Heyman Takes Stock of the Mark Teixeira Situation
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman has a piece out today about impending free agent Mark Teixeira. The Braves 1st baseman is, of course, close to cashing in on a phat contract this offseason if he can stay healthy and put together a fine year. The inevitable payload will be a payoff for Teixeira after he risked a lot of cheddar by not signing a long-term extension (remember, he turned down an 8 year, $140M offer from the Rangers before they traded him), which was very likely a move made at the request of agent Scott Boras (who loves trying to fleece people). Here are some of the more interesting lines from Heyman’s piece:
- “Teixeira won’t name his price publicly. But someone who follows the markets and Boras predicts that the asking price could begin with ‘2’s” as in $20 million per year and $200 million toal.”
- “Three big-revenue teams should have openings at first base: the Yankees, Mets and Mariners, who appear to be nearing the end with Jason Giambi, Carlos Delgado and Richie Sexson, respectively. Call it the Teixeira Trifecta.”
- “One baseball executive who knows Teixeira well predicted, ‘No chance he stays (in Atlanta). He’s waited his whole life for this moment.””
- How about the hometown discount for his hometown Orioles? Says Teixeira, “I have family in Baltimore. But I have family in Georgia. And I have family in New York.” (In other words, show him the money, Baltimore.)
- Aside from the five teams already mentioned (Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Orioles and Braves), Heyman lists the Red Sox, Giants, Angels and Dodgers as possible suitors although I don’t see where he’d fit in with Boston, LAA or LAD.
In any event, and as we eluded to when we kicked off the Mark Teixeira rumors in December, it sounds like the switch hitting 1st baseman is ready to completely fleece someone this winter and may have great success in his quest. Stay tuned.
Filed under: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers
My money is on the Yankees and for two reasons.
1. I honestly think that they will miss the playoffs this season, which will spur Hank Steinbrenner into a spending spree.
2. Jason Giambi’s contract is up and he will be gone leaving 1st base wide open for Teixeira.
The Braves do still have a small chance to sign Tex, but they are not going to go beyond five or six years in contract length. Boras is rumored to want ten years and 200 million as a starting point in negotiations.
The Braves payroll is about to dump approximately 40 plus million off it’s ledgers after this season. So, they will have plenty of money to spend.
Somehow, I think the Braves are going to offer Tex arbitration, take the 1st and second round draft picks and wish him a great rest of his career in N.Y.
I’m with the Yankees getting Teixeira as well. They let the Mets get Johan, but they won’t let their crosstown rivals beat them out again, especially if they miss the playoffs (good call by Coach). And since we are only talking money and not giving up any prospects (other than a first round pick), Cashman won’t have much traction against the Hankster. As for the price, it is a little steep, but Teixeira has tremendous power, good plate discipline, an excellent glove (something that has proven to be a problem with the Yanks and Giambi, and the Mets and Delgado) and the only knock on him is he doesn’t have great speed (not a major issue with a firstbaseman). Look for Hank and the Yanks to poney up the cheddar during the off season.
This guy is with the Yanks next year regardless if it costs 30Mil a year. They will top anyone no matter. He’ll maybe hit 40-45 HR’s, .300 Avg and give them with A-Rod a 3-4 combo in line with the duo of Ortiz, Ramirez of Boston as the league’s best and maybe the best in years.
The Yankees will acquire C.C. Sabathia regardless of what happens. If the Bombers make the playoffs, the Mets will sign Teixeira. If not, then the Yankees will (along with Sabathia). That’s what the situation looks like right now. I think the Yankees will get both Big Tex and C.C., because there’s little chance they make the postseason this year.