Teixeira is a wanted man
First baseman, Boras paring list of suitors
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The Red Sox will face not only a steep price tag, but also surprisingly stiff competition to sign Los Angeles Angels free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Even considering the financial climate and the immense cost, teams are lining up for Teixeira, so much so that he and his agent, Scott Boras, are still whittling a list of suitors to determine with whom they will negotiate.
"I can tell you the interest for Mark is widespread," Boras said. "He has certainly a lot of options. We're doing our best just to narrow this down as much as possible. We have way too many teams to sort through at the moment."
The teams interested in Teixeira, 28, could include some surprises, along with the usual cast of the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels. The
The Orioles, last in the American League East, have "genuine interest" in bringing Teixeira to Baltimore, according to a major league source. Teixeira grew up in Severna Park, Md., a Baltimore suburb, and has long been a favorite of Orioles owner Peter Angelos.
Ability and image will make Teixeira's price staggering. He is a slugging (.552 percentage last season) and on-base (.410) machine whose boy-next-door demeanor and looks make him an ideal franchise face.
He could become one of the richest players in baseball, based on two recent contracts.
Third baseman Miguel Cabrera, 25, who has battled weight and off-field problems foreign to Teixeira, signed an eight-year, $152.3 million contract last offseason with the Detroit Tigers. Outfielder Torii Hunter, 33, signed a five-year, $90 million contract last offseason with the Angels and produced 163 runs - runs scored combined with runs batted in - in 2008; Teixeira produced 223.
The Lowe down
Numerous teams have contacted Boras about Los Angeles Dodgers free agent pitcher Derek Lowe, who has stated a desire to return to the Red Sox. Lowe, 35, has become one of the most coveted pitchers available."There is a very aggressive market for Derek," Boras said. "A widespread number of teams are interested. Certainly, when there is a pitcher in this free agent market who has established a pattern of durability he has for four years in Los Angeles, that's going to be there.
"If you're a postseason team, he is clearly the safest bet. He has the great experience and performance at that level. Plus, he is a starting pitcher who has the ability to close games, and has 40 saves [42 in 2000 with the Red Sox] in a season. He's quite an insurance policy. He has a diversity that few starting pitchers have." Lowe went 54-48 and averaged a shade more than 34 starts in LA.
'Tek services in need
Boras said the Red Sox are not the only team bidding for free agent catcher Jason Varitek, but declined to go into specifics. "Yes, of course," Boras said. "Obviously, there are teams that are looking at a catcher than can win 60 percent of your games. There are teams interested." . . . Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia - rumored to be a potential replacement for Varitek - has impressed in his brief stint in the Dominican winter league, serving notice the right elbow injury that kept him out of the season's final month is fully healed. He went 2 for 3 as the designated hitter in his first game Sunday with a double and a home run, and 2 for 4 the next day while catching. Overall, he's 4 for 10 with two walks . . . The Sox added lefthanded pitchers Felix Doubront and Hunter Jones and catcher Mark Wagner to the major league roster. They purchased Doubront's contract from Single A Salem, Jones's from Triple A Pawtucket, and Wagner's from Double A Portland. None of the players has major league experience. The moves give the Red Sox 37 players on their 40-man roster.Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com
