Decision Time...

The Washington Post's website is reporting that the long and drawn out Mark Teixeira negotiations will end with a decision today. The report has everyone on edge and most of us refreshing the major sports websites on a 15 second basis for updates....so much for getting much done this afternoon. The report comes on the heels of news that the Nationals had upped their offer for the free agent first basemen. Does this announcement of a decision mean Teix. has taken the new deal? ...not so fast....

Multiple sources give the edge to Red Sox as Teixeira highlighted that more than anything, he wanted to play for a team committed to winning. Here is an excerpt from the report:

"While the source declined to discuss specifics, there are strong indications that the Red Sox will announce that they have landed the highly-coveted slugger, who has been courted this off season by several major league clubs, including the Angels, Orioles and Nationals. "

"The Red Sox have been considered one of the lead contenders in the Teixeira sweepstakes, but it was unclear whether the team would be able to meet the asking price from agent Scott Boras, who had hoped to land a contract for as much as $200 million over ten years. Last week, Red Sox owner John Henry told reporters that the team was no longer pursuing the player, but the statement was widely seen as a negotiating maneuver."

It appears the Sox, like many of us thought, were never out of contention to land the coveted free agent, only holding their ground against a diggle of an agent.

I have a small case of the shakes and will likely be drinking coffee while waiting for news to break.....a little nervous for the announcement....stay tuned.

Nats Increase Offer for Teixeira

According to news coming out of the Mid Atlantic....the Nats have increased their proposal offer to MarkTeixeira, which is now reportedly an eight-year deal worth $178-184m. Word is also swirling that Washington is willing to go nine years and there's even been talk of a 10-year deal.

If we can take this as truth, it could push the Red Sox right back into the negotiations, or eliminate them completely. It is my opinion that if the Nats increase the years of the offer to nine or ten, the Red Sox selling point of playing on a winning team in Boston is overruled by an extended offer with more guaranteed money. The Sox have clearly stated they are not willing to go over eight years, which is already a significantly longer time frame than Boston prefers to lock players up for (pitchers no more than 5). 200+ million for nine or ten years is a lot of money and liability to lock up on a player who will be turning 29 by the time next season opens. If he was 25, that would be a different story. If the Nats do indeed offer him ten years at 22 or 23 million per, I don't fault the Sox for walking away from the table.

SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote last night that "things appear to be heating up in the Mark Teixeira talks, and baseball people believe now that Teixeira will have a new team before Christmas." The window is closing, and much like my Christmas shopping, it doesn't appear all that close to being done.

ITM Note:

According to Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees have no offers on the table to either Teixeira or Manny "i'm a five tool player" Ramirez. He did not rule out making an offer to either player but said, "There've been no offers made [since last week's news conference]." Brian Cashman has refused to comment on whether the Yankees plan on extending an offer to Teixeira or Ramirez or both.

Tim Brown: Angels withdraw offer to Teixeira

According to Yahoo! Sport's Tim Brown, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have withdrawn their offer to free agent Mark Texieira. It was believed that the Halos were the next team in line to land the 28 year old first baseman once the Red Sox publicly walked away from the table late Friday night.

According to multiple sources, the Angels had an offer of around 160 million dollars for Teixeira's services over the next 8 years. Now it appears that the offer is no longer there....a source told Yahoo! Sports this afternoon that the Halos would not re-enter the bidding for Teixeira, whom they acquired from the Atlanta Braves at the trading deadline.

What happens now? Good question. Many sources are reporting that the Sox have not rescinded their offer completely, only stating that they are not willing to be pushed any further. Their offer is believed to be in the area of 170-180 million dollars over 8 years, Scot Boras has made it clear that as of right now, Teixeira is looking for 195 to 200 million (it must be nice to be fussing over 10-15 million in this economy).

ITM has continued to state that we expect Boston to still be an active part of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. Perhaps the Angel's actions this evening will drive Boras shamefully back into Boston's hands.....but something tells me he will give Brian Cashman a call first.....stay tuned.

Teixeira Deal on the Horizon...

Mike Lynch of Channel 5 News in Boston (WCVB) is reporting that top Red Sox brass, John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Theo Epstein, are in Texas tonight meeting with Scott Boras to finalize a deal to bring Mark Teixeira to the Bo-Sox.

Lynch sites unnamed sources, always the best kind, that the Sox have offered an 8 year $184 million contract, $23 million a year. Certainly good work if you can find it. If the two sides agree to terms look for a deal to be announced tonight or possibly tomorrow morning.

ITM will bring you updates as they become available. Bring it home Theo!

Yanks in on the Teixeira sweepstakes as well?

Don't look now, but SI.com is reporting that the Yankees are currently printing more money in order to make a play on Mark Teixeira. It had been assumed by most that the Yankees were not in consideration for the best player still on the market given their focus on (and overpayment for) starting pitching. The Yanks have locked up CC Sabathia for 161 million and have offered Derek Lowe and Jason Burnett well over 15 million per year in long term deals as well. You would think with that kind of reckless spending the Yankees couldn't possibly afford Teixeira, much less outbid the Red Sox, Angels and others who are currently pursuing his services.....right?

With Hank in the big chair, never say never. According the the SI.com report, the Yankees "aren't about to concede Teixeira to the rival Red Sox or anyone else," As of now, there has been no word of a formal offer from the Yankees, but we all know how quickly things can change. It is also unclear if the Yankees are sincerely interested in landing the slugger, or if they are simply using the media and Scott Boras to drastically drive up Teixeira's price. Prior to this report, there had already been accusations that Scott Boras was using the media to exaggerate and inflate the "offers" on Teixeira....and now this.

A few months back Tex told the media that he would like to know where he'll be hitting taters next season by Christmas, so a decision over the next few weeks is likely. He has said he prefers the East Coast (he's a Maryland native), but more importantly, he wants to play for a team and ownership committed to winning. Well Boston is on the east coast, the last time I checked we've taken home two world series rings since 04' and this city is winning in every other sport imaginable (I even heard the Boston table tennis team is tops in the nation).....come to Titletown Tex....do it.