirates

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Today is free agent Orlando Hudson’s 31st birthday and the 29th birthday of Garrett Atkins, the subject of many recent trade rumors.

Also, on this date 10 years ago, Kevin Brown became the first player to sign a contract worth at least $100MM, when he signed a seven-year/$105MM contract with the Dodgers. The deal came when Brown was 34, one season after going 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA. Brown’s first two seasons with the Dodgers (18-9, 3.00 and 13-6, 2.58) were solid, but he would only make 29 starts in years three and four combined. Since then, two pitchers have signed deals for at least six years. Mike Hampton and Barry Zito. That doesn’t bode well for C.C. Sabathia, but it’s a small sample size…With the winter meetings now wrapped up, let’s take a look at what is being said in the Blogosphere…

  • Take 75 North feels the Tigers are going to regret acquiring Edwin Jackson and lament the loss of Matt Joyce.
  • The Detroit Tigers Weblog does not get the Edwin Jackson/Matt Joyce deal noting that at least Joyce has shown signs of being a very good player.
  • When Sid Slid weighs the merits of acquiring Jake Peavy or A.J. Burnett and sees Burnett as the better option.
  • Infield Chatter warns the Red Sox about signing Mark Teixeira, feeling Theo Epstein should be more concerned with acquiring a pitcher and noting the Red Sox have Lars Anderson waiting in the minors.
  • Pirate Revolution feels the Pirates need to move Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson and John Grabow to unblock the paths of younger players.
  • DraftInfo has a Q&A with Max Stassi, a high school catcher that is projected to be selected in the first round.
  • Fire Brand of the American League takes a look at the impact C.C. Sabathia will have on the AL East.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Sherman’s Latest: Lowe, Saito, Teixeira

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The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

  • Mets GM Omar Minaya recently admitted he did not expect to pursue A.J. Burnett or Derek Lowe, saying, "I’m probably not going to be in there right now, financially.  Not after spending all the money that I did on K-Rod."  Sherman isn’t sold, though – he thinks Lowe’s price could drop and give the Mets a shot.
  • The Dodgers haven’t received a counter-offer to their two-year, $45MM proposal, so they won’t be making another bid.  Sherman adds that they are planning to non-tender Takashi Saito.
  • The A’s remain the frontrunners for Rafael Furcal.
  • Sherman says the Nationals have bid seven years and $140MM for Mark Teixeira.  That offer was reported on Wednesday to be eight years, $160MM.  Sherman says the backup plans are Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson.  I believe the Hudson link is new.
  • The Mariners had tried to pry Jonathan Niese from the Mets for J.J. Putz.  Sherman also notes strong interest in Aaron Heilman.  He says the Mets and Cubs did not discuss Jason Marquis, contrary to reports.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Thursday

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9:56: Jeff Zrebiec says that even with larger offers on the table, the Orioles do not plan on upping their offer for Teixeira. The Orioles’ offer is believed to be seven years, and in the $140-150MM range. The Orioles have discussed Eric Hinske and Hank Blalock as fallbacks if Teixeira signs elsewhere.

2:38pm: Tim Brown and Gordon Edes talked to involved execs (not with the Angels) who believe the Boras camp is "using the media to ratchet up the price beyond what any team had actually offered." 

Brown and Edes say the Angels were told the Red Sox and Nationals offered eight years at about $20MM per.  The Angels don’t want to do an eighth year, so they’ll look into trades for Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and possibly Adrian Beltre.  Raul Ibanez is the top free agent backup plan.

Brown and Edes believe Boras could insist on an opt-out clause in a deal with the Nationals.

8:59am: Mike DiGiovanna says the Angels "are believed to be willing to offer at least seven years for something in the $160-million range" for Tex.

8:51am: Jon Heyman says the Yankees have re-entered the Teixeira sweepstakes.

2:40am: Summing up the reported offers made to Mark Teixeira:

By the way, Joe Haggerty transcribed the full Scott Boras talk from yesterday at his site.

Raul Ibanez Rumors: Thursday

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2:53pm: Stark says the Phillies "stepped up their efforts" for Ibanez.  What’s more, Ibanez has been telling friends the Phils are his top choice.

12:18pm: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark:

Even as the Angels continue to pursue Mark Teixeira, it appears that Raul Ibanez has emerged as their No. 1 alternative if Teixeira signs elsewhere. There were indications that the Angels already have begun negotiating the parameters of a deal with Ibanez on a just-in-case basis.

Ken Davidoff said the same in his blog earlier today. The Phillies, Mets, Nationals, and Cubs are other known suitors.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Wednesday

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11:40pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Red Sox made progress today in their Teixeira talks.

8:45pm: Dave Sheinin says the Nationals offered eight years and $160MM, and Ladson now agrees.

5:38pm: Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun says the Orioles met with Boras last night and apparently made an offer.  However, Peter Schmuck says the nine-year, $180MM report was "met with incredulity from O’s officials."

5:33pm: According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals offered Tex an eight-year, $180MM contract.  Dave Sheinin talked to a Nationals exec who said in general about the rumors, "Ninety percent of this stuff is pure fabrication."

2:35pm: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times has the Nats willing to offer ten years at more than $20MM per and the Orioles willing to do nine years also at at least $20MM per year.

1:27pm: Ken Rosenthal and Ed Price heard Teixeira would prefer to be on the East Coast for family reasons.  It could be an issue for the Angels.

1:14pm: Yahoo’s Jose Mota (new guy) says the Nationals made an offer to Tex for at least seven years and $150MM.

12:44pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to two high-ranking baseball officials who predicted Teixeira will get a $200MM deal.  Heyman believes two teams already bid $160MM.

11:17am: Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post has heard the Yankees’ signing of C.C. Sabathia takes them out of the running for Tex.  The Angels, Red Sox, Nationals, and Orioles will battle for the Boras client.

9:36am: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times talks about Mark Teixeira:

The Boston Red Sox have emerged as front-runners, and the Washington Nationals, who appear willing to offer eight years and $160 million, could make the most lucrative bid.  The Baltimore Orioles are in hot pursuit, the Yankees are lurking, and the Angels are growing more concerned that Teixeira might be slipping away, primarily because they’d like to sign him for six or seven years, not the eight or nine it might take.

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