Henry: 'We are not going to be a factor' for Teixeira

ummmmmmmmmmm....huh?

What is going on? How could they be so close to a deal and then all the sudden John Henry says they won't be a factor? Could this really be happening?

What does this mean? Does he have a better offer from another team or he's not interested in Boston?

Better offers than 8 years/$184M? If that's the case, good luck to whoever signs him. Move on...

Are you kidding me??? Get out the checkbook Henry!!!!

so the deal is off?

Wow, thanks Henry. I hope this is a sick joke. God I am so disappointed right now.

I smell the Yanks at 200 mil or more. Swisher was always a smoke screen.

Quite an amazing turn events. Although it might just be a smoke screen. Who really knows. GO SOX!

What!?!?

so the deal is off?

nice way to drop the ball! thanks for nothing, after all who needs a strong hitter in the line up? we did after all win a championship this year right? oh wait we did not cause we had no power in the line up!

Wow. Not good at all.

What????????????
No Texiera will be a huge failure of an offseason.

Our biggest addition has been a reliever from the Royalls.....god help us

Wow - Nationals?

Can't be. It's a PR ploy.

Thank god the Teixeira deal is dead, long live live Youkilis, Lowell and Lars Anderson. Remember Lowell can easily transition to playing first base, he is the soul of the clubhouse.

Noooo!

Boras - "These offers are higher."

John Henry - "This is our offer. Take it or leave it."

John Henry to media - "We made our offer. There are other offers higher than ours. Therefore, we will not be players."

I wouldn't read much into it. Typical negotiating if you ask me.

Want to bet on that? Simply the process of negotiations. Unless, of course, the Yankees are involved.

What??? There has to be a ridiculous offer on the table at this point for them to be outbid like this, after flying all the way out there. I'd be really interested to see how outbid they're going to be. No other offers have been reported to be clearly out of their league. I hope this is just them playing chicken. I'm going to be really pissed if after all this, after a month of teasing, they just drop out of it like this.

i dont get it

are you kiding me

Wow.

That changed in a hurry.

Do we now hope that Tex signs with anyone but the Yankees?

If it was any other player, I would have commended the Red Sox for not rushing through and making a huge splash in the FA signing just because the Yankees made two blockbuster signings. But in the case of Tex, it is down right idiotic to not try their level best to sign him.

With a big question mark around Papi and Lowell, we NEED Tex to bolster the middle of the lineup. As much as I love Pedroia, he is NOT a cleanup hitter and neither is Youk, Drew, Bay, or anyone else for that matter. Boston signing Tex would make the most sense.

makes no sense at all?

huh? Did the Nats offer $200 million and Boras wants the Sox to match so Henry is calling his bluff? That is the only thing that makes sense,

I'll take Youkilis (long term) and two other SOLID free agents instead of one Tex. How's it go? The sum of your parts... Would have loved to see Tex a Sox, but not at break the bank costs.

Holy crap...better call Manny

That sucks

You are putting on a good show Mr. Henry.....good show

Translation - The Yankees are bidding more and we're going to be cheap and pretend we don't have money. Under the blanket of "flexibility" we'll do nothing until the trade deadline where we sell you on some weird player that isn't that rad.

Merry X-mas, I'll go watch Faith Rewarded now

Somebody needs to contact Mr.Henry and let him know that it's too late to back out now. You've gotten all of our hopes up, we really need this guy and you damn well better get him signed. You've done right by Red Sox Nation since your group took over,but to back out on this would cause a tremendous backlash. Yeah assuming Papi and Lowell are healthy we've got a great Series worthy team,but that's only for next year. Teixiera keeps us contending for 8 yrs. So,either this is a ploy to get the other bidders to back off OR ... Mr.Henry needs to be notified that the entire Nation will revolt if he doesn't get this done

good.. now donate that money towards a social cause

loving it

This can't possibly be true...

loving it

will he take less?

Outbid by the Nationals?

That will be FUNNY.

WTF!!!!!!

It is a very sad day to be a sox fan today. You hope that your team will do what ever it takes to win but obviously not. While the yankees and mets south of us have gone out and addressed their biggest needs. Theo and the trio have decided they don't seem to care. Our biggest need is a bat and we wont do what it takes. Henry i guess just figures that the idiot fans in boston will just keep paying the highest prices in the league for a team that might be the 3rd best team in the east now. Whats next theo telling us that your happy with our team with a beat up lowell and out of shape and aging ortiz with no clear cut #4 hitter. I am just sick.

In my estimation, this is purely the Sox front office using the media in hopes of not paying Boras top dollar. Does anybody buy that "they are not going to be a factor"?

wow. I mean, wow.

Is this a joke? The sox were reported as frontrunners. What happened? Who is out bidding them so dramatically? I love that henry is so transparent but hate that they would throw in the towel so definitively. The sox offense needs a boost and some youth. Why not overpay????

I cry BS! Out of the bidding? Did Rays or Royals offer 10 year/250MM? John, stay home and let Eppy do his work. Teixeira and Smoltzy are all we need.

It's Daisuke all over again...

If TEX is not coming to Boston, Varitek's days in Boston may be over as well. I thought all along that TEX and TEK were a package deal. Boras must have asked for 10 years and 250 million plus, he may actually get that from Washington though. In which case he will never play in October. Good luck being relevant TEX. Bye TEK. Maybe the Sox will look to deal for Peavy now.

NO! NO! NO!!!!!! Say it aint so...Mr. Henry, Please spend the money he is far better then Manny and you'll be rewarded for years to come...now get back to the table and up the offer!

what does this mean??? is he in or out??? C'mon Tex make up your mind already!!!

WHAT!!!! Come on.

This is just plan cheap on the Red Sox part. They are willing to throw 10 mill a year contracts at junky short stops over and over again but will not sign a young proven power/rbi machine. It's days like this when I wonder why we are spending so much on tickets if they are not willing to spend any of that money on free agents.

It is clear that this is a semi-ploy by Henry. The Red Sox refuse to give a 10 year deal to anyone and any team would be crazy to lock anyone up for that immense period of time. If Teixeira strictly wants the most possible money he will go elsewhere. However, if he wants to go to a winning team, he will come to his scenes and go to the Red Sox.

Interesting.....

Wonder if it's a bluff or legit.

Wow.

Which is the truth and which is the smokescreen?

Whaaattt???!!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sounds like Yanks made a major move!

THIS IS JUST AWFUL

With the Yankees making moves left and right and willing to spend money on top free agents the Sox needed to landed Tex to keep pace. The Sox essentaially conceded the divison to the yankees as well as another world series run. John Henry needs to reconsider this action.

so the biggest acquisition for the sox so far this winter is the new unis? brilliant. had a feeling this was going to happen.

Go Yankees!! CC & AJ Baby!!

Well I dont blame the Sox in many ways Boras is once again just killing baseball and its name I know Tex wants to go to a winning club and be on the east coast and the offer the Sox put on the table was more than enough if Tex goes to the Nats or the Os hes not gonna win and the Angels give him the only other chance to win but the cant seem to get past the Sox year after year and the had Tex last season so I think its more so his loss not Bostons the can still win . If Tex goes to any team other than the Sox or Halos he can forget winning but im a big Sox fan so the only real winning team is the BoSox!!!

Thanks John for taking a stand - if Tex wishes to go where his team will be non-competitive, it is his choice.

Stick to your guns and don't be swayed by dishonest pitch men like the Arnem team with the Furcal negotiations.

He'll be in an Angels uniform...they have the best offer on the table.

Well I dont blame the Sox in many ways Boras is once again just killing baseball and its name I know Tex wants to go to a winning club and be on the east coast and the offer the Sox put on the table was more than enough if Tex goes to the Nats or the Os hes not gonna win and the Angels give him the only other chance to win but they cant seem to get past the Sox year after year and the had Tex last season so I think its more so his loss not Bostons they can still win . If Tex goes to any team other than the Sox or Halos he can forget winning but im a big Sox fan so the only real winning team is the BoSox!!!

Reports from NY indicate the Yankees are offering $35M for 12 years.

Love how John Henry operates...very clever play on his part with that jerk Boras. I love how Mr. Henry sens out that text. So Tex has to sign for more than $184 million or he and Boras were bluffing.

HES COMING TO THE YANKS, SUCKERSS!!!!

It won't be the Nationals...Either the Angels or Yankees...

Either way, this is not good news. The Sox will have issues with no MAJOR bat in the lineup to protect Ortiz. Sure Dustin, Youk, and Bay are very good hitters, but none of them are Big Tex.

How many good pitchers could we get for $23 mil? Lowe and Ben Sheets and one more good one probably. don't panic. Papi is not done and neither is Lowell.

Yankees, 10 years, $240 million

I don't buy it for a second.

If it was the Yankees, I think the Sox would go the extra distance. If it was the Nats, maybe not, but I think Tex would take 184 from the Sox over 200 from the Nats.

I'm not buying it. A similar thing happened with Daisuke two offseasons ago. Henry and Theo were ready to come back from LA without him, and were even on their way to the airport if I remember correctly when Boras called back and said the deal was on.

Let's wait till this time tomorrow and see...

this is Henry calling Boris' bluff....and he's one of the only ones who's willing to do it. My guess is this is not over. just a guess though.

as long as tex doesnt go to the yankees ill be happy :)

sign john smoltz please :)

Wow. We're the Boston Blue Jays South now......

I don't have a problem with the Sox walking away. If the reports on the deal the Sox presented are accurate and he still doesn't want to play here, fine. Spend the money on a long-term extension for Youk and add some depth to the starting rotation. We could do a lot worse than Mike Lowell at 3B and Youk at 1B.

Oh well. Now they can focus on trading for Peavy!

they have been charging the highest ticket prices for years and this is how they spend it? We'll lower are payroll and HOPE everything works out. Nice work! I hope he eats his words....

Good...don't want him if its gonna be like that. forget it.

Oh come on people, there's gotta be some kind of limit to this madness. Eight years, 23 a year?! That's outrageous. By all accounts, Teixiera wasn't at this meeting, just Boras. We all know how he works; I'm sure his demands were ridiculous. Henry is, rightly so, playing his bluff. If Teixera really wants to come to Boston, he's dialing Boras' number as you read this.

While this signing would likely lead to an improvement offensively for the Red Sox, the likelihood of the combination of Teixeira and Ortiz combining to produce more than the possible combination of Manny and Alex Rodriguez. If the deal truly falls through it would not nearly be as stunning for the Red Sox than if Manny went to the Yankees.

Furthermore, an even larger problem exists for the Red Sox. Although Mike Lowell is a phenomenal clubhouse guy, the Sox have scorned him thoroughly ala Nomar Garciaparra in 2003 during the Rodriguez negotiations. How many times have we seen a professional athlete and their team reconcile after such a process?

I cant believe the Nats or Halos would outbid the Sox. This better not be Henry playing the "poor card". If so this is a total kick in the gut. What's next, signing cheap backup to take over Tek's job?

This could easily be a ploy by the Red Sox to call their bluff. The Sox made a very good offer if the reports are accurate.

The only team that's going to offer Texeira more money is the Yankees and if they're willing to pay him 8 years 200 million that have at it.

I like the fact that they are playing hardball.

I hope this isn't the Yankees. otherwise I could care less. I don't think we need him for that much money. Take a hike buddy...

how sweet is it gonna be to revive the yankees animosity? we need that nervous energy. think it will stimulate the economy?

Guys come on. Please. This is Boras. He is trying to Arod JH and the sox are not falling for it. There is zero chance the Yankees sign both Tex and Manny. Boras needs Tex to go to the Sox so the yankees can pay manny. Watch how quickly the market for tex evaporates now that the sox claim to be out of it. He is left with angels 8 years and 160M.

There is a reason John Henry is a multi-millionaire. He know how to negotiate. Just like the Dice-K deal at the airport. He knows how to deal, especially with Boras...

Boston fan living in DC and I can only hope it is the Nats. But, my heart says it is the Yankees. Hank wants to cut our hearts out ala Daddy-O. 1st Tex, then Manny.
OR, John Henry is using the old "Take away" sale ploy. If so, "Well played, sir."

I'm shocked that the Red Sox have dropped out so suddenly.

Looks like another early Christmas in New York!!!!!

Boras: "Good of you all to gather here like this..Mr. T has an announcement."
Tex: "I have decided that I would rather play on the west coast. Or the Midwest. Or the South. Or south of Boston."
John Henry: "Heidi, let's get a podcast going where you let Red Sox nation know that the Red Sox are not players."

You people saying "Good riddance" and "Gee I'm glad this happened" are just kidding yourselves. Seriously, just stop. This is not good. It isn't. The day the Yankees unveil their shiny new acquisitions, the Sox throw up on themselves in these negotiations. Ugh.

Guys Red Sox do this every time there are going to sign a free agent, noo worries here from this die hard red sox fan. Tex will be here!!

"we NEED Tex"

No we don't.

If he's looking for 9 or 10 years, let someone else pick that up. Good for the Sox if they don't throw ridiculous money/years at this guy just for the sake of doing so.

Hope it's the O's - serves all of you obnoxious Camden Yards-invading Sox fans right!!! you can't win em all...

It could be a way of calling Boras's bluff.
Boras tells the Red Sox they have others with $$$$$ and years on the table.
Henry says good luck with that and alerts the media that the Sox have been outbid.
If Boras is bluffing then henry and Theo may be getting a call back.
If this comes from John "the guy who writes the checks" Henry, and publicly, instead of from Theo, then Boras knows he has seen the Red Sox' best offer.
So now we will see.

Maybe the guy on the earlier blog, who said that the news in Baltimore was that Tex was coming home, was right after all. Peter Angelos has always been willing to throw money around, he just has done it in a ridiculously stupid manner.

Boras probably asked for 10 and 250 plus Varitek at 2 and 22. In which case we are right not to get raked for that outrageous price tag, package deal whatever...

It's a good move. There've been a number of stories in the last few days implying that Boras is lying about various offers; clearly he told the Red Sox that Teixera had a high offer from someone else and Henry's willing to call Boras on it. Is Boras bluffing? Who knows; but someone has to make Boras show his cards and I don't mind that it's us.

This has all the hallmarks of the greatest sports franchise in America swooping in at the last minute to steal Tex - go Yanks!

even if we got Tex - we still don't got the horses on the mound...

Yanks will sign Tex, then Manny, then Lowe, then.......oh just pay for the trophy now

I really hope this is a joke. It wouldn't make sense for boras to not have the sox get tex. ok here are the reasons, A) unlike the rest of the teams who lose out on tex, the redsox wil not sign manny who's agent is boras. B) Varitek is also a client of boras and I believe he could try to tie signing varitek into the tex deal to kill 2 birds with one stone. I think boras would in the end hurt himself more if tex doesn't sign with the sox at this point.

That ugly mug was made for pinstripes if you ask me..

IT'S BALTIMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good...he's so overrated.

That being said, the Red Sox will sign him. This is such an obvious ploy.

The Sox won't make the playoffs next year if they are going to rely on Lowell and Ortiz as two of their biggest bats in the lineup.

"Mr.Henry needs to be notified that the entire Nation will revolt if he doesn't get this done"

Oh please. Get a grip.

Did Teixiera suddenly become the greatest player of the last 20 years and the Red Sox can't possibly win without him??!! So what if Boston doesn't sign him. Yeah, I wish they had, but ask yourself, how many World Series rings does he own? How many 45-HR seasons? How many 140 RBI seasons? How many MVP Awards? Let;s not get carried away here. A healthy Lowell, Bay, Youkilis, Ortiz and even Drew all can hit 25-30 HR and drive in at least 90-100 runs each a year. Plus we've got budding stars in Elssbury and Pedroia and a strong pitching staff. There's other fish out there.

I'm shocked that the Red Sox have dropped out so suddenly.

Looks like another early Christmas in New York!!!!!

The sad thing is, the owners have the money but they are just to tight to spend. In a way I wish Henry was like the Steinbrenners and would put their money into the team.

surprised by this, but it may not be all bad. that is a ton of money to give one guy, and this frees up money to go out and add another solid arm like sheets or lowe. i dunno though. this could be posturing, but i doubt it given the tone of john henry's comments. sounds as though there are other avenues theo and company have in mind. i suppose we'll just have to sit back and watch what transpires in the coming days and weeks. there are other avenues to be taken in building a contending team. everything's gonna be alright..

The Yankees out bid the brewers by how much? Something like $60 million right? For the sox staff to go all the way to texas to meet with Boras and leave empty handed, I can only assume the yankees must have dropped something like a 220 million dollar offer for teixeira.

This can't be happening!!!!!! We need him more than anything and the season is lost without another bat. If the Yankees get him I am boycotting baseball. I see it now "Yankess sign Tex and Manny" I hope not but would not put it past them.

I hope this is negotiating through the media, although not typically their style. To back out now would be horrific, the worst. Like Lowell a lot but having Tex for 8+ years in the middle of the lineup wouldn't suck. Please be a ploy. Please be a ploy.

All these comments are the same thing we heard 5 years ago when the Sox ended up not trading Manny (plus a couple random prospects, like somebody Lester) for A-Rod, and then the Yankees got him. And I guess as it turned out, the Sox did concede the division to the Yankees that year!

I think Boras just kept pushing harder and harder and trying to drive the price higher and higher and Henry had enough. I smell the Yankees here as well, something I have warned about all along. We don't get Teixeira? Now what Henry and Epstein have to do is break off all talks with Boras on Jason Varitek and let Boras try and get him a contract with some other team. No team is going to give up a first round draft choice for Jason and that will keep Boras working overtime all the way to the beginning of the season, and we should never deal with Boras again. Any Red Sox player who signs up with the guy should be traded out of town as soon as he nears free agency.

Notice what he said..."we are not going to be a factor." He did not say we will not sign him, or there is no deal. He sends this cryptic message that they will not be a factor, whatever the heck that means. Henry is wayyyyyy to smart and he is simply F'ing with Boras. Good for you John. Stand up to that money grubbing trainwreck of a man. Tex is still coming folks. Who knows Boras better than the men on Yawkey.

Henry just called his bluff.

GD

Hi I'm John Henry.... Thank you for the sell out streak you made me a rich man now im going to keep the money to myself.. Ha Ha Ha.

P.S. New unis and Hats on sale for the Holidays!!!! Line my pockets more

This is disappointing. We will know one day if the Red Sox were cheap in the Teixeira bidding. Have the Sox ever outbid anyone in an open bid? Are the Sox taking our money and putting it right in their pockets? Once in a while you may need to overpay to get what you want and need. The Sox need Teix. Are Papi and Lowell recovered? Lugo, Tek and Ellsbury striking out will not get the job done. Good luck to the Sox in 2009. Guess we have to wait for Theo to build the next World Series Champion from the farm system. They have a great farm system, but no guarantees there. The Red Sox only field teams that stay in the mix. THEY DO NOT TRY TO FIELD A DOMINATING TEAM!!! WHY NOT??? THE YANKEES TRY TO!!! BE PREPARED FOR SECOND PLACE OR THIRD PLACE!!!

THE SOX HAVE A HOT PROSPECT FOR 1B. ...LARS ANDERSON

I don't believe this. I think Henry just wants the media off his back, have a REAL private conversation with Teixeira and sign the deal. I will not believe this is true untill confirmed by 1,000,000 reports that it is true.

I don't believe this. I think Henry just wants the media off his back, have a REAL private conversation with Teixeira and sign the deal. I will not believe this is true untill confirmed by 1,000,000 reports that it is true.

Has the be the Angels! Wow, the Angels finally sacked up and started spending big time money!!!

Props. There has to be a limit. There is a business behind the entertainment.

I want the world to know that all the "sky is falling" commenters here don't speak for the majority of rational Sox fans. They don't get Teixeira, there will be someone else in the near future. This offense is pretty darn good as is, assuming that Ortiz, Lowell, Youk, Pedroia, Bay, and Ellsbury will all be healthy. The Sox made Game 7 of the ALCS with an offense depleted by injury. The pitching will hold up, and the Sox will be great again. Cue next year, when the Sox go after Holliday and maybe strike more panic into the same "fans."

I want him on this team, but I love that they set their price and stayed strong on it. If you want to win, then come here...but we're not going to change our stance.

Boras is the biggest scumbag in the business. I hope Texeira gets pissed because Boras dropped the ball.

Let the games begin.... Lets hope the Yanks are in the Mix.. Theo and Company know what they are doing.. I smell a kick %#@#$ trade coming

I think this is nothing more than showing Mr. Boras that he has overplayed his negotiating hand. I have every reason to believe that there will be a deal tomorrow, and that Tex and Boras will come to Boston to ink the deal. First cardinal rule of negotiating ... he who is willing to walk away without a deal wins the negotiation. I wouldn't buy a car without walking out on the sales manager at least once. Good move, Sox. Even if it doesn't work, we can't be played by FA's to the point the average ticket will cost $200.00.

what a way to go to bed, i was looking forward all night to a curt schilling thanksgiving day type of an ending to this texas visit. this is the complete opposite to what i thought would happen tonight, i mean i trust you theo, i just hope you know what you are doing, and also i know im a sox fan and we are one of the most lavish spenders, but wtf the yankees need to stop. mlb needs to realizes this outlandish spending needs to end, boras is terrible for the game, he just brain washes players in to money grubbing robots...i mean it the nationals outbid the sox or he choses to go there...i give him credit. its near his house. but this is upseting. merry christmas sox fans, who knows maybe we could trade for prince fielder or something...im still hoping for any of the following rocco baldelli, gabe kapler, jarrod saltamacchia, and C jason varitek...from a depressed red sox fan about to go to bed...good night and go sox

All is not lost.

Who is holding pocket aces and who is holding a 5-3 off suit

I just don't know who is bluffing who

Good! Play out the string with Papi and Lowell, the way it should be, the Sox honoring Lowe's contract! take the case, spend it on D-Lowe (welcome back!) and a strong reliever. Re sign Tek and we are off to the races. Yanks can spend $500 million, it will not buy them the good, strong team we have had in Boston the last few years. Tito's guys will get it done! I love it!

hello people......by saying this to Boras and Texeria, the Sox are drawing the line in the sand, and daring Boras to go find a better deal.

But guess what, he is not. The Angels most likely will not offer 10 years, and if the Nats or O's do, that is still not enough for Texeira to sign with a losing ball club.

This statement by Henry means nothing, and in my opinion is shrew negotiation at its best.

The yankees have known all along that they could really hamstring the Sox by ponying up for Tex since Manny is obviously off the table. I REALLY hope this is Henry calling Boras' bluff or, at worst, that he signed with the Nat's, O's, or Halos. Otherwise, I'm going to stick my head in an oven.

Who is holding pocket aces and who is holding a 5-3 off suit

I just don't know who is bluffing who

NASCAR, hedge funds, Arena Football dropping out, now backing off insane baseball contracts. Is the handwriting on the wall? Is Mr Henry tightning the rigging on the Goodship RSN?

boras wanted the sox to sign both boras at the 8 years 184 but also wanted varitek in the deal since there is no market. since the sox would not go there he is playing hardball.

this deal is not dead. unless the yankees came in and are giving tex 200 million.

New York Yankees that simple

This has the Yankees stink all over it. Money is no issue and they are doing just what they did to acquire Damon. Burnett will be another Pavano and CC could implode any moment. They've been pulling this BS for the past 10 years and have nothing to show for it.

WHAT? This is our only hope - I am in shock and not happy right now. I guess I can trust the sox though as they've been smarter than the others but last year wasn't so great because we needed more power. I 'm not sure I can trust them on this- this is VERY disappointing.

There's nothing wrong with the offense. They scored the third most runs in baseball last year without Mike Lowell for a huge chunk of time and with David Ortiz as a shell of his former self. If they use this money to sign Derek Lowe or Ben Sheets I'll be happy.

Use the dough to sign Sheets/Lowe, lock up Youk and save some to extend Beckett. You know what they say, you only go so far as your starting pitcher.

The Nationals put the best offer out there last weekend, and Boras has been doing his damndest to get the Sox to match it. They aren't, Tex is going to the Nats. Mark it down.

Good. I think in hindsight this will be as smart a move as not signing A-Rod a few years ago turned out to be. Sox don't need a player whose motivation is to chase every dollar. Give me players like Pedey, Lowell, Papi any day - they have heart, character and know how to compete. Tex's #'s at Fenway sucked anyway. I'm actually thrilled this deal seems to have fell apart.

hope it is just negotiation, which is likely. remember how the manny for a-rod deal was on off on off on before finally getting stuck? it has been obvious all along that Texeira would get near a-rod money. if the economy werent kaput he would break the record, because he is near as good, and the auction situation is in his favor. manny is only a slightly better hitter, and tex is so much better in the field and the locker room. the sox with tex would be better than the two championship teams. JH and Theo know all this. I'm guessing they will land Tex for 25M per for 8 years, or 24 M for 9.

I think Tex wants to play in Boston. This will turn around and they'll schedule a press conference to introduce Mark Teixeira to the Boston Media and fans.

Giving Tex 185 mil makes as much sense as paying Tek 10 mil a year.
There is other options out there

Texiera is not worth that money. It is that simple. Don't even call out owners cheap. They aren't cheap they are smart and they are not going to give a 29 year old man a ten year deal.

This has boras signature all over it. NO ONE SHOULD DEAL with that pig

Read post #53.

Welcome to Boston, home of the 3rd place Red Sox.

Good move by the home team...the name of the game is NEGOTIATION people. Just because they are walking away from the table now doesn't mean the deal won't get done. Besides, with the current roster back and healthy, who says they cannot win the division again? When was the last time the vaunted Yankees won with their current strategem of overpaying for talent? The best plan is stand pat and fall back into plan B, whatever that may be. The still need more pitching, catching and another capable, NOT superstar bat in the lineup.

The Sox are playing a game of chicken with Boras and Teixeira. If Teixeira really wants to play for a loser for more money, or he wants to play for a winner for less. The ball is now in Boras's court. I'm sure the Sox are still the front runners.

I'm actually glad to hear that the Sox are not going to sell the farm for a first baseman - "star" that they don't really need. I know the conventional wisdom is that we need to pay big bucks for a big bat to replace Manny and (forgive me) Big Papi.... but I actually think that investing in younger scrappy players who will consistently dig out singles, doubles, etc .. will continue to build the "New Red Sox" an offensive team that scores runs based on base hits, rather that hit or whiff home run sluggers. If you put all your eggs in one basket.... well it limits your options.

Mike Lynch on Ch 5:

Sox are OUT
A source says there is a $200M deal on the table
The Yankees are in it
Boras believes he'll have a deal sometime tomorrow
Sox only wanted to spend $160M, then were willing to go to $185

Maybe John Henry and the Sox pockets aren't as deep as everyone thinks. Mr. Henry is a shrewd businessman first and foremost and this could also be a part of the negotiations....but I doubt it. Maybe the Yankees have offered Tex 10 years at 30 mill. I really wouldn't doubt it. They (The Yankees) and honestly only they have money to burn.

Maybe John Henry is smarter than everyone and will keep his shirt and franchise while others lose it all.

In my opinion, this has to be a ploy in negotiation. One does not just so suddenly, "shut down" after being so close to making a sign with a player that fits our needs. Maybe Boras wouldn't backoff until he got a 9-10 year so we needed to shut him down. Even if we where out, it wouldn't make sense to not try and drive up the price so the Yanks can't afford him.

well if this is the yankee just give them the east crown now the To the red sox management thanks for the run but its over,if ortiz and Lowell have trouble coming back we have no offense

Youkilis is "gold glove" calibre, and he hits the cover off of the ball. A healthy Lowell at 3rd, with Youk at first, and we have all that we need in the infield. Let Texiera rot in Washington or be abused by the New York Press the first time he strikes out in a playoff game.

Uhhh... I just hope he doesn't go to that repulsive team in pinstripes. Their discusting, front running, disloyal fan base in that filthy city...major dissapointment if he goes there. Players come to Boston cuz they want to play for the Sox and in this city, players go to new york cuz they will tolerate that place and those creatures for the money. So if he goes there he is only in it for the money and nothing but a mercenary. Hopefully this is just a ploy, can't believe things would turn sour so fast...

based on what i heard. Marks agent scott boras said no. he wanted a 10 year 200 million dollar contract since the sox didnt want to go that high he said no i got another contract with more years for my client

It might not be a money issue, but an issue of some team offering him the opportunity to opt out of the long term contract after only a couple of years, like the Yankees did with C.C. If the Sox were going to sign Tex to a long-term deal, they already have said they were unwilling to include any opt out clauses.

My guess...10 yrs 200+ per year...Sox wil NOT go over 8 yrs.

Not about the money per year...number of years is the key.

I agree with Mr. Grubb. Boras is bad for baseball. I sometimes wonder if Theo & co. have to take Pepcid AC before going in to a meeting with him. Slimey.

And I'm with you too, ocotillo. Thanks Mr. H. for taking a stand! At some point you have to say 'enough is enough' of this BS. And hey you guys who are freaking out, you're way underestimating the Sox team (as of today) that'll take the field in '09.

All i have to say is CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett on the New York Yankees and David Ortiz still not 100% healthy.

Everybody relax. John Henry is negotiating in the media. Boras has highballed the Red Sox and they are pulling in the reins. My guess is that the Sox were told that Baltimore, Washington or the Angels had a 10 yr. offer on the table and the Sox are confident Teixeira wants to play for an east coast contender. They are going to call his bluff. After two World Championships and all the right moves to date, don't you trust this ownership/management group, yet? They will get us the hitter we need - and at the right price. You can't fall in love with a guy and let him name his price. I'll bet Teixeira still ends up in Boston.

I find this genious by the Sox Front Office. Boras was wanting to get $25-28mil a year. If the Sox gave him $22mil a year, its not longer about the money. Its about the persona about being "the highest paid" player in baseball. You will see the Sox will be getting a call back unless this guy wants to play for the Nationals and win as many games in two years as the Sox will in one. Too much money, Bring in Peavy and Holliday. They've got the pitchers to pull a move and Lars Anderson could be some serious trade bait.

For me, the only way that not getting Tex becomes the end of the world is if he goes to the yanks. If he does end up with the Nat's or O's then let him become the next AROD and we will watch as his contract weighs down his team for the next 8 years.

On a day that the Yankees unveiled 2 of their big name off season acquisitions, this is hard to swallow.

If he is willing to go play for the Os or the Nats, then he isn't a competitor and we don't want him. It may be denial but I can't help but think this is just part of the negotiations...

I think the bottom line is that Teixeira probably HASN'T gotten a better offer. Boras (who is known for saying he's gotten offers that he hasn't) probably said that the Red Sox needed to up their offer, and the Sox realized that he was bluffing, so they called his bluff. At least... I hope so.

Great negotiating tactic, John Henry didn't become one of the richest men in America without knowing when to walk away from the table. Here are Tex's options 184M, and win a championship or 10-15M more and have no chance at a ring.

"If the Yankees get him I am boycotting baseball."

Thank God. One less on the bandwagon. Good riddance.

I check your bluff BorAss!...and raise you some media hype.

This is the best news I've heard all night. If $23 million per season doesn't cut it, so be it. I'm perfectly happy with Lowell, Youkilis and Ortiz. And there's always Matt Holliday on the horizon for next year. I hope the Sox stand their ground here and don't fell compelled to increase their offer. Time to move on!

Tex is more interested in money than winning. Boston should stick with what has won them TWO championships! Burnett is no more than a new Carl Pavano and true Sox fans should respect Henerys choice not to ruin the next ten years on one money grubbing douche bag!

some of these people making sad and scared comments on this latest news are the type of people who walk into a car dealership and pay the price listen on the window. even if JH is telling the truth that the sox are out, big deal. Has this ownership proved to everyone that they know what they're doing at this point? If Tex gets more than the Sox are willing to pay, good for him. and it's most likely that this deal isn't quite done yet. until you see Tex sign with another team, relax.

I think Henry is not going to fall for Boras' trash like the Mets did with ARod, drive up the price only to have another team outbid them.

I cant imagine Henry flying to Texas to find out that the Sox have been outbid, and just turn around and fly home with his tail between his legs.

I think Boras was trying to play the Sox like the Rangers, saying that he had a mega offer from the Mets, just to have the Rangers come back and make a crazy offer for ARod.

I can see Henry saying "Ive seen this before, got a better deal, dont waste my time, go sign it."

This one is a head scratcher. I wonder if they went down to Texas thinking they had the top offer based on things Boras told them only to find out otherwise. Now maybe Boras is blowing smoke up their butts telling about offers that really don't exist and Henry is calling his bluff. If there's a deal that is dramatically more in both years and money than the reported 8 years 184 Mil, then good luck to Tex. If it's the Angels then maybe he can win there. If it's the Nats, who won't likely be able to spend the money to put enough talent around him to win a WS, then enjoy your 9, 10 years watching the WS on TV like the rest of us. I just hope it's not a matter of a million or two per year difference, then again it's not my money.

CALM DOWN!

Remember what happened with A-Rod.....

seems like an angry move on the red sox part...which could still very well be just them in the process of negotiating. boston does make a lot of sense for teixeira. i have a hard time thinking that the nats or orioles could persuade him to play for them. nats had 100 losses and the orioles haven't had a winning record in 11 years. the yankees of course may have stepped in in the last minute similar to the johnny damon situation and offered him a ton of money. if that is the case, oh boy...then it will be on to pitching for this year and sign a bat next year.

move on

Dear Scott Boras,

I hope you die screaming in a fire...actually, no, I hope you live and have to spend at least 50 years hooked up to a respirator, burned over 65% of your body, and unable to talk, eat, or drink without it causing severe agony.

Still better than you deserve. Hey, MLBPA: this guy is all your fault. If you would accept a friggin' salary cap like EVERY OTHER MAJOR US SPORT wastes of life like Scott Boras wouldn't get to screw everyone, including his own clients, over so he can get the biggest cut possible.

It seems Mr. Henry, unlike the average fan, has the ability to extrapolate the real world, ei; the economic crisis, from the fantasy world of professional sports.
The average fan has already resolved themselves to sitting on the couch watching the games on TV--being priced out of the ability to sit in the stands at the ballpark.
However the couch is about to be repossessed, if not the house, and the networks only show the games by the grace of sponsors whose products are not selling.
So is Mr.Henry seeing the sports bubble on the horizon?
Besides, Scott Boras is the anti-christ, anyway

If Texeira signs with Baltimore or Washington he is just another greedy dirtbag. I hope for his sake he signs with Anaheim or he is going to labeled as a fraud. If not he can collect his money and be a loser and never know what it is like to be a real winner and play for a winning organization with a REAL chance of winning a championship.

The Nationals offered him around 200 Million.. If that is true, He has to take it. He will always be a Loser with them, but a Filthy Rich Loser!! But if Tex wants to win, Then I hope he takes around 15 million less and he will be a CHAMPION...

GO SOX !!!!

Sorry I really like sox the way they are and think if they play their brand of ball with our current team we can go the distance agin.

ESPN is reporting that the sox are shipping Bucholz, Bowden and Anderson to the Marlins for Hanley Ramirez and a player to be named later....and truth to this?

let`s see we need a catcher,5th starter and we have no one who can scare pitchers to pitch to ortiz.Sign varitex great handling of the staff a 220 hitter at best,youk or drew do not scare any pitcher to pitch to ortiz,unproven young pitchers to compete for the 5th spot.There is also one other aspect Henry says it a bad economy yet this team will be 20 million less in salary next year,who get the money,lower tickets prices be serious John Henry did what he did with his last team pocket the money.how much money do you think he lost in the stock market

This is too big to fail. Let's bail this out.

This hurts!! I just do not get how this all happened so fast. It seemed as if it was in the bag. I do hope that some of you are right and this is just a ploy to call Boras' bluff, I pray!! If the Yankees get him I second the motion to petition basebal!!

Yanks won A-Rod and now they have beaten Red Sox again. Looks like a team of cripples for 2009 Red Sox-Mike Lowell, Big Popup and strikeout silly Tek. With a weak hitting CF and JD injured half the time we still need to try to get another good hitter like Bobby Abreu who is great and a free agent.

Boras at it again.... He played Varitek, Manny, Lowe and now Tex. The more they sign for, the more he makes!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nats could use him more than Sox. I live in DC and that franchise is dead without someone to fill the seats at their brand new stadium. Lars is a year away and the young arms are on the come. Ride this one out, sign Youk long term and focus on the catching issues and Smoltz.

Honestly, hes not worth 23/yr. Im sure there's a player option escape clause after 4-6 years. Sign Youk for long term. Go get smoltz, baldelli(for a lot less), call it a off season. July 31 there will be deals to be had.

Before getting too upset about this remember the disappointment Red Sox Nation felt in late 2003 when the Sox were unable to sign A-Hole. Given Boston's success compared to the Yankees during that time, does anyone look back and wish the Red Sox had signed him? I doubt this is a PR ploy, that is not how this Red Sox management group does business. But it is a little early to conclude it is time for misery. Let this play out and see what the Red Sox do from here. Over the past 5 years they have been the premier team in baseball and they remain that until another team (with or without Mark Tiexiera) proves otherwise.

There will be talent available folks. With a down economy and teams bleeding cash their will be players available without having to give away the farm system. This team went to Game 7 of the ALCS without Lowell or a healthy Ortiz and a broken Josh Beckett. Yes, the Yanks got better but it's december for crying out loud. Texiera is good but he's not a $23 million a year guy. Sign him to that money and what does that do to the salary demands of the other guys. Is Texiera THAT much better than Youk?

""If the Yankees get him I am boycotting baseball."

Thank God. One less on the bandwagon. Good riddance."

If the yankees "get him" they'll wind up bankrupt within five years, given the state of the economy.

Smoke screen. Tomorrow morning this doosh will be posing in his Sox hat. & if he just went for every last $ & is a Natl., then that's what he deserves. I hope that he invests it all in Citi and wins 10 games over the next 10 years. Go Celts!!! - Get Dikembe!!

Deal is dead, He doesn't like Boston, go cry in a corner pink sox fans...
Signing C.C, A.J, and Tex....what an offseason it'll be for the Yanks....
Go cry back to Manny....that's if the Yanks don't grab him too....rich gets richer b..i..a.tch

Oh great...so first ownership unveils a horrible design change with the jerseys and hats and now they're not going to go out and get the best free agent on the market....Merry Christmas to you too Mr. Henry

what the hell?????????????
Yo serious?
Without mark one thing became for sure.
They will not make playoff this season.
They just gave 10bucks Xbox to their rival.
Henry, it's all your fault.

I have all the faith in the world in this ownership group. Look what they have given us the past several years. This stings but in the big picture it really is not nearly as bad as it seems right now. Look what the Yanks had to do just to catch up to us. We just signed Dustin to a nice contract, Youk is next, we have great top three starters, Lars is in the wings, we have one of the best closers in the game, and lots of money for more additions down the road. Boy, I could rattle off about 25 or so teams that wish that they were in our lowly state of affairs right now.

Time to say no to the whole out-of-control process. Frankly, as good as he is, I found it embarassing in an economy like we have to be even contemplating $180M+. Thinking about Jimmy Foxx and some of the others -- man, those guys were real players... Too much mousse and bling surrounding these guys these days.

Now, how about cutting the ticket prices back a bit, JH. I'd like to take my kid to see a game more than every five years.

If not Tex, the Sox should sign a strong arm. There are still serious ifs in the bullpen and who's to say if the starters will be strong and healthy. Dice-K has probably thrown more pitches in the past two years than the previous five in Japan. And who knows how Beckett's injuries will play out? Pitching wins Series.

anytime you have Scott Boras involved, you have a money grubbing douche-bag! the guy is scum and people like him will ruin this game, and I can't wait to see it!

THANK GOD! What a collasal mistake that would have been, we don't need an AROD 250mill player on the sox!

Say Teixiera signs with the Yankees, Orioles or Angels for $200 million. So they win 90 games while he hits 40 HR, 120 RBI and .320 in 2009 and then becomes a spectator in the postseason. Everyone's happy, right? I look at it this way, over the last six years under Henry, the Red have won two World Series and been to two other ALCS 7-game finals. I trust Henry a lot more than Boras or another greedy, over-hyped player in knowing what's best for the Red Sox or even the player himself.

Well there goes my christmas present, That's all I wanted.....Now it's gone..nothing nada, zip.....

This is a joke...The Sox need a bat and Henery needs to open up the checkbook. Why are the sox so willing to pay for there mistakes and trade players away while still paying the bills, but never want to pay for the premier players in there PRIME

Wow.....Is this how Boras negotiates. No wonder nobody likes him. The Red Sox offer $184 and he wants more. He can take Texeira all the way to Washington and Baltimore and ruin his career, because one player doesn't win championships, and not very many players are worth that much money, especially a 1rst baseman. Some players want to win (Pedroia) and some want every penny (Texeira, and it sounds like Youkilis and Papelbon too, when you really think about it). Texeira is good, but Theo and Henry are not dumb and they must have a back up plan, in case these reports are true.

Some of you are forgetting that the Yankees would offer a chance at winning too. If he gets the money AND goes to the Yankees, he's getting his cake and eating it too. They've improved themselves greatly so far, and getting Tex will make them the prohibitive favorites for winning the WS.

I'm a Nats fan here in DC and I just jumped for joy, I think the impossible may have happened. I have thought all along that the Nats would outbid the Sox. You guys shouldn't dispair, you can win the pennant with what you have now and probably will. Sabatthia has proven to be mortal at times when not pitching for a contract, and AJ Burnett will be the new Carl Pavano. The Sox also sell the place out for the season when tickets go on sale in January. The Nats need to build a fan base, something the national media ignores entirely, and it is just like Stan Kasten to go after one huge fish in the FA market (i.e., Maddux in the early '90s). Something else that the national media ignores is that the Nats are really an unknown player in the baseball market. The team has been in existence only for four years, and has only had owners for two and a half. Unlike Baltimore, who seemingly will be mired behind you guys forever, the Nationals could possibly be building a good team the same way the Washington Capitals have done.

Good luck to the Sox.

Come home to Baltimore Tex!!!

I think that if this is really just a stupid way of John Henry talking nonsense, then he has some f-ing brass balls to do such a thing. What the hell does " we are not going to be a factor" mean? that could mean so many different things. And why the hell would he personally fly to Texas with Theo to meet with Scott Boras with Tex in the room at the same time to negotiate a contract and come away with almost nothing, to waste his time? I don't think so....

Needless to say I am disappointed, but if this is true, I stand behind the RedSox and John Henry. Do you people read the financial pages? John Henry is a smart man. He knows that the days of 300 and something consecutive sellouts are OVER!!! When the dust settles in a couple of months, and the season starts, Fenway will not be as full as it once was.
I never believed taht Tex would come here. I alsways knew thse Sox had a price in mind, and that somehow, the Yankees would step up and pay what Texeira and BOORASS wanted. Congrats tothe Yankees on having huge revenue stream.

I think that if this is really just a stupid way of John Henry talking nonsense, then he has some f-ing brass balls to do such a thing. What the hell does " we are not going to be a factor" mean? that could mean so many different things. And why the hell would he personally fly to Texas with Theo to meet with Scott Boras with Tex in the room at the same time to negotiate a contract and come away with almost nothing, to waste his time? I don't think so....

Just by GM and give it to him.

Why does Boras want a 10 year deal?

10 years x $20 Million = $200 Million

or

8 years x $25 Million = $200 Million
PLUS Another Free Agency Contract
5 years x $30 Million = $150 Million
For a Total of $350 Million

Boras only makes money when they sign new deals, so why not want 2 contracts for Tex versus 1?

I think Boras is trying to play us like the Rangers, I got a better offer from the Mets.

Boras

Good call Henry.....Tex is a good player but he is not the worth of $180M. Let the other teams waste their money. Have fun Yankeeeeeeesssss! hahahah! I would say we just need couple of players like Lowell who could take bottom positions. Instead of paying him this kinda money get two players like Lowell and Youk.....30 plus home runs does not count if a player can not help the team in clutch situations......Its a PAPI..... There is no player like PAPI in the league....Look at A Rod.....he has home runs whenever team is in winning positions and never performed when team needed him.... look at the stupid NY sports writers and they cant stop spoiling A Rod by writing in the news papers the following day...haha..You cant win world series if there is no motivation in the team. If there is no spirit and enthusiasim in the team and supporters.....
Oh btw its not a breaking news....Comon Mr/Ms Journalists.....See what is goin on in the country.. This is a breaking news. See what is going on in the world this is a breaking news....Tex and any other player deals are not a breaking news...Where is the respect and honor of Journalism......
We need players like Papi, lowell, Drew, Youk, Pedroia, and the rest of the red sox team players not A Rod or Tex kinda players....Go for SOX

Wow! This e-mail arrives and within the hour, we have more than 150 messages. I too am disappointed. How Theo and the treo can justify spenting $40 mil on Renteria, $17mil per year on Drew and $9 mil per year on Lugo, but can't consistent continuing to negotiate on Teixeira is unbelievible--which may mean it is. Maybe it's a ploy. But if it's the Yankees, we can not use the evil empire excuse. We had our chance; we fans pay the highest prices for tickets and then they say they have their limits!??!? Who knows?

Hey - we don't need to be the yankees and spend anything to field an elite team. Sure, Tex would be a great fit, but we've got a great nucleus who almost went to the series last year. I'm more worried about the lack of mid-level free agents to fill the minimal holes we have. But if Theo has been building a great farm system of prospects, I'd rather see them stick with the program rather than throw money at players who look great in years 1 through 4 and look overpaid in years 5 through 8 (let alone more than that). If they are going to play hardball with Varitek, I like that they're playing hardball with Tex. Hey - if he doesn't want to come to Boston for $184 million and go to the playoffs every year, let him go elsewhere. Stand firm Sox.

Gotta believe those "better offers" are a Boras smokescreen. Sox may be calling his bluff, just hope that's all it is, a bluff.

We're all going to wake up tomorrow to 1 of 2 things. Either we sign him tonight. or the Spanks jump in and snatch him for some obscene amount of money that no one is worth. NO ONE!

Either way we'll get the last laugh. The Red Sox Org. is much smarter business wise than the Spanks could ever hope to be.

On a side note:
1) It makes me happy, if for nothing else, but for the fact that if the spanks get Tex that means we wont have to deal with Manny in stripes.
2) That we will find out that money really doesn't buy championships! It's a win win people

Step in off the ledge people. This is the same team that was a couple runs from the World Series, without a healthy Ortiz, Lowell or Beckett. This is not the end, in fact far from it. AJ and CC have you rattled?? Really?? The Yanks just signed two guys to ridiculous deals, one can't stay healthy, and the other can't pitch in October. Get a grip, the Sox are fine, the young kids have another year under the belt, the bullpen will be better, Beckett and Lester will be better, Bay will have a full year on the squad. Youk is the 1B, he was 3rd in AL MPV voting, and had a better defensive year than Tex, and Lowell is our 3B,, another gold glove winner, and World Series MVP. How quickly you all seem to forget.

Even been in D.C. in July? If Tex wants to par-broil his genitals, let him

Sign Tek for 1-2 yrs, not Tex. In the end he wont want to leave anyway and will still get over market because he's worth more to us. Forget Borat and his hype. I hope he had all his money invested with Madoff. Nice...

i don't believe it...when was the last time Henry directly dealt with the media in a negoc. Also, if Tex does end up with the Sox, Boras will look like a huge fool and Henry will be a God in red sox nation for ever!! it just smells funny to me.

Pull out the checkbook Henry. Don't be cheap. We need him. The Yankees got a lot better and the Rays aren't going away. There's no way we can pull out.

If the Yankees DO get him, let them get Manny,too. That will serve them right!

Boras is slime and we don't have to eat the dirt he's dishing out. John Henry probably is working the media, but I don't care if we walk away to save the franchise from being bogged down with high-priced talent with increasingly diminished abilities and contracts no one else wants (see Yankees). We WILL get what we need-be in in the spring or mid-season and we won't give up the farm. Let Tex go play for a loser- we will survive. GO Sox!

The Yankees won't be competitive without Tex, but I don't think they know that. If they sign Manny, they will have 3 guys with huge contracts who could self-destruct. At least one of them is likely to, and that would do it. I dont think the Yanks fully understand the importance of OBP and OPS.
The writer who said you have to be able to leave the table is correct.
Boros may be tough for the sox and others, but he's a great negotiator. I haven't seen any evidence that he's not ethical. You don't have to love him, but there's not much point in calling him names. I still think the sox will get tex, they might not, and of course we hope he doesnt go to NY.

so what im getting out of this is that for our transactions in the offseason we are gunna be left with this to ponder: we got a 22 year old from japan for only three years to play in the minors so he can mature and then another team can sign him when he is in his prime and then we got rid of coco for a setup man from kansas city and NOW we are not a fucking factor for the best free agent hitter in baseball. i think theo, as a Jew, is bitter during the christmas season and i dont think he wants to spend the money. i hate him and i think he should take out his wallet and please all OF Red Sox Nation that he, and the stupid fuckin owners that we have, want to please oh so badly by adding new seats every fucing year to Fenway Park and going back to the old uniforms of the past, that wait let me remember were so rewarding. hahahah what a joke. i want to find Mr. Henry and just ask him what the fuck he is thinking about right now. thats all. so now tomorrow i can wake up and see that the fucking yankees pulled more money out of their assholes to sign what we wanted oh so much. so theo, maybe you should not be so bitter during the season of giving and give Red So Nation what they fuckin want and need. thank you!!!...NOW DO SOMETHING PLEASE

Maybe I just don't get it but, what drives me nuts is the apparent lack of exactly WHERE a free agent goes. Instead it's an auction. So Tex makes 25 Million more somewhere else over 8-10 years. Factor in endorsements/ads for Tex in the area and nationally and he's pulling in another 10 Million at the very least. So he takes the deal where it's for another 10 Miilion and it's a team that you'd eventually tire of. If he goes to the Yanks, Orioles, Nationals, Angels, whatever, he'd never have as much fun as he would at Fenway.
For once. Just for once I'd like to hear a guy like Tex say "you know, I could have made more somehere else but, Fenway is right for me. I love the fans, the history and the field."

Some of these fatalistic quotes are ridiculous. i.e. "Without mark one thing became for sure. They will not make playoff this season."

Look, I think we need Teixeira (almost) as much as the rest of you, but don't forget, this current squad pushed the red hot Rays to the 7th game of the ALCS and were injured and beat up by the time they got there.

As for CC and Burnett. Wouldn't everyone rather have Beckett and Lester?

Jay,

I can wait to rub it in your face when the Yankees miss out on the playoffs again with a billion dollar payroll. go piss and moan on the new york posts web site. theyre used to pessimistic clowns like you anyway.

Even if it's the Yankess that get Teixiera, so what? Even with him, CC and AJ---and heck, you can even add Manny in there, they are no better than they were 2 or 4 or 6 years ago. Just another all-star team incapable of banding together. No team chemistry (outside of the steroids and HGH). I say, let 'em sign the whole combined 2008 AL-NL All-Star roster and then watch them get sucked down the drain as Girardi gets fired in August. Maybe the Red Sox don't win it all, but the Yankees sure won't. Remember, CC was 6-8 with an ERA well over 3 when he got traded last year. Just a flash in the pan and Burnett the next Carl Pavano.

Now he's getting greedy..............I hope this is just Henry calling Boras' bluff. Wasn't this the guy Theo had to have????

In the end, everyone has a limit. If Tex wants to play for the LAST PLACE Orioles for 10 million more over 10 years, than a legit contender like the Sox....screw him. Let him see how long the season is when you win 64 games. Donkey.

Steinbrenner gave Cashman blank check with the instruction: DO NOT ALLOW TEXEIRA TO GO TO BOSTON.

The Sox have always made fair offers. They will go above and beyond for a player if they think they need him. So if they can't be a "factor" for Texiera, I have to believe that the asking price is so high that it can't be worth an offer. If that's the case, then it has to be ridiculous a amount, and good riddance to Texiera. I admire sticking to a maximum limit, no matter what the opponents offer. If it's too much money, it's too much money. Spend your resources elsewhere. In the long run, it's money better spent.

Now I am glad that I did not sign with the Phillies!

I don't care about Tex - we need Jason V. back !!
He's a future Hall of Famer - He's our captain!
Keep Jason - let Tex go to the Yankees.

All I want for Hanukah is Gabe Kapler.

If the 8yr 184mil is accurate...I would say Sox made a real effort on signing him...Boras probably bluffed and Henry told him to stick it...It would be great to have him, but not surprising as Boras knows he's got the big prize and will drag it out as long as he can...just like A.Rod, Tex is probably wondering what is going on...sounds like Sox waited and tried to blow everybody out of the water, but Boras still wanted more...F#$K'em!

Hurrah for Mr Henry. Finally someone is bringing common sense to the table. The Yanks have spent a quarter of a BILLION so far. Whoa -is the world economy that good? How do you tell a family that has lost its home that NY spent a quarter of a BILLION in these times.
I am a die-hard SOX fan too- but I am also realistic. Remember, baseball is classified as a GAME, and in the balance of things we should not forget this. Besides - who won the ALCS? What size was there payroll? I'll take a dozen hussling Pedroias over some overdone boob like Manny or an 8 -10yr contract on ANY player.

Jason Varitek is not a Hall of Famer. Get a grip. If you would honestly rather have Jason Varitek than Mark Texiera, you are completely delusional. And I love Tek. But you're out of your mind.

I hope that Borat gets stuck with a bag of poop at the dinner table. Hopefully he invested all his $$ w/ Madoff. Nice...

Until six weeks ago the Red Sox were one of the three or four best teams in MLB and Teixiera wasn't even on their radar. And in those six weeks, Teixiera still has not won a World Series ring, MVP award or even hit 50 HRs. So, what exactly has changed? Yankees signing CC and AJ??? Big deal. They were better off---literally---with Pettite and Moose.

It's totally a ploy by Henry and it wil work. Classic Boras showmanship, good for the Sox for standing their ground. Boras will cave because Tex wants to play in Boston. Great guy. Enjoy him. We loved him, but frankly, 8 years and $184 million is more than even the great Tex is worth in this economy.

GOOD FOR YOU MR. HENRY..SAVE THE DOUGH...OVERPAY LOWE..

AT TRADE DEADLINE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. PAPI;S NOT DONE AND LOWELL'S A WINNER....PITCHING WINS!!!....

The Yanks get CC, Burnett and Teixeira. The Sox shed Coco's payroll, extend Pedroia, obtain Ramon Ramirez and get new alternate hats and jerseys.
Mr. Henry's right, the Sox 'are not be a factor" in the AL East. What is worse is that free agents will stop looking at Boston as a place to win with the Yankees building this ridiculously good squad and the Rays pushing for the wild card.We had a great run 2003-2008. It looks like it's time for the Sox to draft well with low finishes in the standings. One last thing, Theo spare us the 95 win speech. You have no shot. You're a Beckett or Lester injury away from 81-81.

wow. no tex. no pitching. no new deals in sight. hello 3rd place in the division. and not making the playoffs. piss off scott boras. you sob.

Youk at first, Lowell at Third, Bay and Papi and Drew. Lars comes up in a year or two. I like it. I'd rather spend the money on PITCHING anyway. And I'm glad Theo and the Trio aren't chasing/panicking like some of these "sox fans" who sound mysteriously like Yankee fans trying to rally Sox fans against their team... Theo has proven that he can find, draft, and DEVELOP talent that leads to winning championships! We do not need to become the Yankees, throwing a ton of money at some high priced free agent. Even if a few poser Sox fans jump off the bandwagon. Throwing money into long term contracts in desperation is what the YANKEES do!

I had a slight feeling that this was gonna happened...... Guys I know that Texeira is a great player but come on 200 millions worth??..for over 8 years??..I don't think so. Remember guys, pitching and defense wins championships not 8yrs 200mil players. And about Henry backing out of the deal??...I think the Sox are still going to sign him. I think Henry is playing the game of chess with Scott boras. Maybe boras is bull shitting about other Teams making a bigger offer just to pursued the Sox in to a higher offer.... what you think??

Short and sweet. No One Player is worth what the sox offered, although not sure what it was.. Regardless, why would anyone doubt the red sox management, knowing what they have done before!!!!! They have proven that they know what there doing!!!! Sleep well red sox fans!! Our team will be fine... Management, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO!!!!! Thank You!!! Pete G

He will come to Boston. He and his wife are east coast people. Do you guys really think they want to spend the next 8-10yrs. out west? I'm betting no. I honestly believe the Sox were and still are his first choice. Who wants to play for Angelos or the Nationals? The Angels are the main competition here. Bet he tells Boras to get back to Theo. He wants a ring and money. Boston offers that opportunity. This is all posturing.

Oh how depressing! Pink Hat nation might not get their guy. You'll be stuck trying to somehow craft a winner out of that 150 million dollar payroll. Tex was never yours anyway. He's from my hometown in Maryland and he grew up an O's fan. You all act depressed now that he might not sign with Boston. Consider how it feels to be an O's fan before feeling sorry for yourselves.

"Its the economy, stupid." Henry knows how close this economy came to a complete meltdown. I've got economist friends here in DC who are in daily conversations with Bernanke and that crowd, and they are all still white as ghosts with fear. A month ago, we were a paper thin margin away from food not making it to grocery stores, gang. And the jury is still out on how much lower the economy will sink. Without advertisers and people buying $8 hot dogs, the Sox payroll doesn't work. Nor does the national TV deal, which could collapse. You don't suddenly expand your payroll under these conditions; you contract it and wait.

based on what i put in my earlier comment. the yankees are the ones who probably held teixera. cause scott boras wanted 10 years. the red sox and the angels and the national said 8. but boston offered 184,000 while la, and washington offered around 160,000. baltimore offered only 7 years. so we know its not them. cause mark, and scott would be stupid to pass it up. scott said he got an offer with more years. so only the yankees could do that. knowing it could be more money spent then the red sox. i say get rid of the players your paying to sit on the bench most of the season and add that money to the offer

Panic is setting in across Red Sox nation. Two points from a Yankees fan, 1) this is no way for the Yankees to sustainably build a team, 2) the Red Sox need a middle lineup presence worse than any other contender. The signing wouldn't make a ton of sense for the Yankees if they could sign Manny to a two year deal where it is a fair assumption he is good for at least one year AND there is less overall capital to lose. The Sox need him more than others, and if he ends up in Washington, NY or Baltimore, they still have to try and protect the big man who can't get around on the cheese anymore (Ortiz).

Now that steroids is out of baseball, players will not put up the stats we used to see late in there career. Pitching is what wins championships. Go after Derek Lowe, Ben Sheets and or J. Smoltz.

let's not all forget that this team was one game away from the World Series without this guy last year, and that was with Mike Lowell suffering an unfortunate injury. If Lowell and Youk are our corner infielders, they were good enough to win a title two years ago. And I believe Lowell carried that team so we're not exactly going into 2009 with a bunch of stiffs. Such short term memories...

8 years $183 million!!!! are you serious??????? hey man if I'm the one signing the checks, I say are you nuts????? I don't blame Henry. Obama's president for the next 4 years and you want to sign a guy to 8 years. RISKY from an economic standpoint.

8 years $183 million!!!! are you serious??????? hey man if I'm the one signing the checks, I say are you nuts????? I don't blame Henry. Obama's president for the next 4 years and you want to sign a guy to 8 years. RISKY from an economic standpoint.

It ain't over 'till its over....Patience People
Worst case is Lowell, Papi, Bay and Youk....I can live with that....Henry and Theo are smart and the Sox will compete in '09

Looks like Jim Bowden has pulled out all the stops. I hope so; the Nats need him. Of course, the last time JimBo made a blockbuster signing, it was or Ken Griffey, Jr., and that turned out to cripple the Reds for years to come.

Where are the reporters on this? How does this meeting which is so highly known about not have any reporters any where near this or not get any leaks up til now- have they all gone home for the night? some how this email instead of talking to them media directly seems strange- by the way- note how they really like him but if he has higher offers then I guess he will take them is there. A guy who has stated he wants to come back east and to a team that has a chance to win suddenly is only looking for the most money? Do not buy it.

If it's the Orioles or Nationals that get Teixiera, then we all get a good laugh, watching this guy put up great stats April through Oct. 1 and then hitting the links in October after whichever team goes 72-90. And if it's the Angels that sign him, hey, bring 'em on---it's not like the Bosox can't beat those guys year after year in the playoffs, only now we can take real pleasure in it---they've already done it once with Teixiera on the Angels. Seriously, I think it's funny, especially if the Yankees get him and they go down swinging once again.

hooray! guess the sawx cant buy everything, huh?

If the Red Sox don't sign him, it's a huge disappointment for me as a Red Sox fan. If the Yankees get him, it throws the entire balance of the ALEast to NY. Shame shame shame on Epstein, Henry and the organization for not taking a chance.

Add him to the list of people to hate:
George Stienbrenner
Babe Ruth
The Manning Sisters
A-Rod
Roger Clemens
Scott Boras
Mark Teixeira
Bin Laden

Everyone seems to forget that "Tex" anchored that Angels line-up in the playoffs this year and look where it got the Angels. Peter Gammons nailed it in his recent column when he wrote that if the Sox are patient, they can pick up some nice players this summer in a trade because financially strapped teams will be holding fire sales. Relax. Boras cannot be trusted, so he's probably bluffing anyway trying to get the Sox to bid against themselves.

come on 8 years and $184 mil. you've got to be kidding. Hey if it's my money no way do I do the deal. He's a very good player but who knows what 8 years will bring. Remember Obama will be president for at least half that time. God knows what his reign will bring.

The robotic baseball swami keeps telling me that Tex at 200 million is like giving interest only high risk housing loans to the american people. Very risky but if it pays off OH BOY! Robot swami also thinks that Boras and Alan Greenspan might be bedmates.

I'm thinking about taking the Robot Swami apart and making a real hot stove out of his torso.

"#

Some of you are forgetting that the Yankees would offer a chance at winning too. If he gets the money AND goes to the Yankees, he's getting his cake and eating it too. They've improved themselves greatly so far, and getting Tex will make them the prohibitive favorites for winning the WS.
Posted by Kate December 18, 08 11:58 PM"

Kate seems to forget which team came in third place in 2008.

I'm a lifelong diehard Red Sox fan, and I'm embarrassed to be one so frequently now because of the number of idiot fans that this team has. For every rational post here, there's 5 that just scream stupidity (Sox are cheap, this team is doomed, Yanks obviously better with CC and Burnett, etc). I was going to write a long post explaining why people shouldn't be up in arms about this, but trying to reason with morons just isn't worth it. Go buy another pink hat.

Pon Loc, agree that we were 1 win away from a WS last year with Youk and Lowell. But to make sure that we win that 1 game and move on to the WS, we need to upgrade. Lowell's health is a big question mark, Papi's production is a big question mark, not sure if Youk will be able to reciprocate his performance from 08 (though I wouldn't expect a huge drop in production).

We missed out on the Santana sweepstakes last year, and missed out on Sabathia and Burnett sweepstakes this year. As it stands right now, the Red Sox are NOT the favorites to win the division. We need a power bat in the middle of the order and Tex is the guy.

It is imperative that Boston signs him no matter what.

It is a shame that Red Sox fans are passionate enough about the team to try to have a real exchange about such a major event at this late hour and a a loser like I Hate Theo (see comment #229) can only curse and blame this on Theo's religion. You should move down South, where you will be surrounded by an equal number of idiots. You clearly have no place in a city like Boston.

The Red Sox event done anything this of season!!!! How r they going to compete with the Yankees and the Rays? They need to be more aggressive this of season if they ever want to go to the world series again.

I'm glad. Way too much money for way to long. Just look at what happened with Manny. Teixeira's numbers are good. But .308's not INCREDIBLE. Dusty hit .326. Yes, he has homeruns, but Milton Bradley had 22 last year. And we can get him for WAY less. Plus the 4 OF's worked out very well last year. We don't need a huge improvement. We WERE one game away from the WS...

Plus, trading/ditching Lowell after he took a home-town discount is a di*k move...

Isn't it a joke when a player says he's more motivated by playing for a winning organization in addition to playing closer to home, but then turns around - and as usual- takes the highest amount of money (even though there really isn't that much of a difference between $183 million and a few million dollars more)

Man! Nothing like getting a big lump of coal just before Christmas!

first off, i will start by saying i do believe this is a ploy. at the very least it is henry telling boras that he shall spend no further. good for you mr. henry, i applaud you. would texeira be a huge addition to the sox, of course! however, it is a game of numbers. it is NOT worth over spending for one player if it means that you will be unable to pay the rest. youk, lester, papps, possibly beckett (2yrs) are all going to need long term contracts. on that note it is not worth signing texeira if ultimately will loose out on some of the core players that have done so well for the nation in the last couple of seasons. keep in mind folks, we came one came away from the big show and that was with the best october pitcher in baseball injured, as well as our 07 ws mvp. that being said i have enormous faith in team theo. in the last 5 years the sox have been the best they have ever been, and continue to progress. take a deep breadth people...

Sox brass can't possibly be this dumb, to go the AROD route again.....For weeks everything points to the Sox, then it blows up..............If he goes to the Yanks, the Sox will never ever recover.............................The Sox needed Tex.......

John Henry needs to stay away from any sort of media outlet. Sign the checks, collect and deposit the receipts, keep improving Fenway and the team... but for craps sake... please stop talking to the media.

Are people really complaining about the Red Sox NOT spending money? Saying things like "they won't do what it takes to win"? Are you people daft? Missed the WS by 1 game, won 2 out of the last 3 World Series, top 3 payroll and set to contend again? Seriously, shut the F up!!!

NYY fan here. To all you Sox fans, whoever gets Tex wins the division. If he goes anywhere other than to the NYY and Sox, then the division is up for grabs and will be decided by luck, injuries, and who has more players playing at the top of their game. Personally, I think your rotation and line-up are both better than ours (excluding the insertion of Tex to either team). Maybe the best thing for the rivalry and baseball itself would be to leave Tex and Manny in CA.

On to the matter at hand. I really don't know what to make of this. Personally, I think Tex wants to play in NY, Boras wants the highest bidding team even if they aren't a WS contender for both Tex and Manny so he makes the most money possible, Boston isn't willing to increase their offer and the Yankees have spent all they intend on spending, except for perhaps a #4/5 starter (Petite/Sheets). In otherwords we have a draw b/c everyone's interests are not aligned.

Here's my evidence.
1. Tex isn't stupid enough to sign with the O's or Nats. He wants to win. He's already tasted it in CA and liked it. And, everyone witnessed the A-ROD drama in Texas even with the huge numbers he put up. Wife is bitching about not being close to home and wears the pants. Still holds a grudge against Boston. NYY are a contender every year, pay huge dollars, sister lives in NY, and its only a 30 min flight to home.

2. If the NYY are not bidding for Manny, then he gets no better than 2 yrs/$50.

3. NYY have not made an offer. Especially one which tops $22 mil for 8 years. There is no way the NY press wouldn't pick up on it.

4. Boston would not lose out to the O's, Nat's, or Angels b/c of a lousy $16 mil and probably would match. The offer had to be enormous $250 Mil for 8 or 10 years. Don't think Angels would go there.

5. Henry is a shrewd business man. He would walk away when pressed but keep the door open. But, a deliberate statement to the press doesn't necessarily keep the door open and would just bruise egos that make the deal harder to do.

My guess is that Boras bluffed and will now have to save face and try to get the Angels to match or get the Yankees involved. I'd be surprised if he takes another public humiliation after last years A-Rod incident so he'll also start reminding Tex of his bad prior history with the Sox management.

In the end, I think he goes to the Angels for 8 years/$180 mil with an opt out.

Derek, Manny was worth every bit of penny he was given. Things sure as hell didn't work out the way everyone would have wanted to, but the production that we got out of Manny was well worth the money we spent on him. Here's his average over the time in Boston - .312 BA, 34 HRs, 110 RBIs.

And you can't be serious comparing Milton Bradley to Tex since there is NO comparison between the two. They are both leagues apart from each other.

266 comments and this is most important... Where would you rather raise your family for the next 8-10 years? ... Newport Beach or Boston (shoveling snow)

You decide!

Teixeira is an underwhelming player. Why do so many teams continue to move on from him (Rangers, Braves, Angels) if he's so great? His contract will just be an albatross in 2 years.

all along i personally have been one of these sox fans in complete support of doing whatever necessary to land tex, but reading this most recent development has finally killed it for me...now i say let him go elsewhere...

i find the timing of henry's email to the media to be quite telling, considering sox brass just travelled there tonight in an attempt to shore up a deal. already henry sounds as if he is conceding, and while he made it a point to not say anything completely negative (in fact he somewhat complimented tex), one can only assume he is pissed if he is immediately contacting the media with a statement basically withdrawing themselves from the consideration of the only free agent they have truly coveted this entire off-season thus far.

one would assume things went something like this...

the sox head down to texas feeling as if things are somewhat close and a deal is pretty much imminent, only to show up and have boras try to strongarm them yet again and leverage some incredible new offer from another team against them. more than likely a 10 year/200+Mil they have been pushing for, but i'm sure the sox probably wouldnt have bothered getting on the plane to begin with if they had not already been given the impression that their most recent offer was somehow workable. they probably got down there and got blindsided by boras upping the ante by an absurd amount when they get there, only so he could take it back to the angels or yankees or nationals or whoever...

it wont bother me any if the sox finally decided enough was enough and they decide to stop playing this game with boras, that they have already exceeded what was a more than reasonable offer. it wont bother me if for once they decide to stop allowing boras to use them so he can inflate the value of his clients.

so let tex walk and squeeze out every single last buck he can from whoever, good for him. but stop telling us what a standup guy he is when he is just as greedy as the rest of 'em. his main concern isnt winning or losing, the east coast or west coast, his hometown of baltimore or any of that other stuff. it's cold hard cash and nothing more. that dont make him bad, but he certainly aint special either.

and boras, take varitek with you on your way out the door chump....

Tex will go to LAA.
AND Manny's coming to the Bronx!
Boston, we have a problem.

we need to sign TEX, the yanks already have loaded up. where do we go from here d-lowe? im hoping something new will develop in the next few days. i would want to believe tex would rather play in boston rather than dc.

1. The young, loaded Rays suffered no major personnel losses this offseason and look primed to remain at the top of the AL East and the AL for sometime.
2. The Yankees add a frontline ace in Sabathia, a legitimate number two in Burnett to complete a rock solid number three in Wang and a near unhittable when healthy Chamberlin.

So what are we going to do? Sign another Colon-esque, one year project pitcher in Smoltz? Sign Sheets, a guy whose been, at best, decent against a lousy NL Cenral and NL in general? Another utility player of the Hinske/Casey mold? Another offseson, another missed opportunity. Great job, Mr. Henry. I guess Rousch-Fenway Racing needs the cash, hmm?

Baltimore / Washington fans...face it...your teams are horrible and there is 0 chance Teixeira will end up there. If not Boston, he'll most definitely be off to Los Angeles or New York. Enjoy life in the basement for yet another season, and remember, there's always next year!

Teixeira is a good switch hitter with power but he isn't a Ramirez level talent. Did he have anything like the impact on the Angels Manny had on the Dodgers? Tex would protect Papi but not make an already good team notably better. Imo Teixeria is over-rated and by age 29 will probably be a journeyman with his fourth team, none of which he took to a Wolrd Series.

Not saying he wouldn't help this club, but he's no Manny Ramirez quality slugger, and not a player you mortgage eight years of future for.

Somebody has to put this country and also its pastime into perspective. What is just? No better place to begin to answer this one than an clear message to all crapitalists everywhere by one of their own: A major lowball / no talkee to all player's represented by the Prince of Darkness...Boras. Ted Williams may have lost his head, but never his integrity, he knew why he had to hand back his contract in '58 - because some things matter more than money . Build a team that doesn't reek from the stench of it. Or, what the hell, keep paying the otherwordly cost of a seat in the greatest of the Green cathedrals by borrowing from the Saudis or the Chinese to pay Tex, or sell Ortiz to the Steinbrenners so they can remake No No Fannie Mae. Too bad all those financial giants that could never die ain't around no more , Red Sox Nation could borrow from them, and bring back the orchestrated quitter, Ramirez.

If the Sox don't get this guy for 8 years, 185., it's because the Yankees went to 200., or 10 years. The Yanks have limitless funding to do this, even without dumbass newyorker tax money to pay for it on the brink of a depression. Hopefully, he's as big a fruitcake as A-Rod, and as big a bust. If the melon-headed, Steinbrenner brain-trust were as baseball smart as they are bent on sticking it to the Sox, they'd spend America's money on pitching. Because even as currently constructed, the Sox will crush CC and AJ.

To quote Mick & Keef, and apply it to the Yankees:
"this town's full of money grabbers
go ahead, bite the big apple - don't mind the maggots..."
I don't care if we get Tex or not. To get rid of Mike Lowell to let some 'bubba' come in with a big wad of cash - shabby.
We're better than this.

GREAT move. Enough is enough. Scott Boras has done more to ruin the game save for the '94 strike. If we cannot get the player, so be it.

Comment #189 states: "Yanks won A-Rod and now they have beaten Red Sox again." The players' union basically said no on A-Rod to the Red Sox because of the contract; that wasn't the Sox's fault. My next question is this: Since acquiring A-Rod, how many times have the Yankees been in the World Series? Not once. On the other hand, the Sox have won twice. Getting the big prize guarantees nothing.

That's it ! If they don't get Tex. I'm a Yankee fan(And I have been a Sox fan all my life)because that's were I think he's going,the Yankees just played dumb until they had to make a move.I could be wrong,but if he's aYankee they are the favorites,unless the Red Sox can go out and get Peavy and Lowe(and I mean both)to combat this move.SeaBeach Fred you make a good point!

honestly, texiera=35 hr 120 RBI.. Lowel = 25 100RBI,, is tex worth that much more, we will find someone after the next 3 years that will be better.. chill red sox fans!!!!!!!!!!! in theo we trust!!!

CHILLAX! People, chilax

Hi I'm John Henry.... Thank you for the sell out streak you made me a rich man now im going to keep the money to myself.. Ha Ha Ha.
P.S. New unis and Hats on sale for the Holidays!!!! Line my pockets more.
Posted by jck December 18, 08 11:32 PM
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This is disappointing. We will know one day if the Red Sox were cheap in the Teixeira bidding. Have the Sox ever outbid anyone in an open bid? Are the Sox taking our money and putting it right in their pockets? Once in a while you may need to overpay to get what you want and need.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sad thing is, the (our Red Sox) owners have the money but they are just to tight to spend. In a way, I wish Henry was like the Steinbrenners and would put their money into the team.

Posted by Lawrence December 18, 08 11:31 PM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note the prevoiusly posters comments above.

Quit whineing about Scott Boras. Quit calling Teixeira all those horrible names.
Look at your ownership. They certainly do have the money.
He choose to keep it in his personal savings account rather that put it back into the RedSox.
It's his choice - and he chooses his back pocket instead of your Red Sox.
That should be focus of your disgust.
PS : No need to mention steroids in connection with the Yankees ,,, please remember Big Pappy is the YODA of the Jamba-Juice that he's been drinking for years down in the Islands. This is your hero and he will always be under that PED cloud , too.

PPS: I do think that Tex will indeed eventually sign with the RS. You will never regret it. He will look great in a RS uniform (despite that pathetically sad new logo of the little red booties....really - it is very pathetic)

Hopefully, Mr. Henry won't push the little booties to be pink, like those embarrassingly lame pink RS hats !!!

Looking forward to a great season !!!

Boras is doing his job. He's getting the highest price for his client. Can we please stop the "Boras is ruining baseball" refrains? It's just inaccurate and somewhat insulting to players. They're not robots, you know--ultimately, they're the ones calling the shots.

The bleeping Yankees currently don't have a first-baseman! Who do you think they're going to get? Texiera! Once again the Evil Empire will use the "dark side of the force"(money), to screw over the Red Sox and create the most hated team money can buy. Hope they go down in flames as did the Tigers last year. Go Sox!

First of all, Borass should be banned from baseball. Second point, if Teixeira doesn't sign with the Sox, then we kow he's just another money grubbing a-hole who doesn't care about winning. What's he won so far anyway???

Bluff? I don't think so. People always talk about the Sox being a big money spender like the Yank$, but I'm sorry, I just dont see it. I never thought they would step up enough for Tex. When was the last time the outbid anyone for a real free agent? Frew and Lugo were overpaid, but the Sox had gaping holes at SS and RF and they were the only bidders. Otherwise, they wont pay Youkilis or Papelbon, they underpaid Pedroia, paid less than another offer for Lowell, and are going to use a minimum wager at SS and CF. DiceK is not overpaid at all after the annual salary is calculated in, Beckett is underpaid, Papis been underpaid for years and Lester works for free. Peaole that think the Sox are big spenders havent got a clue. When the Yanks or Mets want someone, they outbid. You can talk about the Sox being smart with Damon and Pedro, but the afct is, the Sox were outbid. Again. Im getting a little tired of Henry's cheapa$$ act just because he has a prospect machine that wins for cheap.

Your all fools... The fromtrunners have been the Sox and Angels so if it's not the Sox then... New York has stacked all it's Capitol in wishful pitching and is 2-3 from rebuilding even without a farm system. Ted to Anaheim, just fave it.

Relax.... My guess is that this is one of two things: 1) Boras assumed Theo and Trio were desperate when they increased their offer up to 8 yr / $184M during negotiations. He tried to get them to bid against themselves but RS group refused and called Boras' bluff about other offers.
2) Boras and Henry have a wink-wink deal to disseminate info about RS being outbid. Texiera then signs with RS claiming he took less to play for a winner. In exchange, RS add a year to Veritek deal making it a 2 yr deal with a club option for a 3rd year.

If it is 1) Tex needs to stand up to Boras and tell him to get it done with RS. If it is 2) that works out well for RS... either way I think Tex becomes part of RS Nation by this weekend.

If it is an offer from the Yankees Mr Henry do what you must. We need a bat and it is becoming appearent the Yankees will do everything they can to sign Manny if they don't get Teixeira Tex at first and Youk at third think about that for the next years to come

OK, seriously Nation, can we calm down for just a second!?!?!? I didnt read all of the comments, but no one has mentioned that we are in the process of locking down Youks in a long term contract... With the young core of Pedroia, Youks, and Ellsbury ( I realize he is still shaky, but give him some time) we are looking pretty darn good...

In addition, Drew should ( I emphasize should) be healthy and ready to go, Papi should be in better shape and rehabed, JBay in in left ( say what you want, but he is a very good LF), and Lowell should be good to go by spring training... We have a better lineup than 90 percent of the league with the current setup...

If for some reason we don't pick up Tex ( quite possible the way Theo operates) look for an under the radar trade to get rid of Lugo or Lowell... Although it would be nice to have a big bat (and a great glove) in between papi and drew...

Also, Becket will be back at full operating capacity, and Dice-K and Lester will pitch great... I am concerned with still having Wakefield on the roster... We could still make a late push for Lowe to be our #2 or 3 guy in the rotation ( I doubt it though)...

In short, every needs to settle down and realize that Theo has a plan, and he has done nothing but a fantastic job for our Sox since talking over... And to the idiot who said he hates Theo and railed on his religion, go move to New York and join your class of people! Boston and the Nation has no room for people like you!

For all you people just wishing that the Red Sox would spend the money like the Yankees, here is a thought....
When the Yankees won 4 years in a row, they did it with a team built in house.
When the Red Sox won in 04 and 07, we had players from savvy trades and reasonable signings. No team has yet won a series by outspending everyone else. The Yankees have won 0 championships trying to buy their championship and next year is no different. Its always tough to see other teams sign super stars at huge contracts but as we have always seen, teams that are built right are not collection of free agent mercenaries but sound high quality team guys that love to play the game.

I knew the deal was dead once nomind Butch Stearns' source's confirmed the Sox had a done deal. Tease that Butch!

Why is everyone getting all crazy about it. So what are team is still the one best or even the best all around team in the MLB. He is a good player but hes not really even worth what the sox offered him. Who cares there are so many free agents this year that are really good and a hell of alot cheaper. Boras is a aHole and is probaly bluffing and if not than good for tex cause the team he goes with is gonna be so broke after the deal there wont be anyother talent around him. Im glad henry and the sox stood there ground. Boras is a shady dirty man. So isnt Tex. Nickle and dime. I dont even want to her about this good but not great player getting paid more than hes worth. Lot of good hitting Free Agents out there. Look in the future and see. Dont put all your money in one place its not smart.

........................

Does no one realize we just saved about $200 MILLION???

Anyone?

...No?

Henry is calling Boras' bluff on the "other offers". I believe that the Sox have made the most solid offer of money plus winning team on the east coast. They are right not to try and bid against the Nationals - that is insulting. TEX will think about playing in DC for a couple of days, vomit a few times, then he will instruct Boras to call Theo on Sunday night, TEX will be in RED SOX by Christmas Eve.

Didn't we go through the exact same thing with A-Rod. Everyone flew to Texas and it was a "done deal" until... on yeah, the Yankees swept him away.
It's not the O's or the Nat's... it's the Yankees!

Oh ye of little faith. What a bunch of whiney, panicky fans. Have faith Nation, standard business negotiation procedure at work here. Trust me. They'll be talking again by tomorrow (Sat.) night, and will announce a deal Sunday-Monday...in time for Christmas, just like Texeira said he wants. If he truly wants to win, he signs with Sox; if it's mainly about the $$, see ya. So be it.

The Red Sox should not make this a 'take it or leave it offer' , the type the automaker's would do for the UAW, or for that matter withdraw offers like The Dodgers and Ramirez. Show moxie.
Tell Boras the offer is what ever it is, let us say for point of argument 184/8 yrs
Said offer is reduced in value by 4 million dollars/day. This way one is not only counter offering but also signaling the market a realistic value of the player.
Tell Boras that the 'exploding offer' is non-negotiable and send it around to all other 'bidders not as a means of collusion rather price signaling and transparency.

The Red Sox should not make this a 'take it or leave it offer' , the type the automaker's would do for the UAW, or for that matter withdraw offers like The Dodgers and Ramirez. Show moxie.
Tell Boras the offer is what ever it is, let us say for point of argument 184/8 yrs
Said offer is reduced in value by 4 million dollars/day. This way one is not only counter offering but also signaling the market a realistic value of the player.
Tell Boras that the 'exploding offer' is non-negotiable and send it around to all other 'bidders not as a means of collusion rather price signaling and transparency.

I am crying in my sleep right now...your meaning to tell me that the sox front office has not made this a priority in the offseason to sign TEX...hhmmm, so the rays finished first in the division last season, are only going to be better this coming season. the yankees well we know what they just did in the signings of CC and burnett. ill tell u what, i love the heart of the team we have right now, but look, lowell is only getting older, bay is approaching the bottom end of his contract, the youk issue has been speculated about receiving some attention but who knows, papi feels we need another bat in the lineup, pedroia cant possibly be constantly being placed in clean-up since we need him 2nd or 1st in the order... i know its terrible that the game is built around $$$ but look if Boston keeps bringing championships were gonna pay to see them as long as the price for a bleacher seat isn't damn near $100...Boras is just trying to get as much mulah as possible so he can get a bigger cut from the deal. if TEX is a true baseball player he'll take the SOX offer and play for a winning club and THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE

Two last thoughts. For the fact that Boras assisted in ruining a potential championship season by fomenting ManRam, don't pay Varitek 10m/y for anemic skills. Either package him with Tex, as a U. of Georgia duo or not at all. Tek is not worth 20m to any other team, but by taking him on with Tex, that is a 200M in Mr. Boras's coffers. The Tek market is fallow. He would be lucky to get 5m/year.

One last thought Theo is against opt out years by the players. The NFL is against opt outs by players while the NBA allows it. In order to create a larger Zone of Possible Agreement, one can predicate a 9th year at 22 based upon finishing in the top 3 in rbis, hrs, obs or some formula based on hitting, fielding stats, and Sabremetrics. A guarantee of a 10th year would go through the same iterative analysis to determine guarantuee. Another thought would be to agree on several arbitrators who would upwards or downwards arbitrate the salary based on the productivity of the top 1B, DHs, and other players in the game. Alternatively, if
this is a revenue stream concern, then the 9, and 10years can be tied to attendance, club revenue, NESN subscribers, play-off appearances.

Personally, I would take the Red Sox 200Mill[far less than the Yankees squandered?] and slot but the hell out of the amateur draft. And say look out baseball world but we are overpaying every available amateur who asks to be passed over .

I really hope this is just a bluff and a negotiation ploy, but I'm not going to self-righteously and arrogantly declare that "I know" this is the case. I want Mark Teixeria to anchor our lineup and protect Big Papi for years to come. I want to believe that we can still get him, but my heart is telling me that this is not going to happen. Usually when word comes from the front office, the door has closed.

But "We are not going to be a factor" does not mean the deal is dead or that the negotiations are closed. Let's just wait and see what happens tomorrow and over the weekend before we make predictions of doom and gloom. Wording is key here.

So I remain hopeful. But let's not kid ourselves here. Something has happened here that has really dampered their hopes and we will--in all likelihood--not be getting Teixeria.

However, as they say, wait until the final 100% confirmation.

Why did they bother going to Texas ? Texeira was present during the lie about the offers he has received ? Again - why did they go to Texas ?
Dunn would be a low cost excellent signing if this is really over ... they have to draw the line somewhere.. they were duped in the Drew sweepstakes and did something stupid .. this seems like the same thing BUT WHY DID THEY EVEN GO TO TEXAS ?

A classy post from Ray the Nats fan @ #210. Go Nats from Red Sox nation! However, Tex can't win at least in the short term W/ the Nats or O's. The yanks just paid 250 mil and won't sign him. It's down to the SAWX and angels. Red Sox nation should be proud of John Henry for calling that piece of CRAP-Scott Boras's bluff. Is 184 mil not enough? Mark Teixeira- get rid of your piece of CRAP agent,sign W/ a team where you can get a World series ring and donate Boras's fee to the Jimmy Fund!!

Obviously Boras hasn't heard that the world is in financial crisis. If he passed on 184 mil for 8 years he is either an idiot or the Yankees are involved. The Sox need to lock up Youk who's number by the way were not all that different than Tex's last year. It would be great to have him, but every man has a limit, and Boras has pushed it too far.
Tek should have taken the arbitration figure of 11 million also. Who is going to pay him more than that? Gee his agent is also Boras.

Sorry, I simply can't buy the statement. To announce that the Sox are out of the running for Teixeira? It makes no sense strategy wise and has not been the Sox method of approach considering the past few years.

There are no other bats like Texiera out there. Period. Manny was signed to an 8-yr deal in '01 and the results were 2 Wold Series and contention every year because a lineup could be built around him. When Papi came of age in '04 the lineup was championship caliber because it was strong enough to be tweaked by adding a piece here and there. My hope is that ownership does not think we have "enough" because we don't. You saw that in the playoffs last year. Comeback wins aren't fueled by magic (Yankee fans), they are a result of a solid 1-9. Ghosts only come out if you write the check. Depending on a prospect is ridiculous. I sincerely hope this is a negotiating ploy.

Yeah are offer wasnt 184 million it was 123 million
They reported as that but they only went down with that offer

Tex turned down Boston. That is why Henry and Co. boarded that plane yesterday. They flew to Texas to try to convince him to come to Boston. They were unsuccessful. Time to move on.

Enjoy spending your hard earned money on $150 box seats to watch a diminishing product.

Dealing with Scott Boras is dangerous but the rewards are there. In this case I am happy to see John Henry call his bluff, call him out publicly and walk away. Teixeria would have been nice to have but it's the difference between wants and needs. We need solid pitching, we need some position players that can be had for reasonable money. We may want a superstar like a Teixeria, Manny or A-Rod but do we have to have one? No. The Philly's and Rays went further than NY, Bos or LA without any of these super high, long term contracts. You can win a WS with a lot less if you have the pitching. This team spends way too much money to be accused of getting cheap on its fans.

As I told all of you. The sox didnt raise ticket prices. This has always meant they have no desire to sign a major free agent. It was a classic smoke screen for all the season ticket purchases that happen on the 13th. Sox are a 3rd place team for the forseeable future. Mr Henry gets rich and we lose.

As I told all of you. The sox didnt raise ticket prices. This has always meant they have no desire to sign a major free agent. It was a classic smoke screen for all the season ticket purchases that happen on the 13th. Sox are a 3rd place team for the forseeable future. Mr Henry gets rich and we lose.

You know what, he would have just been a luxury, lest we forget, with our present infield we will have three golden glovers at their positions and our first basemen actually had better numbers than Texieria. And for arguments sake, Jed Lowrie was injured and hit the rookie wall, but only playing from July 12 on, look at his RBIs, they might be hovering around 100. I hope Derek Lowe will realize he will be the beneficiary of this. I won't count out this being a bluff though either.

"Well, then GOOD ! ! ! ....we don't want you anyway! If you don't want to come here, then fine - you stink!! ..we hate you!!"

Good God people. It's a negotiating ploy - you snivelling idiots ...get a hold of yourselves already.

Do I want Teixiera on the Red Sox? Absolutely. Is he a very, very good player. Absolutely. Is he a superstar? Not there yet. Is he a player who makes or breaks a team? Absolutely not.

Let's look at it this way. Considering his history -- not just his stats, but his career path so far (Rangers, Braves, Angels, next?), the argument could be made that he's just another journeyman star player who can't win a ring, i.e. a certain someone we know with the NYY, etc. (I guess we can almost include CC in that fraternity too

I am proud of this ownership the Red Sox have. They don't let anybody bully them and they are difinitely not panickers like what's going on down in NY right now, but I guess 2 World Series titles in the past few years gives you that mentality.

This team is already perfect the way that it constructed. Teixeira would have been nice, but this team is a contender for another title without him.

We'll be just fine thank you very much!

Tex is not worth more than the deal that Manny got...his stats don't compare...Sox already have Gold Gloves at first and Third...so what is the net advantage in the field.....ZERO...Youk and Lowell OPS are comparable with Tex for a fraction of the money...the Sox are better off over the next 8 years signing hired guns periodically to fill gaps in line up...there are always players on the market that can bat 300 and hit 30 hrs...we just got one from Pittsburg that makes $6M a year....they should learn from the JD Drew deal and walk away...I hope another team blows there payroll on this guy...Sox should got out and spend/trade and commit $15M (Lugo salary dumo + player pay) on someone else that can hit better Lugo at short...I think we can find someone that can hit 15-20 Hrs at short or bat .285....and not make errors...Jed Lowery should be groomed for 3rd to spell Lowell and potentially 3rd base long term...unless in a couple years there is a better hitter available at 3rd, then move him back to short....Tex deal is crazy...sign Bay and Youk to long term deals...that gives Sox ton of flexibility to overpay a hitter each year if they need....but no where near $25M....Good for Henry and Theo...

I'm wondering if the comment, "when we heard his other offers", from Henry was an indication to Boras that he can't strong arm the Red Sox by claiming that Tex. had 9-10 years/24-26 million.

In the end, his statement might be something like, "Well, I guess those offers we were told about, which are didn't compare with, might not have been as high as we were told."

texiera to anywhere but boston
i will tell you why in the following...
manny was the life of the boston redsox, he brang the swagger to boston, you guys didnt just capture it overnight. Papi is nothing without manny. When you say that you will avoid big contracts, its because you wont take a chance, the yankees have the best player in baseball, alex rodriguez, and the best team player i have ever seen, in derek jeter. Both signing ten year contracts, why? because they deserve it. Texiera doesnt deserve a ten year contract, but why havent you guys closed the deal if he was that important to you? this deal should be finished and texiera should be a res sock, but once again, you guys chose the ladder. He guarentees you30 and 100 every year, why not give him the security for 8 years and the money,. boston has no more legacy, they are finished, their run is over, their best player hit 20 home runs and had 80rbis, get real, boston is no longer the beast of the east, its been shifted back to ny where championships will be won in the future, texiera or not.

I can't see spending that kind of money on someone that could seriously disrupt the chemistry that the team already has. I'd rather see them re-sign Veritek, go after Orlando Cabrera for SS, and have a solid line up all around: C Varitek, 1B- Youk, 2B- Pedroia, 3B- Lowell, SS- O. Cabrera, RF- Drew, CF- Ellsbury, RF- Bay, DH- Papi... Sounds like a damn potent lineup and solid defense to me.
I think it's more money conscious to sure up our pitching staff and re-signing other key players than going after some big name that could severely disrupt a very tight clubhouse (Have we so quickly forgotten Man-Ram's contributions to our solid clubhouse atmosphere?).

Anybody who thinks the Sox don't need Tex is nuts.
All are praying that Youk and Pedroia havbe great years again and that may not happen. We may still end up ahead of the Orioles but that is it.
Something tells me that the Sox ownership took a big hit on the market scams.

Boston will always be Boston when it comes to baseball decisions throughout their history.Don't let the last few years brainwash the so called Red Sox nation. You will always walk in the shadows of the Yankees and the Celtics. Don't let that name calling mudslinging ownership fool you New Englanders. Get a new stadium that looks like something close. Learn from what Steinbrenner built for 10 million. You may hate him but he changed the game. Without his ways you fans may not have had the recent flags you've hoisted. Get a stadium... get some cash flow from a 40 to 50 thousand arena. Still watching reuns of the tea party up there I guess.

We could always focus on retaining our good young players, Youk, Papelbon, Beckett, Lester, etc... and bring back DLowe as #4. Unfortunately, not getting Teixeira's bat, to me, means we then need to trade one of good young arms (Bowden, Bucholtz or Bard) to Texas for Salty or Teagarten. Boras is going to have a tough time finding a spot for Varitek, when any team that signs him has to give up a #1 draft pick. Having Salty/Teagarten, we could then pick up Varitek cheap as a part-time, mentor with a one year contract. Listen, those catchers can hit, and Youk/Lowell/Salty can equal Teixeira/Youk/Varitek for a much cheaper price. Plus, I really would like to lock up our current "keepers" they way we did Pedroia.

p.s.- Please give relief pitcher Ramirez #24 jersey so we can all wear our shirts. That would be awesome.........

Sorry. There is no stigma attached to recognizing a bad decision in time to install a better one.
I am from Central and also now teach English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "Features travel auctions, including airline tickets and vacation packages."

Thanks :o. Shela.