More from CC and A.J. …
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- December
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Sam Borden just sent this to me. Lots of good info:
Brian Cashman gets (and deserves) a lot of credit for bringing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to the Yankees, but Johnny Damon may have been the Yankees’ biggest recruiter this winter. Amber Sabathia said that Johnny’s wife, Michelle, played a big part in convincing her it was possible to enjoy raising a family in the New York area.
The Damons spent their first two years with the Yanks living in Manhattan, but then moved to the New Jersey suburbs, and Michelle sold Amber on the suburban life.
“She said you’re going to love it,” Amber said. “The schools are good, the pediatricians are good, the supermarkets are good – it’s like a nice little place to live.”
The Sabathias have three kids – CC Jr., age 5; Jaden, age 3; and Cyia, 2-months – but Amber and CC plan to spend some time in Manhattan, too. Amber said their favorite restaurant is Tao – an Asian spot which serves some of the greatest sushi and fragrant duck in the city – and that she is “a Saks’ girl.”
Johnny D was also one of two Yankees to call Burnett (A-Rod was the other) during the offseason, and he gave Burnett the hard sell about coming to the Bronx. Cashman said that Damon – along with Derek Jeter and others – also bent his ear during the season about getting Burnett since he always gave the Yankees such a hard time whenever he pitched against them.
——————
The first serious conversation about the Yankees getting CC Sabathia didn’t happen this winter. It happened last offseason, when the Yanks were considering whether to trade for and then give an extension to Johan Santana. Knowing that Sabathia was going to be available, the Yanks decided not to give up prospects and money for Santana, and instead “take a gamble,” in Cashman’s words, on getting Sabathia for only money in free agency.
As it turned out, that long-term plan played a big part in Sabathia ultimately accepting the Yankees’ offer. At the final meeting Cashman and Sabathia had at Sabathia’s California home, Cashman laid out exactly how long Sabathia had been on the Yankees’ radar. He told Sabathia and his agents how the Yankees had been targeting him for over a year and explained the entire process behind their decision, in hopes it would show how committed the Yankees were to Sabathia.
“Ten minutes after he left, I called him to tell him I’m in,” Sabathia said. “That really meant a lot to me.”
—————-
Here’s the info on two things about Carsten Charles Sabthia that seem to get an excessive amount of attention: His weight and his initials.
First, Sabathia doesn’t seem bothered or embarrassed about being a big dude. When a reporter asked if anyone had ever tried to get him to lose weight on a previous team or if he felt he would want to do that, he smiled and said, “I work hard every day. I work out every day. In December and January, I do two-a-days.” Then he paused and said, “I look like this. I don’t think my physique is going to change.”
Joe Girardi vouched for Sabathia’s work ethic, saying he recalled a game earlier this year when the Yankees beat Sabathia, 1-0, in Cleveland on a Friday night. “I got the weight room Saturday morning at 9 a.m.,” Girardi said, “and he was already there.”
As for Sabathia’s initials, there was much debate over whether it should be “CC” or “C.C.” When he was asked about it yesterday, Sabathia spread his arms out wide and said, “Y’all do it however you want,” before laughing over what an issue it had become. “I don’t really care at all,” he said. And what does he write when he signs his name? “Carsten, if I have to write it,” he said. So there you go.
————–
Don’t look for either CC Sabathia or A.J. Burnett to participate in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Sabathia said he’s been approached and, while he hasn’t made an official decision, it seemed like he’s leaning towards sitting it out. “I want to get acclimated and be around my new teammates,” he said. Burnett said, “I have not been contacted but I’d say ‘no.’ … It’s a cool idea but it’s not for me.”
Both pitchers have some previous relationships with other Yankees. Burnett heard from A-Rod and Johnny Damon this winter and knows a number of other Yanks from playing against them with the Blue Jays, while Sabathia became friendly with Jorge Posada when both were on an offseason cruise run by Nike. Sabathia is also tight with Joba Chamberlain, who he says he saw out running in Cleveland during a series there, “and we stopped and talked for like 30 minutes.” The two exchanged numbers and have been close ever since. They even went out to eat together last week.
Burnett was also close with former Yankee (and forever American Idle) Carl Pavano. Burnett said he talked to Pavano before the last series the Blue Jays played at Yankee Stadium while the Idle was long-tossing along the third-base line. So did Pavano offer any worldly advice about how to be a true Yankee?
“I only listen to SOME things Carl says,” Burnett said as the room erupted with laughter. “Only some things.”
————–
The Yankees announced two big signings yesterday but there continues to be a lot of buzz about two other potential deals: One for Andy Pettitte and one for Manny Ramirez.
There wasn’t a whole lot of news on either of those fronts yesterday, with Brian Cashman saying, “Andy is a free agent. I know he’d like to be here and I know we’d like for him to be here.” Cashman did say that his visit to Houston wasn’t a “take-it-or-leave-it” trip to see Pettitte, but it seems clear the Yankees are prepared to move on from this situation either way. If Pettitte wants to stay, he’ll take the $10 million the Yanks are offering. If he doesn’t like that, the Yankees will go elsewhere and be just fine doing so.
As for Manny Being Manny, no one at the Stadium was taking the bait yesterday. Hal Steinbrenner was asked how realistic it was that Manny might end up in the Bronx, and he said, “As realistic as all of the other free agents because we’re looking at all of them.”
Steinbrenner and Cashman did both say that the Yankees don’t have an unlimited payroll, so that’s another factor to consider when dreaming about Manny (or Mark Teixeira). There also wasn’t much discussion about the Mike Cameron-for-Melky deal, which seems to be dead (though Sabathia did put in a plug for Cameron, who was his buddy in Milwaukee).
————
Great stuff by Sam and thanks to him.
I’ve told Sam what I’m telling you now: He has an open invite to post here about the Yankees any time he wants. As a former beat writer, Sam has great insight into the team and his input is welcome. In addition to what he brings to the table journalistically, he is a good friend and we’ve collaborated on some projects. So look for more from Sam here in the future.
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on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 9:24 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
I look forward to reading more of Sam’s posts and wish both of you a wonderful holiday season.
Looks like Tex is going to the Sawx. I just hope the Yankees brash don’t overreact to that and sign Manny.
Brass, that is.
great info Sam!
Excellent stuff. Cant get this info anywhere else. That is the point of sports journalism — to be the eyes and ears when others can not use their own.
Great info Pete…just to correct you, Sabathia lost to the Yankees 1-0 on a Sunday this past season, not a Friday night. It was part of a 4 game series, which concluded the following Monday, likely the day Girardi saw C.C. pumping iron.
Sam, Thanks for the info.
Great read. Thanks Pete and thanks Sam.
so we have
Swisher 33
Burnett 34
Marte 43
Sabathia 52
Eiland 58?
Why would Yankees focus on Manny? How about Blalock, Milledge, Hermida, Rasmus, Bruce? In two years the team core is gone or should be. That means Matsui, Damon, Posada, Nady, Rivera et al. How do you maintain your skill level during this time. They must start by replacing some OFs with young guns with high ceilings. What would a package of Aceves, Kennedy, Coke, Veras bring? Fangraphs made a good analysis that Manny and Crawford were the same overall player, Offense plus Defense. We don’t need Texiera or Manny. One too many years with two other monster contracts on board, the other too much baggage, too much prima donna.
Manny – Manny – Manny
Great reporting, Pete. Please pass along our thanks to Sam.
interesting AL East position by position breakdown by BP/YES writer Steven Goldman.
Part 1: http://pinstripedbible.mlblogs.....an_do.html
Nice read, this is what blogs are for
Part 2: http://pinstripedbible.mlblogs....._east.html
Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Petitte
Chamberlain
CF: Damon
SS: Jeter
DH: Matsui
3B: Rodriguez
LF: Dunn
RF: Nady
C: Posada
2B: Cano
1B: Swisher
You’re 2009 NYY Starting Lineups.
According to MLB, Hal also said:
“On the day the Yankees officially introduced their two biggest presents of the winter, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner would not rule out the possibility of adding Manny Ramirez to the club’s lineup before Spring Training begins.
“We just have to see about the amount we want to spend, Steinbrenner said. “No doubt he’s a great, great ballplayer. He’s one of the most dangerous offensive players in the game.”
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....s_nyy#_tab
“Joe Girardi vouched for Sabathia’s work ethic, saying he recalled a game earlier this year when the Yankees beat Sabathia, 1-0, in Cleveland on a Friday night. “I got the weight room Saturday morning at 9 a.m.,” Girardi said, “and he was already there.””
I saw that game on TV. Awesome game. CC took the loss even though he pitched 8 innings. The guy who beat him 1-0 was none other than our very own Wanger
(who himself had 9Ks on the night)
Who would you take? 8IP 1ER or 7IP 0ER? I’ll take both. It’s really awesome just thinking about how we now have three ace caliber guys.
Wang is not an Ace!
jennifer – What’s this?
He’s only as good as #2 or #3 for us…
Because we have too much pitching LOL
Great stuff – but they still can’t let Tex go to Boston – at least don’t overact by signing Manny – come on Angels at least do this right
Great job by Sam!
Has anyone found Hank Steinbrenner yet?
Maybe Selig should make the WBC coach pitch. I haven’t seen 1 starting pitcher say yes to participating.
damon is not a starting center fielder, people get this into your heads!!!
Thanks to both Pete and Sam. Great stuff.
If Mr. Borden posts on here, you might mention it so he isn’t confused with some of the jerks that like impersonating people.
Jen – where and when is this Mussina meet and greet?
AJ Burnett: “Another integral part to my decision making process was mel from the lohudyankee blog. She really showed me the love and I knew I’d be welcomed in NY with open arms.”
GB7,
Sam wouldn’t mingle with us common folk. He’d be posting new threads.
No offense to S.o.S., but keep going Garrard!
S.A.- CC+Wang=An Awesome 1 and 2
December 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Great job by Sam!
Has anyone found Hank Steinbrenner yet?
————————————————————
Is anybody actually looking for him? I haven’t seen his picture on a milk carton, yet.
The Yankee strategy is very simple. They do not want to enter the bidding, if at all, until all the players, if any, are in. If Tex goes with Boston, will the Angels enter the fray? If they do, will the Dodgers let him go to their neighboring rival? Let them bid against each other, if at all. Then the Yankees will gauge the final number, see if it’s within their ballpark, and swoop in, or not.
On the other hand, if the Angels get Tex (unlikely) or do not engage, the Yankees will wait until the “end” and decide what kind of deal they would do, and do it since Manny, most likely will have no reasonable alternative.
even though we lost the series and I know the final result if the game I could watch dame 4 of the 2001 world series every day(they are currently airing it in yes)
Peter Gammons is going to sound like Susan on the radio, when she screams ROGER CLEMENS IS BACK, if Boston signs Tex..lol
December 18th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
GB7,
Sam wouldn’t mingle with us common folk. He’d be posting new threads.
No offense to S.o.S., but keep going Garrard!
————————————————————
You mean YOU COMMON PEOPLE. I’m rare.
Tom-
Good article. At least I see the Yankees in the running for a playoff position. IMO Pettitte will come back to the Yankees, which as a lefty #4 should be fine. Of course if Smoltz were 100%, I’d take him.
Sounds like Teixeira will be a Red Sox. Look for an unhappy Mike Lowell-no place to play, and an unhappy Beckett who will want an expensive extension to mirror AJ’s salary.
If Ortiz can’t recover from his wrist injury, their lineup, even with Tex, will be no better than 2 years ago with the deadly duo of Manny and Ortiz.
Jennifer: please tell him that I’m giving Moose Bars as Christmas gifts to my Yankee fan relatives. And even to my Red Sox fan cousin (I also got him a Patriots AFC Champions t-shirt.
).
And tell him to keep making those Moose Bars!
Rob,
GB7,
:raspberry:
The Jags are eating up some serious clock. D-Fence!!!
Is anybody actually looking for him? I haven’t seen his picture on a milk carton, yet.
———————————————–
I thought I saw his picture on a pack of cigarettes.
Excellent Post, Pete.
Love little off-the-record gems like this.
mel
December 18th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
GB7,
:raspberry:
————————————————————
Well, I never….I mean I have, but….
I would trade Veras for Mike Lowell, then play him at 1st base.
We would then move Swisher to right, Damon to center, Nady to left.
Nick, if you’re willing to go the Ebay route, this is a great gift for the NE fan in your family.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-York-G.....dZViewItem
Wow Dallas Clark. Nice catch
S.A.- CC+Wang=An Awesome 1 and 2
December 18th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Is anybody actually looking for him? I haven’t seen his picture on a milk carton, yet.
———————————————————————-
I thought I saw his picture on a pack of cigarettes.
————————————————————
Well, he does get credit for at least smoking Marlboro Reds.
“We would then move Swisher to right, Damon to center, Nady to left.”
Why do people insist on trying to put Damon in CF? Have you ever seen a game with Damon in CF? The guy can’t throw!!! A couple of games last year, he couldn’t catch either. Leave him in LF.
We need to extend Damon for all the work he did this off-season. You can tell how badly he wants to win.
Give Damon a 2 yr extension.
In a city where some consider Lupica a big deal, it’s nothing short of a pleasure to read a writer like Sam. He keeps his ego in check and still manages to give us the news with style. For my money, Pete Abe and Sam are the real deal.
“Well, he does get credit for at least smoking Marlboro Reds.”
I miss smoking…
Ha, Tom, I might have gotten him that if I’d known about it. But the AFC Championship shirt will be fine for him. It’s good to celebrate true achievement.
From Sam’s Article
CC
“Ten minutes after he left my house, I looked at my wife and said, ‘I’m going to be a Yankee,’” Sabathia said. “I still get chills saying that”
Tex I have a question for you- what team would give you the chills to sign with?
“Has anyone found Hank Steinbrenner yet?”
I didn’t know that anyone was looking for him. Leave Hank where he is.
“In a city where some consider Lupica a big deal, it’s nothing short of a pleasure to read a writer like Sam. He keeps his ego in check and still manages to give us the news with style. For my money, Pete Abe and Sam are the real deal.” — Murphydog
That’s just one testimonial from a real person! For just pennies on the day you too could be reading the Journal News!
lol sorry murphy, you opened yourself up.
I want to hear Tex say, “And ten days after my agent hung up on him, I looked at my wife and said ‘I’m going to be a National.’”
why is there always the inevitable BS that the player’s decision was not solely about the money? like anyone w/$160 million gonna have a hard time finding a good school or a pediatrician.
i’m fine w/CC wanting the most dough. who wouldn’t? it just cracks me up that this BS occurs after almost every single FA signing.
So much for a Red Sox/Teixeira deal being immanent.
Courtesy of MLB Rumor Uncontrollable.
8:38pm: The Red Sox “aren’t close to getting a deal done” with Teixeira according to an updated report by Dan Roche of WBZTV.
8:34pm: When asked whether the Angels might improve their offer to Teixeira, Tony Reagins simply repeated that he had already made him a “fair offer.”
Well according to sources the Red Sox meeting will not land Tex just yet. Also I’m going to say this again no chance that the Nationals or Angels bow out now. A Boras player w/ multiple interest com’on.
Lowell has no trade protection. He could make things tough on Theo if he wanted to. Ortiz has no such protection. Hmmm.
the Nationals have the highest offer right now right?
Joe- I am a member of Mussina’s fan club. Every Jan he has a Meet and Greet dinner. I got my tickets today.
Tom, this is the shirt for me:
http://tinyurl.com/3uohxl
I think everyone would be shocked if Tex didnt end up with Boston.
Hey I’m really not affected by the Tex talks not after hearing CC and AJ today. So Tex goes to Boston, As of now NYY rotation CC, AJ, (maybe Wang):lol: Sheets ?, Joba.
3-4 runs could be the game.
Nick– The first Giants game at our place I saw a guy selling shirts in the parking lot… “TO sucks, Romo swallows!” in blue and red
george
December 18th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
why is there always the inevitable BS that the player’s decision was not solely about the money? like anyone w/$160 million gonna have a hard time finding a good school or a pediatrician.
i’m fine w/CC wanting the most dough. who wouldn’t? it just cracks me up that this BS occurs after almost every single FA signing.
————————————————————
This only proves that Attention Deficit Disorder is no myth.
Both said that the money played a part in their decisions.
first Giants-Cowboys *
Nick- I am going to buy some.
does anyone notice, how the sox are pooring money at tex, and its a good move.. but yanks buy cc and aj and theyre cheaters..lol
And we thought it was the 161 million!
“When general manager Brian Cashman flew to meet with the Sabathia family, he mentioned the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Amber asked if they could attend if her husband joined the Yankees. Cashman said they could have front-row seats, and Amber said: “I was sold right there.”
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....5141.story
This one is pretty good too:
http://tinyurl.com/46djot
Aaron(the better Aaron)
We are also the “Evil Empire” while the Soxs are fiscally responsible.
I think the Yankees should use the “evil empire” as a marketing tool. Although to buy the rights to use it on shirts, would probably be very expensive. Unless they agree to split the proceeds. I would buy a shirt.
That elephant in the corner
http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2.....ld-adam-be
pat- I can probably get them sky box seats. I’m sure I know someone who works on Broadway. maybe they can get my box seats at the new stadium.
Is there any doubt that Peyton leads the Colts on a game winning drive.
pat
December 18th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
And we thought it was the 161 million!
“When general manager Brian Cashman flew to meet with the Sabathia family, he mentioned the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Amber asked if they could attend if her husband joined the Yankees. Cashman said they could have front-row seats, and Amber said: “I was sold right there.”
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....5141.story
============================================================
Cashman didn’t promise Sabathia at he could be a float or balloon in the next 7 Macy’s Parades, did he?
That last shirt is great, Nick.
“does anyone notice, how the sox are pooring money at tex, and its a good move.. but yanks buy cc and aj and theyre cheaters..lol”
Actually I’m interested in how the reaction after the CC + AJ press conference pushed this meeting w/ Tex. It tells me some people in Boston are scared.
Here comes the Colts
“It tells me some people in Boston are scared.”
trying to steal the Yank’s thunder.
Baret,
I hope not, unless the float is made from marble.
GB7
I thought of the float/balloon joke but it was too easy so I refrained.
If they get tex and we got manny.. what a series that would be . honestly.
This is a GREAT football game
Most of the NFL Network games have been excellent- Broncos-Browns, Jets-Pats, Saints-Bears
Too bad most of the country can’t see them.
Will CC show up at Bucks/Knicks at the Garden tomorrow night?
Pat, I didn’t have enough control to refrain from the cheap joke.
Don
December 18th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Will CC show up at Bucks/Knicks at the Garden tomorrow night?
——————————-
He can come for free if he brings Lebron.
i think cc will be at the Knicks game
What a great Yankee holiday present it would be if a miracle occurred and Teixeira was steered to the Nationals and Manny resigned with the Dodgers!!!!!!!!
“Sabathia is also tight with Joba Chamberlain… They even went out to eat together last week.”
I hope the restaurant put on extra staff!
Does anyone have a link to some CC and AJ pics at the new stadium???
Another cheap Teixeira joke….errr….update.
9:16pm: Gordon Edes says Boston’s eight-year offer is more than $160MM but less than the $184MM figure Lynch mentioned. In a newer article, Edes talked to a Red Sox exec who called the idea of a $25MM salary for Tex “ridiculous.” This info gels with the Gammons/Olney suggestion of $22MM per year. Edes adds that it won’t be a “take it or leave it” type of meeting.
Edes says the Angels haven’t budged off their original offer, which is north of $160MM. The Nationals have been told by Boras that they’d have to pay extra.
I’m looking forward to the Subway Series
Santana vs. Sabathia
Burnett vs. Pelfrey
Wang vs. Lowe/Perez
Rivera vs. K-Rod
Melancon/Bruney vs. Putz
Marte vs. Feliciano
Yeh I don’t see Bowden pulling back he’s got this guy in his sight.
“Sabathia is also tight with Joba Chamberlain… They even went out to eat together last week.”
It got a little awkward when Joba said “You need a ride back to your hotel?”
and then who do you want to protect ARod in the line up YANKEE TRADER???
CC is a big NBA fan, he’ll be at a lot of Knicks/Nets games, like the Giants players are.
Ooops…no hometown discount. I thought that extortion was illegal.
The Nationals have been told by Boras that they’d have to pay extra.
So nice seeing Joba recruiting at such a young age and growing tight with top players so quickly.
The guy is going to be a staple of our team for a long time.
Yea but why the hell would Tex ever go to the Nats? Even if the offered 20 million more. I just feel like he is a lock to end up in Boston.
Aaron(after Hank, but my dad and I are Yankee fans.)
December 18th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
and then who do you want to protect ARod in the line up YANKEE TRADER???
——————
Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Xavier Nady. Not a bad bunch of guys.
This is all such a crock of crap, the ultimate reason why these guys are here is that we paid them more money than they would have gotten anywhere else.
“It got a little awkward when Joba said “You need a ride back to your hotel?” ”
Nick, you are SOOOOO bad!!
Something strange I heard on the radio tonight. The mets announced today that the closing would be 70/30 Krod. I mean what in the world!?!! I thought Krod was their closer. Why state something like that. I think it is pretty obvious that if Krod needed a day off, they’d have JJ close. But why say that?
Brandon-
“Actually I’m interested in how the reaction after the CC + AJ press conference pushed this meeting w/ Tex. It tells me some people in Boston are scared.”
As much as I’d like to see Tex sign with the Yankees, and I think he’d prefer the Yanks, unless he tells Boras to get it done, even if it means less years and therefore less money, I don’t want to get my hopes up that he’ll be at the next Yankee News conference, saying “Don Mattingly was my idol growing up and I want to carry on the great Yankee traditin.”
Rodriguez doesn’t need protection. He only needs help carrying the load.
“This is all such a crock of crap, the ultimate reason why these guys are here is that we paid them more money than they would have gotten anywhere else.”
AJ was on Francessa and said that money did play a role in his decision, but what was also important to him was having a chance to win every year. I believe him. I’m sure that was in CC’s mind as well. Trust me, if the Nationals had offered CC $160mil, he probably would have turned it down.
can we put some kind of clause in pettitte’s contract saying that if he doesn’t have it next year and pitches poorly, then he has to retire or something?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ga.....sXFv8RvLYF
He was there late!!
“I think it is pretty obvious that if Krod needed a day off, they’d have JJ close. But why say that?”
Perhaps it was to make Putz feel better. Wasn’t it reported that he wasn’t happy about not closing? Hearing them say it out loud might be something they did to soothe his ego.
Jennifer-
Agree, why say that, but I believe Putz is not too happy being a set-up pitcher when so many other teams need a closer.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ga.....k_yank%3A1
Damn cc works quick. He already has stuff in his locker!
“This is all such a crock of crap, the ultimate reason why these guys are here is that we paid them more money than they would have gotten anywhere else.”
What’s your point ?
Laura- But it will tick off Krod. You can count on that.
The Knicks play the Lakers (CC’s favorite team), Cavs (LeBron his good buddy), and Celtics (world champs/hated Boston team) at home consecutively a week before pitchers and catchers report… CC will be at all those games I’d imagine.
CC should go to the Knicks game. We need to start stage 1 of the wooing of LeBron.
actually more like stage 2
Jennifer, pic 27 is funny. Hal looks like CC just “goosed” him
So CC + AJ = First players in the new digs ?
CC installed a microwave in his locker, where the laptop was supposed to go.
Rob NY — 2009 The Road to Redemption December 18th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Aaron(after Hank, but my dad and I are Yankee fans.)
December 18th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
and then who do you want to protect ARod in the line up YANKEE TRADER???
—————————
Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Xavier Nady. Not a bad bunch of guys.
Then next year? Your relying on Posada who had arm surgery, and matsui with 2 bad knees.. Id still rather have Manny and AROD. im sure it would suck being a pitcher on the mount facing manny and you look in the on deck circle and arod.. come on. people arent affraid of matsui, he grounds into to many double plays and posada is not the old posada.. we need manny
“Laura- But it will tick off Krod. You can count on that.”
K-Rod is a major tool. I hope it did tick him off. I’m counting the days until I can watch him blow his first of many blown saves.
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/.....nyy117.jpg
I know bro, I know.
Brandon, I think so.
All the players got a tour last year, but AJ/CC are the only ones to see it recently this off-season.
CC looks like a happy go lucky guy. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing many shots of him laughing it up in the dugout during games (that the Yankees are winning, of course).
The ultimate Teixeira shocker from MBL Rumor Control
9:58pm: Red Sox owner John Henry said:
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Wow. From favorites to out of the bidding
Laura- Me too, Me too! I also want to read all the same idiots who criticized Joba for his celebration, criticize Krod for his antics on the mound.
Also if the Mets thought the Marlins, and others were ticked off with Joses antics, wait till they get a load of the garbage that Krod pulls. They’ll never make the playoffs cause they will all always be up to play against them.
9:58pm: Red Sox owner John Henry said:
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Hey Brandon looks like the Nationals may ACTuALLY get their man lol or maybe it’s the Angels?
“What a great Yankee holiday present it would be if a miracle occurred and Teixeira was steered to the Nationals and Manny resigned with the Dodgers!!!!!!!!”
Now that sounds good to me. Manny is a beast, but signing him sends a terrible message to the team, IMO.
GreenBeret7
Ain’t that great!!
Laura agreed- He is always laughing, AJ too. He looks like someone who will pull pranks. We need people to keep the clubhouse loose.
Well..
***********************************************
9:58pm: Red Sox owner John Henry said:
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Wow. From favorites to out of the bidding.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
Two writers posting…sweet!
yea but Tex might not really have the kind of deals he is saying. It might just be his way of making the Sox go up a few million.
GAH! Already posted. Me bad!
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Oh please… this is like Hank saying “It’s goodbye” to A-Rod.
Just a negotiation ploy by Henry.
The big question now is WHO IS IT?
That Teixeira/Boston thing blows me away…unbelievable. The Angels said they weren’t going any higher…what kind of an idiot would take the money from Washington? What can you buy with $200 million that you can’t buy with $180 million?
Tim- The same kind of idiot who took 200 million from Texas?
Wait… the Red Sox had the highest offer on the table, didn’t they?
The O’s were out of the bidding and the Angels were in the 8/$160 area. And I doubt the Nats bid was SO high that it made the Sox drop out of the race.
Was there a mystery team or teams?
Negotiations are a process, and this is part of it.
Its all part of the game when its all said and done he will be in boston.
Drain003
December 18th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Oh please… this is like Hank saying “It’s goodbye” to A-Rod.
Just a negotiation ploy by Henry.
————————————————————
What would Boston gain by saying they were dropping out? Nothing. If they had the high bid, it’s over.
Oh yeah. But hey, he turned it into $300 million.
Washington had to have hit the 200 million mark.
This is either the Sox calling Boras’ bluff, or they’re trying to get him to take a discount (relatively).
You know I keep thinking about Tex and I know he is a true believer in the God of Boras but you would think that after having been in Texas with Arod when that team had to give all that money just to one player you would think that he would have picked something up from that experience and would see thw Nationals s they same type of deal where he would take up so much of their money they dont have anything to spend on anyone else.
“Actually I’m interested in how the reaction after the CC + AJ press conference pushed this meeting w/ Tex. It tells me some people in Boston are scared.”
Brandon, I have no problem at all in admitting that I am worried about the Yankees this next season. You guys just added two of the best pitchers in baseball to your rotation!!
I do think the suggestion by another poster that the Sox are attempting to steal the thunder from the Yankees is somewhat comical. The Sox are just trying to get the deal done and Tex said a few weeks ago that he wanted to know where he was going before Christmas.
I don’t believe this at all. Henry is playing hardball with Boras because he is frustrated that they couldn’t close this out tonight. Boras probably said that he’ll get back to them and Henry doesn’t want to get “Frucalled”.
They probably gave him a take it or leave it offer, atleast made it publicly appear that way. I don’t believe it though.
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Don’t fall for it. They are trying to pull a Cashman and go stealth.
Amazing job Sam and Peter.
This is a real complete look at the press conference with me having to read 100 different articles in 5 different papers to see which writers had unique quotes.
Thanks a bunch
This is Henry’s statement to the media (more than one in emails).
Henry: ‘We are not going to be a factor’ for Teixeira
December 18, 2008 10:46 PM
Red Sox owner John Henry just e-mailed several media members with a stunning twist in the team’s pursuit of free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Henry’s words: “We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Earlier tonight, multiple news outlets reported the Red Sox had traveled to Texas to meet with Teixeira and his agent, Scott Boras, in the hopes of trying to finalize a deal. WCVB-TV Channel 5 reported that the Red Sox had offered Teixeira an eight-year deal worth $184 million (an average of $23 million per season).
Five teams have been in the hunt for Teixeira to some extent — the Sox, Angels, Yankees, Orioles, and Nationals — and all indications had been pointing to the Red Sox as the frontrunners.
hmm yeah…PS3 is my friend! I’m already starting the 2009 season with CC and AJ!!
CC’s opening day line: 4 hits, 9 Ks, gave up 1 hr
oh yeah, Brett Gardner hit his first major league homer off Roy Halladay.
Somewhere, Peter Gammons sobs alone…
Tex wants the Yankees, but they don’t want him.
Poor thing.
wonder, if Teixeira would pull a Beltran?
Tom December 18th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Somewhere, Peter Gammons sobs alone…
——
So that was the weeping sound I just heard.
If this is true (and lets not jump to any conclusions yet), then one of two things happened.
A. The Nationals put in a monster bid, $220 mil or something. Too much money for the Sox to up their offer and too much for Boras to take a discount. It had to be a massive number to discourage Boston that much.
B. The Yankees entered the bidding seriously in some capacity (match or in the general area of Boston’s bid) where Teix said he wanted to come here at a discount and Boras relayed this info to Boston and told them to up their offer and they refused.
“CC’s opening day line: 4 hits, 9 Ks, gave up 1 hr ”
BOOOOOOOOOO!! TRADE THE BUM!!!
“oh yeah, Brett Gardner hit his first major league homer off Roy Halladay. ”
HE’S BETTER THAN ELLSBURY AND HANLEY RAMIREZ!!!1!!!
lol
Come on yanks get tex.
ed-
I was thinking about that myself. What if he said I have 8/160 I’ll got to you for 150. Do the Yankees pounce?
There are only 2 teams involved at the point .. one is an east coast team .. and it is not the O’s or wash.. and one is a west coast team .. they have a halo..
too bad you can read all post by a specific user here.
Henry’s statement is such BS. He is just crying like a baby because they went to Texas and obviously thought they would get a deal done and they didn’t. They are just trying to say to Boras make a decision or we are making our pulling out known to the media to hurt your leverage. That only gives Boras the Angels as a real team involved. I expect Tex to go to Boston but I really hope that the Angels get him.
typing while laying in bed is hard. :/
“too bad you can read all post by a specific user here.”
If that is supposed to be ‘cant’ you actually can. ctrl F and put in the user you’re looking to read. I do it sometimes when I want to catch the highlights of a thread I haven’t been around for.
“What would Boston gain by saying they were dropping out? Nothing. If they had the high bid, it’s over.”
The only thing I can think of is that they are convinced that he wants to play for them – or that at least he does not want to play for whatever team has the high bid (nationals?) and they are trying to call his bluff.
They went through absurd negotiations with Boras over dice-k and it took one twist after another but they did hold firm and I think at times said the negotiations were over.
I don’t think that’s likely but that’s the only thing I can think of.
But from what he says it sounds like Boras is claiming Tex has his 10yr/200M offer.
Two days ago it seemed odd that Henry would be so public in stating boston would not offer Tex 10 years under any circumstances.
Henry is calling Boston’s bluff
Don’t get too excited. Henry never said they were drooping out of the bidding. Notice the words “it appears that…”
Vin,
LOL hahahahas..
jennifer,
18.75 a year? shoot, the Stein bros better know that if signing Teixeira would seriously derail the Sox. Teix signing with the Yanks would be his dream come out, its the position where his idol once played.
Mrs. Tex doesn’t want to move to Boston either.
I’ve been saying all week, don’t rule out the hush-hush yankees.
“There are only 2 teams involved at the point .. one is an east coast team .. and it is not the O’s or wash.. and one is a west coast team .. they have a halo..
too bad you can read all post by a specific user here.”
It is a well known fact that since Monday, Jim Bowden has told his front office by any means when it comes to Tex. It’s got to be Washington, they are the close to home team w/ the owner that is finally ready to spend the bucks, The Angels top bid is said to be 160 – 180 The Nats since the offseason have been rumored to go 200+.
Um, does this mean they’ll have to dub something over the ipcoming Peter Gammons report on how the Red Sox are closing in the guy they’ve brilliantly targeted all along?
Tom
December 18th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Somewhere, Peter Gammons sobs alone…
————————————————————
Trust me, Tom…there’s an entire Nation that’s slinging snot over this one.
Follow-up question: will Gammons be able to get it together enough to do the dubbing himself, or will be seeing the face of Gammons with the voice of Rachel Nichols?
ed- I just threw a number out there, I didn’t calculate the per year.
ED-
“I wonder what Teixeira said to them?”
Not exact quote, but probably close enough.
“Do you remember screwing me by giving me a lowball offer out of high school, and when I wouldn’t accept it, you told the other teams I was unsignable and going to Georgia Tech, making me fall to the 9th round. Well I just wanted to see your faces, when I am about to tell you-NO DEAL!”
Henery is frustrated because they flew down to Texas to try and wrap this up. Boras probably led them to believe they could ice this negotiation and had them fly out there.
Some team must have put in a bid recently that made Boras put the negotiation on hold for now. That probably angered Henry because they flew out there with an imminent deal and Boras probably told them he would get back to them.
Basically, it looks like Henry was “Frucal’d”. You don’t fly out to Texas for nothing, Boras must have led them on.
Knowing Boras he probably let Boston see and talk to Tex for a few minutes. Then he turned over the price tag around Tex’s neck and said….ok $200m move it or lose it. He definitely told them that he has a $200m offer on the table and they need to top that. Cash please call Boras!! Would it really hurt for the Yanks to make a low offer…
Or Boras is bluffing and Henry just called his bluff.
Well, let’s hope Tex calls *their* bluff.
Maybe Boras shopped their offer sheet. Maybe they had a back room deal. How would that feel -Drew- Theo? Or maybe, just maybe Tex was watching the Yankees press conference on the telly. Hmmm….
jennifer & yankee trader,
LOL
Giants should draft Tyler Hansbrough for a Tight End
I hope the yanks sign tex just to see a gammons snuff film on espn…
Wait,… Is that Brian Cashman’s music?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn_95hdy6Nw
/Gorilla Monsoon’d
Did I miss something?
Did Henry say they were dropping out of the bidding and their pursuit was over? Did they say they pulled their offer and moving on like the Braves did for Peavy?
Saying “It appears we won’t be a factor” is such an open statement and nothing conclusive. Nothing that a phone call from Boras won’t cure. Boston needs this guy badly. They put all their eggs in his basket, they are not walking away from the negotiation this quickly.
It may not be the money aspect. The “Experts” up here in “the nation” have been claiming that Tex wants an opt out clause and Theo won’t ever give one. So it might be that or a combination of a that plus years/money.
I wonder if the soxs flew their private jet out there. After all the evil empire gm flew commercial.
notice he said offer(s).
Boras is pulling his usual salesmanship stunts and people are really tired of it.
Boras said .. we have other offers for N if you meet this number you can have him..
henry did what is called in sales “the takeaway”. and trust me, Boras has a counter for that as well
unless there is something truly magical that no one knows about.
Hilarious Yankee Trader. Hilarious!
question.
is our pitching better than the red sox?
cc-becket
wang-lester
burnett-dice
pettitte-wake
joba-masterson/bowden/buchholz
i think we have a slight edge but i think boston is strengthening their club to cobat our signings.
i don’t think we have enough of a pitching advantage & if they get tex they will by far have the best offense in baseball,not even close.
the red sox(won w.s.) in 07 were 2nd in era & 4th in offense,the phillies(won w.s.) in 08 were 6th in era & 8th in offense,cardinals(won w.s.) in 06 were 14th in offense & 16th in offense,05 white sox(won w.s.) were 3rd in era & 13th in offense.
our offense scares me.
we now no doubt need a different cf.
Fire Meachum
It is already done, you can change your name.
“Or maybe, just maybe Tex was watching the Yankees press conference on the telly.”
He heard Alpine, NJ is the place to be!
Tom,
We’ll give Tex an opt-out. We hand those out like Halloween candy.
I’d want an opt-out if I were going to Boston, too. Their players don’t leave the organization too happy. They’re pretty crappy as employers.
Yahoo’s David Brown take on Rocco Baldelli and the Yanks:
OK, so a certain prediction from a certain someone about how poorly the Bronx will do in free agency appears to have been sorely mistaken. **Apparently, they can get folks to sign in New York.** So, why not Baldelli, who is theoretically a big upgrade on Melky Cabrera, and is much younger than Mike Cameron?
http://tinyurl.com/4ejfet
————
…..I know he’s talking about the $$ of convincing.
Many people argued that if the team could only sign one guy they should sign Tex rather than CC.
But they never had the choice to practically make offers to both CC and Tex.
The strategy of targeting Tex would have meant passing on CC and putting all of your eggs in the basket of signing Tex.
And that’s never a good thing with a Boras guy.
I’m not buying the Sox are truly out of this – Henry actively and publicly acting this way is geared towards sending a message.
But if Tex does somehow wind up with the Nats or O’s then the Angels and Red Sox will have had terrible Winters – the Angels in particular as they probably could have signed CC.
Missing out on Tex has massive opportunity cost for the Angels – that cost was potentially CC and then having the freedom to trade Saunder, Weaver or Santana for a young bat.
Signing Tex was optimal for them – but not getting him was a huge potential risk and took them out of play for CC.
I don’t think the sox were ever serious about giving Santana or CC or any pitcher a long term deal.
But if the Sox had decided to go after CC and signed him – this division was 100% over and so too was likely was the world series.
Short term – they sign CC and that’s the ball game.
Dealing with Boras is completely unpredictable.
I want to know what person in NY, didn’t know CC was going to be a Yankee.
sox out of running for tex
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....re_no.html
Aprapos of nothing, I saw Reggie Jackson smoking a cigarette by himself tonight on 61st and Park
Was John Henry referring to the Thanksgiving Parade ticket offers?
shapeshifter- Did you thank him?
Tex is waiting for the Yankees to un-retire #23 with Donnie’s blessing.. and then he said he’ll take the gamble for 1,000,000 quick picks at the beginning of the season (NY lotto only)
jennifer
December 18th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I wonder if the soxs flew their private jet out there. After all the evil empire gm flew commercial.
————————————————————
If Henry hadn’t tried to impress Teixeira with his plane and buying all of that fuel, he’d have enough money left on his credit card to buy Teixeira.
Why do people care so much about Peter Gammons?
He has a close relationship with that organization and roots for them.
Move on, already. Big deal.
I’m unclear on how Henry’s comments would work as a negotiation ploy. If the RS’s offer was lower than the other teams’ offers, wouldn’t it be better for him to say,
“We’ve made him a great offer, and although it may not be as much money as other teams are offering, we think the combination of financial and non-financial incentives makes our offer the best.” What’s the point of saying, in effect, “gee, these other clubs are really ponying up the dough. Looks like we’re out of it”?
Why would anyone care about people joking about Peter Gammons?
It was outside of the Regency Hotel…
Teix headed to the Bronx after all…
Complete fantasy or possible reality?
The Angels are closing in on a three year deal to resign Juan Rivera…
Talking to the CHW for Jermaine Dye..
Free Agents like Bobby Abreu and Manny Ramirez(definitely Halo-bound)
The Nationals offer peaked at 8 years $160 mil…
If it is true that Boston has bowed out, this doesn’t leave much options left for Bora$$ to play with..
How many other teams out there could up the ante?
I think it would be mildly funny to hear he is signing with the Yanks. Pure entertainment…
” He has a close relationship with that organization and roots for them.
Move on, already. Big deal. ”
Because he is a Red Sox public relations consultant masquerading as an ESPN national analyst. He clearly isn’t neutral.
Nick-
Viper is Peter Gammons!
Nick-
Viper is Peter Gammons!
Gammons looks like he always has medicine-breath
We joke because we love.
We’re showing Peter Gammons lots of love.
Nobody ever jokes about Doris Kearns Goodwin.
The replay of the press conference is on YES
http://cbs4.com/sports/Mark.Te.....mp=AFC-Sou
hysterical:
especially at the bottom where it says “Toronto Orioles”. hah!
“sox out of running for tex”
That is not what it says at all
Boras always ticks off owners, just like he did Hank/Hal for the A-Rod saga. Even teams that are willing to pay the premium somehow managed to get infuriated by Boras.
Cooler heads will prevail tomorrow and the deal will resume.
Yankee Trader Your tex comments post is the best post I have read since we signed CC and AJ. Its funny and probaly true. I realy do believe he wants to come to the Yankees. Some one needs to get Mattingly his phone number. Then we will definitely get a discount. You know Tex is very aware of the Pitching staff we have now. Its that old saying if you cant beat them JOIN THEM.
If it’s a staredown contest, the Sox will lose. Tex won’t sell out Boras.
The Sox either raise their offer or they will be out.
Still don’t think they are “out” yet. However, they leaked all this “we are close” stuff to the Globe and Gammons tonight thinking they would finalize the deal tonight.
Scott strikes again! LOL
Viper
December 18th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Why do people care so much about Peter Gammons?
He has a close relationship with that organization and roots for them.
Move on, already. Big deal.
————————————————————
Because he’s on a national/worldwide media outlet and is supposed to at least show a modicum of impartiality. He hasn’t even tried for 15 years and neither has anybody else on ESPN.
“What’s the point of saying, in effect, “gee, these other clubs are really ponying up the dough. Looks like we’re out of it”?”
The point would be that Henry think Boras is simply lying about those other offers.
The point would be that Henry believes that Boston has the high offer or an offer that is at least roughly equivalent to the others on the table and now Boras is trying to get Boston to bid against itself by fabricating “mystery last minute offers” as he always tries to say suddenly appear on the table.
And the point would be that Henry may think that Tex isn’t serious about playing for the Nationals if they even do have the high offer.
This would be Henry’s way of clearly saying to Boras that we will not engage in your game of getting us to bid against ourselves. His way of taking leverage back, especially if he thinks Tex wants to be on the Sox.
Some realtor from Alpine asked CC what team he plays for?
CC should have bodyslammed him
“vtred
December 18th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Some realtor from Alpine asked CC what team he plays for?”
Yep, thought he was coming in to replace Fred Robbins.
None of us truly know if the Yankees have put in an offer for Tex.
The beat writers and media have been wrong on this and other things like this before.
The Yankees & Cashman could have definitely made it clear to Boras that the Yankees will match the Red Sox offer in the end, so it’s up to Tex where he wants to play.
At the very least, the Yanks have to be in it to drive that price up as high as possible on Tex.
Henry is posturing and he’s using the media to do a couple of things; He’s trying to soften the blow to his fanbase and turn Tex and Boras into the bad guys if they sign somewhere else & he’s also sending a warning shot to Boras and Tex telling him they won’t be played.
The Red Sox have a media pipeline more biased and loyal than the Yankees. They use the media to tell their fans how to think about players and situations and the fans eat it up. They tell you who is a good guy and who is a bad guy. It’s that kind of arrogance that irks me about them. They think they’re smarter than everyone else.
Henry’s statement tells all the Boston fans “this guy is a greedy SOB so start hating him unless he comes here on our terms exactly…then love him unconditionally until we’re ready to run him out of town”…
That’s how they roll in Boston and with that kool aid drinking fanbase along with Gammons and ESPN they have no one willing to question them.
Doris Kearns Goodwin gets paid $40,000 – $50,000 for private speaking engagements.
Why would anyone make fun of her?
“Some realtor from Alpine asked CC what team he plays for?
CC should have bodyslammed him”
lol that would have been funny
Isn’t Mattingly employed by the Los Angeles of Los Angeles Dodgers?
This is Henry telling other teams to not drive up the price bidding against the Sox. It keeps the price status quo so they can get back in it later because Boras will call them before Tex puts pen to paper.
CB: Carl Pavano has made a pretty good living too.
DKG has made more mound appearances than Pavano however. Big baseball fan. Think she’s thrown a first pitch out at least once.
CC is going to be a STAR in NY.
The guy just has the type of personality that the fans and city will love. He will get a ton of endorsements and hang out with celebrities and get invited to a ton of parties/events. He’ll be like Jeter and A-Rod.
“the Sox are now all but conceding that Teixeira is headed elsewhere.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sp.....position=2
G. Love
December 18th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
The Red Sox have a media pipeline more biased and loyal than the Yankees. They use the media to tell their fans how to think about players and situations and the fans eat it up. They tell you who is a good guy and who is a bad guy. It’s that kind of arrogance that irks me about them. They think they’re smarter than everyone else.
Henry’s statement tells all the Boston fans “this guy is a greedy SOB so start hating him unless he comes here on our terms exactly…then love him unconditionally until we’re ready to run him out of town”…
That’s how they roll in Boston and with that kool aid drinking fanbase along with Gammons and ESPN they have no one willing to question them.
————————————————————
Sounds like good old communism to me. Them dirty Reds.
Didn’t Henry pull this same stunt with Matsuzaka and said that he may not sign him?
Henry loves attention, he is just doing this for the sake of being dramatic. Remember that cross country flight with Dice-K that was bring tracked by ESPN? Henry loves that type of stuff.
If Tex comes to them, he looks like a hero. No lose situation for Henry. Good move by him to call Boras’ bluff.
She tried to become president of something called ‘Red Sox Nation.’
She may have even succeeded. I do not know.
http://www.aeronewsdaily.com/tomadams9.jpg
If the Sox are truly out you know its not the yankees who have the top bid in.
No way they just bow out if it were the yankees.
If Tom Lerner is playing Tom Hicks all of these years later that would be hilarious.
Boras probably told tex to just sign with the nats – in 3-4 years they’ll discover they can’t win with your salary and they’ll have to trade you where we dictate as I’ll get a no trade clause thrown in.
Is it normal for Larry Lucchino and Theo Epstein to travel to meet a player without the objective to sign him then and there.. when Cash (by himself.. he’s a big boy) flew to Cali he came back with CC in his hand…
must be embarassing for Larry and Theo to come back with nothing..
ATTABOY CASH!
Well looks like a good day. Yanks add 2 power pitchers and Boston backs out of signing a power bat. Nice swing. A lot can still happen but I remember hearing Teixeira had a problem with Boston when he was drafted. Maybe he just used them to drive his price up and had no intention of wanting to sign with them.
Nick,
What was that? So much better than Munch. DKG with the historically appropriate bling on. Gotta love it.
Would she really try to monpolize the presidency of said nation, however? Or perhaps create some team of rivals? Say recruit youk and joba to hold hands together and rule as a unity government?
What is this bluff by Scott Boras that you speak of? Are people saying that there weren’t legit offers by the Orioles, Angels, and Nats on the table?
By all accounts, the Yankees are in the sweepstakes. But there have been no confirmed, let alone reported, offers by the Yankees. Did we sell our soul to the devil in the past and now he’s calling in his chit by making us lame ducks in this farcical “process”?
Curious and curiouser.
9:58pm: Red Sox owner John Henry said:
“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”
Wow. From favorites to out of the bidding.
– MLB Trade Rumors
from Doris Kearns Goodwin’s bio
“She is also the first woman ever to enter the Red Sox locker [room]”
There’s a joke in their somewhere…
Until the Sox actually drop out and retract their offer… this is nothing more than Henry blowing off steam.
He went to Texas to try and wrap up a deal and Boras wasn’t ready to and Henry thinks he is being played. Understandable.
Even if there is another bid on the table, the Sox are still in it. They are putting the pressure on Tex to go to a losing situation over Boston. This is the part of the negotiation.
The real question is, would she plagiarize her State of the Nation speech?
Kill-Tex?
Doesn’t have the same ring.
As many as four teams – the Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles – are believed to have submitted offers for Teixeira, the top free agent position player of this offseason. Each offer is believed to be eight years in length with an average annual value of at least $20 million.
But as the negotiations narrow and a decision draws nearer, there is industry speculation that agent Scott Boras may be trying to induce one of the teams to go to a 10-year deal to separate itself from the pack. *Many believe the Nationals, who desperately need a marquee player to become the face of the franchise, might be willing to extend to 10 years to offset their lack of competitiveness*.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sp.....p;srvc=rss
She would just claim that her notes got all out of sorts.
i still have this feeling he’ll end up in boston
Viva,
That’s probably why Henry made these comments— he is livid.
He flew to Texas with the expectations that they were close to a deal and could ice the deal soon. Thats why they flew out there and met with him face to face.
Henry probably felt he was misled by Boras and they wasted time for nothing. But shame on Henry for thinking that this negotiation would be quick and easy. Boras ALWAYS allows team one final chance. He will not wrap up a deal until he calls the Yankees, Angels, Nats etc. to see what their final offers are.
Makes you wonder if the Angels wil go after more than Juan Rivera. They have a 3 year deal with him closing in, and want Fuentes, too. Could become even more interesting. The next best thing for NYY not signing Teixeira is getting him out of the league. Not in Boston or LA Angels.
Tex signing with the Nats would be so ridiculous.
They have no pitching. They have every troubled but talented OF’er in baseball. They’re awful.
I realize Zimmerman and Tex is a great place to build from, but that team is so far away with the lack of pitching it’s not even funny. You can’t even say they have a 5 year plan to develop pitching. Tim Redding was their best starter last year and they non tendered him because he blows.
If Boras can convince a guy who could have had the Yankees, Red Sox or Anaheim to go to DC then he truly is a mastermind.
At least when Arod went to Texas they had Pudge, Juan Gonzales and Palmeiro playing reasonably well in addition to a semblance of a pitching staff.
The Nats have nothing. Who is their opening day starter next year? Odalis Perez?
I realize they are trying to make a statement by potentially signing Tex, but unless the Nats plan on signing Lowe, Fuentes, Oliver Perez, Garland and rest of the players they need to build a pitching staff, I can’t imagine Tex going there.
Karen Burnett looked MUCH better during the press conference on TV than she did in the pictures the AP put out tonight.
As did Amber for that matter.
Maybe Tex texted “I’m all in”. But he accidentally sent it to Joba?
“The point would be that Henry think Boras is simply lying about those other offers.”
Then why wouldn’t he just say, “Scott, I don’t believe you. Our offer is x. It’s better than anything else you have and we’re not going to raise it, so Mark ought to take it.” What’s the advantage in appearing to acknowledge the existence of other, higher offers, that Henry doesn’t in fact believe to exist?
I guess what I’m saying is, if the RS have full knowledge of what other offers are out there, then they can just act on that information. They don’t need to play along with Boras as he tries to bluff them about some phantom $2 billion offer from another club. For example, if they know for a fact the LAAA are offering 8/160, the RS can just offer 8/161. Presumably, the RS don’t KNOW exactly what other offers each team is making. Given the element of uncertainty, wouldn’t it make sense for them to say, “look Scott, there’s no reason for us to believe you when you say you have a $2 billion offer from another team. We’re not going to bid against an offer that may not really exist. All we can do is offer what we’re willing to pay, and that’s x.”
“What is this bluff by Scott Boras that you speak of? Are people saying that there weren’t legit offers by the Orioles, Angels, and Nats on the table?”
No. Only speculation as to why Henry might have made that statement when in fact he’s not truly pulling the sox out of it.
Trying to understand what his alterior motives might have been.
Remember all of the Matuzaka drama and recriminations. There was also a plane flight involved there that gammons got very excited about.
They came close to swearing off Matsuzaka as well.
This is an entirely different situation given that boras had no leverage with Dice-k. But why would he so publicly make that statement? It’s not even as if reporters tried to dig it out of them or ask a question.
Even if they did think he was going elsewhere wouldn’t it be in their interest to pretend they were still in it to say fend off the yankees from sweeping in or making the angels pay more?
He could be taking the sox out publicly so boras can’t pretend to use the sox to bid up the offers if it is the nats who are the high bid.
But it’s only in boston’s interest to make the yanks, angels, and orioles pay as much as possible.
Why get out now when people perceive you as the mythical “favorites?”
John
December 19th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Until the Sox actually drop out and retract their offer… this is nothing more than Henry blowing off steam.
He went to Texas to try and wrap up a deal and Boras wasn’t ready to and Henry thinks he is being played. Understandable.
Even if there is another bid on the table, the Sox are still in it. They are putting the pressure on Tex to go to a losing situation over Boston. This is the part of the negotiation.
========================
John Henry? Is that you??
The Red Sox had an eight-year offer on the table in excess of $160 million. *Sources close to the negotiations said it was less than the $184 million reported by Boston WCVB sportscaster Mike Lynch, who first reported that the meeting would take place. Boras is seeking a 10-year, $200 million deal, but a Red Sox executive said earlier that would be “ridiculous*.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns
The Yanks never made a single offer to Teixeira when his price tag was believed to be in the $20M/yr range.
So they certainly aren’t going to make him an offer now that the bidding is closer to $25M/yr.
Whoever can have him at that price. The guy is a good player but he’s not A-Rod or Pujols.
He’s probably going to get the third or fourth richest contract in history and he’s not even one of the ten best players in the game.
Look on the bright side
Teixeria will force his way out of Washington by 2011 and will force a trade here.
In 2011 we will trade McAllister, David Adams, and Pat Venditte for Teixeria.
Did she cry when she accepted the presidency of the nation?
If so wouldn’t she be plagiarizing the speech gammons has given so often when reacting good news for the yankees? For instance, I believe he gave that very address upon hearing the monumental news that the yankees had selected Gerritt Cole in the 2008 draft. He then recycled it, with appropriate variation, when hearing that Burnett selected the yanks over atlanta.
I have to say… Kim Jones looks better with the dyed brown hair.
only an idiot would think Teixeria would only want to play for the Yanks, and he’s secretly talking to Cashman now…..well, let me be that idiot right now.
update ——–>
“They are putting the pressure on Tex to go to a losing situation over Boston. This is the part of the negotiation.”
Agreed. They are could very well be publicly calling out Tex saying hey the nats gave you $200M so be it. That’s the “premium” they need to pay.
We don’t need to match that premium in any way. This is it. Take it or go play for a team that’s going to lose 100 games next year.
They’re sending Tex a very public message most likely.
This is our last offer. Take it or go play for the Nats.
Anyone looking for a last minute holiday gift for a baseball fan should check out this.
World Baseball Classic Jeter, Clemens and Damon Authentic Jerseys – Were $234.99 Now $19.98 + Shipping
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It’d be cooler if they were Authentic Yankee jerseys, but if you wanted a Jeter Team USA jersey this seems like a smoking hot deal.
I can’t imagine the Clemens jerseys are going to sell very well though.
Cafardo was just on ESPN. I swear he was doing his best Gammons impression. You could hear the tears in his voice.
I think that while the Matsuzaka negotiations are comparible, Boras and Matsu(walka) only had one team to deal with. The Sox had absolutlely nothing to lose there. The posting money would have been returned. The pressure was on Boras to try and get the Sox to up their offers but he no other teams to play off of.
Here he has got several teams, one of them being the “Texas” Nationals. So Henry’s bluff doesn’t have the same effect as his plane ride. (The deal for Matsuzaka had to have been completed before the plane landed.)
To me, the simplest explanation for Henry’s comments is that another team IS in fact far more financially committed to signing Tex than the RS. Henry is nonplussed to learn this, and he’s signaling that if the bids are as represented, he doesn’t think the RS are going to sign him.
I would agree, BTW, that the RS aren’t actually out of it unless and until another team signs him.
Good stuff.
I’m an ardent union supporter, in all industry, especially in baseball.
I’m all for players getting every last cent. They earn it.
But there have to be more scrupulous and worthy means of securing your client’s best interest than Scott Boras’ odious tactics.
I can’t fathom how he continues to employ the same subterfuges over and over again and to retain any credibility.
In the business world, if you’re a lawyer held in ill-repute and there’s a perception you lack integrity, you’re ostracized.
I only wish there were more A-Rod fiascos to give players’ pause about hiring him.
Could Henry’s public “concession” rub Tex the wrong way a la his draft experience with the Sox?
Personally I think Henry has a bit more credibility with this Tex matter than Hank did when he got hit with the Boras/Arod fiasco.
If anything, it is fun to see the Sox fans sweat this one out.
Seriously?!?!?
I don’t get it – do people really think that damon or any other player, or even cashman deserve credit?? Their choices were about 1 thing…$$$$$$$$.
The yanks were bidding against themselves – even cashman doesn’t really deserve credit. A five year old could have made those moves. Hmm why don’t i offer an obscene amount of money to the best pitcher on the market, and if he doesn’t bite, i’ll offer more.
Great idea cashman – really took a lot of savvy thinking to pull that one off!!
I see Henry’s statement as a negotiating move by showing Boras the Sox are willing to tell their fans Teixiera will not be coming. Why publicly announce it otherwise? With that being said, Boras is usually about Boras. He wants to show the world he got another $200M contract even if the player goes to a perennial loser. People say Teixiera is an avid devotee of Boras and will follow his advice. We shall see. I suppose we shall also see if Boras really has another, larger offer. Thus far, no team seems to be acknowledging it.