Nationals reportedly up the ante for Teixeira

To Mark Teixeira: Please ... no, PLEASE ... sign with the Nationals. You've already shown Red Sox fans your true character by choosing Boras. It's all about the money. Two teams have traded you already. Have fun losing and watching Wily Mo Pena strike out every other at-bat. Mike Lowell has more class as a baseball player than you ever dreamed of having. Plus, he's got two more rings than you do.

Hey! You never know this could be a building block for the Nationals. I'll take Youk and Lowell anyway any day of the week!

I'm rooting for the Nationals to get him. Get him out of the AL. Mark not being on the Angels, Oreos or Yankees just makes us stronger in the league. No Frankie in the Angels bullpen knocks them down a couple of notches in the West. Might be a competeitive division now!

Go Expos.....I mean Nationals!!!!!!

Who cares!?!?!?! GO AWAY!!!!!! He might as well pull out the ol' Latrell SprewelI comment "They're not doing anything for me. I've got a lot at risk here. I've got my family to feed." PLEASE!! I'm sick of selfish players. Go feed your family somewhere else.

I'm thinkin now I'd rather go down swinging with Lowell than win with this prima donna.

Equating a player's choice of agent with a player's character is ridiculous. Boras is Varitek's agent, for one -- no character questions there...

Also ridiculous is this growing anti-Teixeira bandwagon. Why? Because he's taking his time deciding where he's gonna play the next eight years? It's DECEMBER, people! Do we really want to go into 2009 with a hobbled Lowell and a Big Papi with a bad wrist anchoring the lineup because Teixeira is "inconveniencing" everyone by taking his time?

Just sign this is getting tired. Go off to DC and enjoy last place.

"Ill take Lowell anyway any day of the week!"

yeah, an aging injury-prone 3B with 2 years left in his not-going-to-be-renewed contract over a long-term, younger 30+ HR/120 RBI hitter and defensive whiz. Seeing as it's not your money being spent on him sounds like a wise choice. Just let me know who our power threat is if Lowell or Papi go down again next season.

Teixeira is a tremendous player . . far better than Lowell. To all of you who trash him because of his choice in Boras . . you would do the same thing.
Bottom line? Teixeira on our team makes a big difference. We don't know what Ortiz will do at the plate. Tex is a great first baseman and is always a threat at the plate

So there IS one born every minute, eh? The lesson of A-Rod and the Rangers has been lost on ownership. Has it been lost on Teixeira, as well? We'll see. At TEN YEARS (!!) and almost $200 million, you gotta let the Nats have him. That's all there is to it. And I don't think any Sox fans will lose any sleep over it.

The sox are showing their true colors finally. This Mark Teixeira song and dance has been nothing more than a game. I told you all that the sox had no intentions of signing anyone of substance this year. The sox are too much in love wih their profits and when they didnt raise ticket prices this year I knew no big ticket free agents were coming. See you in 3rd place next year.

p.s.

They can now sign varitek for 2 years and 22 million. Good luck with that.

Agreed...take the money and sign with a last placed team...you will get no love from the Red Sox Nation for Christmas. When you are over $150 million, what the heck is the difference? Obviously he does not want a chance at a ring. The Nats are not the Rays. I also want to see Manny be Manny in New York, that will provide us more to root against 19 times (plus playoffs) per year.

Well there you have it! Good luck Tex in baseball hell. If he takes that offer he'll never win a World Series in his career. Why would he want to sign with the Nats?? The money? Closer to home? Dude, buy a plane and get with the winners!

I'm no fan of Boras, I think he's a black mark on baseball for sure. However, he's the best as what he does. He gets top $$ for his clients and he takes the heat off them by acting like the money grubber. He's directed by the players. Last word comes from them.

More importantly, Can we get Tek signed PLEASE?

Actually, take it a step further and user A-Rod's approach.

Sign with a bad team that gives you all their money, then in a couple of years "get tired of losing" and sulk until you're traded to the Yankees.

Mark, what is more important to you? This is the one call that will define your legacy as a player, and will shape your entire career... choose carefully.

HBX

This is a joke. Boras is just trying to squeeze whatever he can out of the Sox. Teixeira is not going to the Nats.

Good for the Sox not going any higher. Go to Washington, enjoy losing 100 games a season Mr. Giles, I mean Texeria. Would have loved you here, but you had to ask for a couple of million more. And you will spend that extra million how????

Oh right, it's all about earning the 'respect' and enhancing Borass' reputation.

The best thing that could happen to the Red Sox is having Teixeria mothballed with the Nationals. Again....when are we going after Derek Lowe and Jake Peavy?
Enough of the Teixeria nonsense already.

Anyone who says they wouldn't want Scott Boras as their agent is a loon. He does his job (getting his clients as much money as possible) better than anyone else in the industry and one would have to be quite the fool to turn down his services, if offered.

When it comes to employment, for anyone, in any career, it's ALWAYS about the money. Fooling yourself into thinking otherwise is an exercise in futility. There are other factors, sure, but at the end of the day, it's got to be a balance of satisfaction and compensation; Scott Boras is the best at meeting his clients needs.

While the negotiations have been drawn out, Mark Teixeira has done NOTHING to diminish himself as a person or a ballplayer. "Shown his true character by choosing Boras..." What kind of comment is that that. He picked the best agent in the game. I am not saying the nicest or even the best to deal with but rather the agent who does the best job for his client. There is a reason he represents the baseball elite... he does his job. As fans we are not suppose to root for the agent... they are the enemy... but how does this make Tex a bad person....It tells me he is a serious individual who goes after what he wants. No teams have traded have traded him for under performing but rather two teams have traded him for how much he would help. IN fact he has done quite well for the teams he was traded to. I don't want to hear that those teams never won a Series either because that just will go to show you know nothing. Piss poor decisions are not the players fault and no one player will give you a world series. However they can be a vital cog. How in the world can you say Mike Lowell has more class when you know nothing about either man. Give me an example of something classless that Tex has done. What because he picked Boras? Because he did not go weak in the knees when our Sox offered him a contract? He is 28 years old and making wht will most likely be the biggest contract decision for himself and his family and just because he didn't drop to his knees when the Sox made their offer just goes to show how serious and committed he is to making the right decision. I would think less of him if he had rushed into a decision based on money.

LOOK... I think the world of Mike Lowell! I admire the things he has done and the person he is and thankful of all he has done for our team. However there is not a single person in the world who can tell me FROM THIS POINT ON he will put up the numbers that Tex will next year or in the future. Based on age, injury and statistics anyone can see that Tex is an upgrade. Not to mention there has not been a single report that he is not a great clubhouse guy or teammate in fact just the opposite.

Would I overpay for hi...no! But what is overpaying for him? It is not our money and it really does not make any difference in the cost of the tickets like you would like to think. Would I give him 10 years...no! Just because of injuries that makes little sense for any player. However... I would love to have him in a Sox uniform and think he would make the team stronger on and off the field. As for having not decided yet... well last I looked the season still is two months from training and I don't think any other deals the Sox make are hanging on a thread because this is being drawn out. I am sick of waiting like the rest of you... but it does not mean we have to start having no class.

It's amazing that teams don't learn from the past. When Texas signed A-rod to his $250 million contract, Texas couldn't afford anyone else. They had a great player on a terrible team with no hope of improving. The Nationals can't be that dumb. If Teixiera want to be on a really bad team for the next 10 years, sign away.

Last I heard the Sox offer was for 8 years $184M and that was more than a week ago??

No Frankie means the Angels will knock the Angels up not down. Obviously you dont know Frankie.

This will be a good test: Does Texiera want to win or does he want every last penny? He definitely would upgrade the Red Sox, but they don't NEED him. I still think he winds up in Boston and I would welcome him here, even at the expense of Lowell who is one of my favorite Sox players of all time.

Oh, the price tag sure seems frightful
And keeping Lowell is more delightful
And we all wish Boras would just go blow
Let 'em go, let 'em go, let 'em go...

Gotta love the way the Sox brass is handling this. Our fall-back position isn't exactly chopped liver either: a couple of classy people at the corners, although we'll need to deal with Mike's age sooner rather than later.
What's up with the pitching ? How "ready" are Bowden and Buchholtz ? I'd like to see Wake not be necessary. And what's happening with Varitek, who is far more than his bat.

Will the real Tex please stand up! I'm starting to hate him and It's killing me cuz he just might come to Boston. John Henry pull the plug on this thing and get a character guy that can hit. Let's get the best pitchers here and win that way. I'm really sick of this.

Please, Mark Teixeira..........go to the Nationals. You have lost your appeal. As a Yankees fan, I'm glad we never wanted you. As a person with many Ma. relatives, I can only say that you do not need such a "Boras Baby." Take it from a fan who suffered through the whole Arod scenario.

Hey Texiera, enough already....we know you're gonna sign with the Sox, what else do you want Variteks number....lmao

As much as I hate to say it, I think Theo should do whatever it takes to get Markie. I'd even try a different kind of contract - maybe longer but include a 'personal service' type of arrangement, say, after year 6. This guy has major assets that won't show up in the free agent market for some years (certainly not 2009) - age, stats, class (not to be undervalued), intelligence and you gotta believe that he protects Papi at the plate and what an infield we'd have !

Buying guys like this is like a venture capital play...if even one of these ships come in, you're doing great ! I'd buy him and tie him up so you'd never have to deal with Borassss again.

And on another note, I'd really think about trading Clay to Texas for Salty...you have to give up something to get something and we need a good, young catcher.

Can you imagine the utter devastation to the Nationals of signing Tex to 10 years. After the first year of demoralizing bottom dwelling he will lose his competitive edge and never regain it. However the Nationals will be saddled with huge expense for the remaining 9 years. Tex has to play for a winner, to play at a high level.

A Christmas Memo to Theo and the Trio .......

Please, please, and please ..... do not give the Nation a TEX present this Christmas. He has proved that he is all about the money. Eight years is too long a contract for a Boras client. Have you forgotten how it all ended with a much superior talent? Give the $$$$ to the youngsters and Jason Bay.

Out of curiosity, what the flock are the Nats thinking???????? Teixeira is, by definition, a complementary star piece to a contending puzzle. On a team like the Nationals, he's basically Arod on the Rangers. I mean, they need pitching, hitting, defense, a bullpen... they have so many needs that would be better served by going after many more budget-friendly players rather than one costly stud. This makes no sense from a W-L perspective. Not sure if it makes sense from a "put fannies in the seats" perspective - I guess now people can go watch Teix play for a perennial loser.

Either way, I don't want to hear these small market teams cry poor anymore. When they are outbidding the field for these big name guys, it doesn't jive with me. Good for them though.

A Christmas Memo to Theo and the Trio .......

Please, please, and please ..... do not give the Nation a TEX present this Christmas. He has proved that he is all about the money. Eight years is too long a contract for a Boras client. Have you forgotten how it all ended with a much superior talent? Give the $$$$ to the youngsters and Jason Bay.

Has anyone noticed he hasn't helped the winning percentage of any team he has been on? Also, he was been traded, TWICE (original credit to pinckney). GO Nationals!

Are they for real? How many losing seasons before Tex starts bitching and they decide that the deal is too rich for them and they are forced to trade him to the Yankee's?

Teixiera is good, not great. I don't think he is a game changing. The money he is asking is way too much. I say the Sox stay put at $168M. If other teams want to over bid, good luck. Cabrera had better numbers then Teixiera last year and that didn't help Detroit. Even A-Rod can't get the Yankees into the World Series.

The only problem is what happens when Teixeira chooses another club and Lowell realizes how disparaged he has been the last two months (another Nomar situation). His ego must be bruised. I wouldn't be suprised if he asks out of here before this is all said and done. We better hope we get Teixiera.

starting to smell like A-Rod to Texas...he'll be wanting out in three years

As a Nats season ticket holder I have to say I am rooting for every team BUT the Nats in the "Tex" sweepstakes. I have no problem breakign the bank for amazing players but I just don't see where this guy is worth the numbers that have been talked about. Just one fans opinion.

As a Nats season ticket holder I have to say I am rooting for every team BUT the Nats in the "Tex" sweepstakes. I have no problem breakign the bank for amazing players but I just don't see where this guy is worth the numbers that have been talked about. Just one fans opinion.

I'm getting sick of this guy. Take your extra 1.5 million a year and go play for a bad team. This has been dragged out way too long.

Cue the O Jays song.

Commiting this much money and years to just one player will limit any flexibility the Sox will have in the future. Theo knows the way. Say good bye to Tex and wish him good luck in making the playoffs for the next eight years of his contract. No playoffs for the Nats but at least Tex and Boras will keep warm counting their money.

Teix, please take this offer! A .308 career-high is not worth Manny money or years to the Red Sox, sorry. We have good corner infielders, payroll flexibility with short years, and a power hitter in our league-best player-development system. Please go! Please!

agentpinckney
You know nothing about Mark Texeira's character. He is considering his options just like he has every right to do. From all I hear about him he is a mild mannered family man. Why is it that some of you supposed fans think that every player should want to play for the Red Sox so bad that they should take less money to do so. Look where that got Mike Lowell if the Red Sox do indeed sign Texeira. Look at all the good it did Bronson Arroyo. You're ridiculous.

I'm a DC resident and I can assure that the Nats won't be around long enough in DC for Tex to see the end of this contract. When the time comes, MLB is going to move the Nats to Vegas or Charlotte.

"You've already shown Red Sox fans your true character by choosing Boras. It's all about the money. "

Agentpinckney,
Is Daisuke a greedy a-hole for hiring Boras? How about Varitek? Are those guys "all about the money" as well, or do you give them a home-town discount when it comes to judging their morality?

this drama is reminiscent of 'same ole same ole', but with twist..."teixeira just being teixeira".....deja vu??

Tex is a fool if he signs with the Nats. He has a choice between the Sox, Yanks, and Angels. If he wants an intense atmosphere he should choose Boston. If he wants laid back he should choose LA. If he wants intense but not to be the #1 story he should choose NY. Any of the three would give him a decent chance to win and to pad his stats much more than any NL team also he could occasionally DH. The money will likely be similar so that he will not notice the difference.

I think the Sox should outbid the Nats for Teix. They can afford it and there is not a free agent hitter as good as Teix available next year. The Sox farm system does not really have any power hitters in it. Not sure how much power Lars Anderson will develop. $23M or $24M per year is a lot now, but will it be half way through an 8 year deal? I say the Sox can afford Teix and he IS needed.

Mark Teixeira belongs in that hell of sub-mediocrity called Washington Nationals baseball. Go get 'em, Mark! I hope you'll be happy with all your money.

I agree with the others. Use less than a third of that money to sign someone who is good and wants to play in Boston. Bring Lowe back. The Red Sox will score some runs and could use some frontline starting pitching.

Thom Loverro of the Wash Times says there will be an official announcement today regarding Tex's decision.

if Tex signs with the Nats, then he is a total joke

Mark my words: if Teixeira chooses the Nationals he WILL demand a trade before his contract is up unless there is an "opt-out" clause around Year 3. A-Rod's mistake in Texas all over again?

Yes it's all about the money. Even though the Nationals play an hour from where this kid grew up and their offer is significantly LOWER than the offer of $200 million reportedly made by the Red Sox. John Henry, Theo Epstein and Larry Lucchino didn't all fly to Texas just to play bluff and feint with Scott Boras. Most likely they went to speak with Teixeira personally and to reassure him that he would have a bright future with a winning organization in Boston. And for whatever reason Teixiera had other ideas. End of story.

This is starting to remind me of the Arod lust. Thank God the Players Union nixed that deal. Tex is no way worth this kind of money. I'll take Youk and Lowell over him any day. Take a look at his numbers compared to Youk. They are not that far apart. Would you pay Youk $20-28 mil? It will be tough to keep Youk if this lunicy keeps up.

Yes, I do believe you can equate a player's choice of agent with his character. I don't want to hear about what a great character guy Varitek is, either. He's always been about the money, too. Anyone who chooses a sleazebag like Boras isn't anyone I'd want on my team. It isn't bad enough that, like all attorneys including Theo, Boras is a lier by trade. He even lies to his own clients in order to get them to accept more money, meaning more commission for him. Boras lies about higher offers even when a team is willing to pay top dollar. What a greedy, scumbag, degenerate parasitical piece of human garbage.

Please, go to the Nats. All this talk of charactor, and a great clubhouse guy. That's why this primadonna is going to his 4 team arleady? Youk and Lowell and Bay and Drew and Poppy, Pedey and the rest of the cast are enough to carry us to the WS. Good pitching beats good hitting every time. Get us middle relief and we are good to go. How many rings does ARod have? And dont forget, Pedroi is now the standard bearer of contracts. Got it done, period. That's a clubhouse guy.

I would take Lowell and Youk any day. I know Lowell is beginning to show his age but he still has heart and gives 100% of whatever he can. Obviously Texeira has sold his soul to the devil (Boras) and can only think of baseball like Manny and Tek. With the amount of zeros attached to there contract. Let them all go. We can find others who will get the Sox another ring at a much cheaper cost.

Who do you root for here? The dispicable greedy player, the disgusting agent, or the snot-nosed GM who pouted, quit and left Fenway in a gorilla suit? I can't stand any of these people...Congratulations to the Red Sox if they get this guy, they'll just raise ticket prices next year and stick it to the fans who are increasingly losing their jobs. John Henry won't take a personal loss, trust me.

Here's a news flash...John Henry, Theo Epstein, Scott Boras, and Mark Tiexeira don't care about any of us....I'll go watch a college game if I want to see a pure sporting event that isn't tainted by agents and owners.

I'm glad this will be over soon so we can go to Plan B if neccessary. No matter what, the Sox are committed to putting a great team on the field, and it will be interesting to see how they go about that if Teixiera decides to go to hell.

Everyone should agree that it is all about the money with Tex and Boras and you really cann't blame them for that because if someone is stupid enough to pay out that kind of money so be it. The only problem that I have with that is only rich people will be able to afford to bring their famlies to a game, not many people can afford to dish out anywhere from $300.00 -$400.00 to see a game especially the way the economy is going. Baseball will no longer be the game of the middle class, we'll be too busy paying for the auto bail-outs. The only way that this craziness can stop is if attendance drops overall in baseball and I don't see that happening because no matter how much you people are bitc---- out there, if you had a chance to see Tex play in a Red Sox uniform you would dole out the money. No one wants to watch a losing team and the Sox do need a big bat in the line up.
I don't want to see Tex in Boston either because I think that he would be bad for the team, they could see him as another Manny and what are we going to have, Tex being Tex? But when it all comes down, baseball is a business and Theo is going to put the best team possible on the field

wow espn says he just signed with the yankees. now what?

Yanks JUST signed him!

The Yankees got him...

Yanks JUST signed him!

Yanks JUST signed him!

The Yankees got him...wow what cash they are spending. They are hell bent on getting another Series win before the Sox do, that's for sure. This will make it all the sweeter when we beat them again...but the Sox must find another bat and besides Manny there isn't much out there..not sure we can hang with this besat of a team being built in NY if we don't find another big bat for the middle of the line up. I think if they don't come up with someone we wont be able to hang with them come September...any chance they ask Manny to come back or vice versa? Ya i know its crazy but we really do need him now....

"Here's a news flash...John Henry, Theo Epstein, Scott Boras, and Mark Tiexeira don't care about any of us....I'll go watch a college game if I want to see a pure sporting event that isn't tainted by agents and owners."

Hit it right on the nose. People are losing jobs at an alarming rate and there getting paid 150 million dollars to play a game I pay to play on my time off. I love the MLB but I am beginning to wonder why.