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You should probably learn how to spell TEIXEIRA lol. And a clue: the Orioles have no shot to sign him.

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I do know how to spell it as the headline proved, just interspersed a letter or two, but thanks for picking that up. And you probably said the Jets had no shot to beat the Colts in Super Bowl three. Oops, bad analogy. Thanks for clearing that up, I'll call Andy MacPhail and Scott Boras and let them know.

Steve

All the pros were dead on.....
The cons A hometown kid would be great. The Orioles have enough cash to get additional talent and when you add a guy like tex its possible other on the team ie roberts,cakes,jones may be more apt to renew long term and it may attract other top notch FA. We have a great bunch of up and comming mil pitchers in the wings waiting. just because we had a bad situation w/Belle it still all worked out thats what insurance policys are for. BRING TEX ON

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Oldbird:

The signing of any marquee, big dollar talent would send a message that you do want to win and hopefully would induce others to sign here or the ones that already are here to stay long-term. Good point for the pro column.

Steve

Steve, my friend. 2:19; a.m. Get some rest! I'm going to need some of your fresh insights on this stuff come next week at the winter meetings.

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What can I say, I'm a night owl. And remember, 2:19am here is only 11:19pm in Las Vegas.

Steve

Steve- I think that the pros destroy the cons. A guy like this in Baltimore, pays for himself plus gets National attention back on the O's. As far as money goes, I think you will see that whoever signs him, it will be for a lot less then 200 million. You can see effects of the resession already in FA. I think this helps the O's chances. I think if he turned down an 8 year 140 million offer from Texas, he is probably trying to get 20 a year but it will not be for more than 6 or 7 years.
There are not many deals that are a win-win for the Team and the Fans. This is one that the fans will love but does not hurt the team. He is 29. Entering his prime years. Fills a void. Good D. Sells Tix. Sells Jerseys.
Can you imagine how much better 1-9 is gonna be finally if we had a real #4 hitter in there?
Markakis, I truly believe will hit in the 320 range and you can add 10 HRs to his total. They will not IBB him to get to TEX. Cakes will get the pitches.

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Ryan:

All good points. Maybe you will be right and the price will come down and not be 200 million. If the price does come down, does that mean more teams enter the process?

Steve

It's possible that the O's could have a legitimate shot to sign Tex but it will take the best deal to do so. There won't be any hometown discount.

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Ed:

You are probably right. Boras usually doesn't give out discounts, hometown or otherwise.

Steve

I disagree with the cons...We have enough money to address some pitching needs...these 2 are not mutually exclusive...besides, most of the FA pitchers aren't worth even offering a contract to, much less signing.

Injuries are always a potential issue but Tex is in great shape and usually plays everyday, every year...While it is in the back of your mind, he is a better bet than most.

And team chemistry? How did that "grear chemistry" help us last year?

Worry about getting the talent first...Winning breeds chemistry.

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Rob:

You can't just dismiss any downside, the O's must consider everything. The Yankees clubhouse is use to welcoming the next big money guy every year. It would be breaking new ground for the O's. That great chemistry last year had this team tthree games under .500 on August 17th. I am a big believer in chemistry, although my friend Dave Johnson from O's radio and TV I know feels it is overrated.

Steve

I like the breakdown Steve. One thing to note also is that the $150 mil or so you shell out for Tex is $150 mil that won't go to player development, scouting, etc...I'd love to see Tex in orange, but the Marlins have proven that you can put out a competitive team if you scout the right players, and can do it on the cheap.

Also, with such a huge signing, how does that factor down the road when we are (hopefully) locking up guys like Tillman, Matsuz, Arrieta, Wieters, Reimold, Jones, and Nick for long-term deals. If we're not going to be able to hang on to all those guys, assuming they all pan out, long-term b/c we've committed so much money to Tex, then I think that McPhail and company really need to consider how much he will bring.

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Phil:

All valid points. How much would that money coming out of the budget impact the international scouting the O's are now upgrading? How many pitchers could they sign with that money? How many 16-year-old Dominican kids?

I'm not saying don't pursue Tex, I think they should. But doling out a contract like that could impact other areas, that's all I'm saying. You said it well too.

Steve

Steve,

I'm someone in the minority who thinks that the dream scenario with which you lead your column has a very good chance of happening. Mark Teixeira really wants to play for the Orioles. He's made that clear on a number of occasions.

From that standpoint, the O's are the team to beat in the Tex sweepstakes. Yes, there are other factors involved, but in at least in one very important aspect, Baltimore for once is in the driver's seat. Fortunately, this is a year when the money is there for a competitive bid and I think as long as the O's bid is in the ballpark they'll get the signature.

Turning to your pros and cons, I think each negative can be addressed fairly easily:

Pitching needs--Obviously, the O's number one concern. Even after signing a mega-deal to Teixeira, there should be some money left for pitching. If Mark wants to play for Baltimore as much as I've been led to believe, then I don't think there'd be too much of a problem for Andy MacPhail and Scott Boras to come up with a backloaded, incentives-rich contract, much as Dustin Pedroia just got from Boston. This would free up more money for signing pitchers. Getting Tex on the team (along with Matt Wieters) is going to generate far more dividends in terms of attendance and renewed fan interest than signing a couple of middling hurlers who are stopgaps until the highly-touted arms come up from the minors in a year or so. As for on the field results, the lineup with Tex in the middle should be so formidible that even modest improvement from the pitching staff should equate to more (maybe many more) wins in 2009.

Injury factor--This is a big concern, no question. Owners are insured against such situations, but there's no doubt it can put a strain on the club's budget. Peter Angelos has been burned a few times, such as Glenn Davis, Albert Belle and Sammy Sosa, but so have other owners (Carl Pavano was a total bust for the Yankees, but that hasn't stopped them this offseason from jumping out in front in free agent pursuit with their huge offer to C.C. Sabathia). True, signing Teixeira to a huge contract is a calculated risk, but it's a risk the team needs to take in order to get much, much better. I think this is analogous to the difference between one team playing the game to win, and another playing it not to lose. The O's need to look beyond the injury risk and play to win.

Chemistry--Clubhouse chemistry is important; how important is much debated, but important nonetheless. Having the superstar earning more than teammates is a reality for many teams, including nearly all successful ones (the Rays last year were an anomaly in this regard, with no one the stature of an Alex Rodriguez or Manny Ramierez on the roster). Sometimes the situation can cause real tensions, such as when Reggie Jackson played on some successful Yankee teams in the late 1970s. Still, considering the relatively unassuming personality of Teixeira, his friendly acquiaintance with some Orioles, such as Brian Roberts, and the team-first managerial style of Dave Trembley, I think frictions would be kept to a minimum. My concern regarding clubhouse chemistry is greater if Kevin Millar doesn't come back, than if Mark Teixeira signs. Although Millar struggled at the plate over the last month or so, his leadership and ability to keep his teammates loose will be even harder to replace than the decent glove and patient at bats he gave the team. I really hope the 2009 O's can find a spot for him, though that's going to be tough if they sign Tex. Kevin has said he'd be open to a reserve role to come back to the Birds, so maybe....

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Ken:

Thanks for taking the time to write a long one. It is interesting that the last few years there are many people insisting that Tex wanted to play here. Now that the time has come you don't it hear it so much. I'll guess we'll find out. If the O's equal any offer and he doesn't come here, we'll know our answer.

By the way, I don't see Boras accepting any contract loaded with incentives. He'll feel Tex has earned quaranteed money and will want it that way.

Steve

I think you are wrong on the "Owing a player millions upon millions" - the team would purchase an insurance policy to cover such a risk!

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Jim:

My understanding is since Belle's deal, it is much harder to get insurance on these big-dollar contracts. The teams are less covered in that regard than they once were, although I profess to be far from an expert on the matter of insurance for baseball contracts.

Steve

One thing many people don't think about is the snowball effect that Teixeira could have in baltimore.
He could make it alot easier for some of the games most promising players to make baltimore their home in the future. also I'm sure by signing him it would be easier to sign Roberts to an extension. One more thing is that think of all the endorsement possibilities Teixeira would have in baltimore, that he may not have in say Boston or Los Angeles. Factor that in and he may make more money here, even if signed to somewhat of a smaller salary. Point is this the AL east and this is our time to spend like it, or more to an easier division.

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Stan:

Great to hear from you. I too think the O's eventually have to spend some big money since they reside in the division of big spenders. I never want to see this team turn into a club like the store-bought Yankees, just buying a player every year. And Tampa proved you don't have to spend big to win, but at some point it would send a message to beat NYY and Boston for a player. What better player than Tex to do that with.

Miss hanging out with you in the press box and listening to you give our friend Heist a hard time.

Steve

Steve,

I find it very curious that sports writers have sought to ignore Mark Teixeira's clear and unambigous interest in the Orioles. Possible, some writers are holding back on this angle till talks heat up, but the evidence is pretty impressive.

I've researched it and put together several unsolicited, unscripted quotes from Mark about his feelings for the O's. I find him sounding totally sincere. Here they are:

* 'The Orioles are close to my heart'
* 'I grew up as a diehard Orioles fan'
* [Playing for Baltimore] 'That would really be a dream come true'
* He's described his interest in playing for the O's as 'obvious'
* (Said in 2007 about the prospect of meeting with the O's front office after the '08 season)'we'll have some fun conversations'
* 'I root for the Orioles, except when they're playing us (the Rangers)'
* 'Baltimore, obviously in the future, is a place I'd love to look at' (also from the same 2006 article)
* "I've got some friends [in the Orioles' clubhouse]...Brian Roberts is a good dude over there'
* Before a game in Arlington in '06, then-Ranger 'Teixeira greet(ed) several Orioles players with hugs, (and) Dave Trembley was astute enough to greet and shake hands with the Rangers slugger'
* When the O's were attempting to sign Matt Wieters last season, Teixeira (who, like Wieters, is a Georgia Tech grad) openly expressed his hope that the catcher would sign and have a great career in Baltimore, going so far as to offer to help the team seal the deal: 'If he wants to pick up the phone, I'd love to talk to him' (See links below for sources of these quotes.)

When the above quotes are considered, it's evident that no one needs to create a false sense of optimism for O's fans when it comes to signing him. There are very good signals coming from him that he wants to play for Baltimore.

What's intriguing to keep in mind is how Teixeira was voicing a strong interest in playing for the Orioles well before Andy MacPhail began rebuilding the team. Certainly, since there is now more hope for the future of the team than in '07, there also is more reason for it to be an attractive fit for its slugging fan.

Signing Teixeira isn't going to be easy, but it is doable.The Orioles are going into the bidding war with their eyes wide open. They know that their offer must be realistic, that they can't hope for him to sign a lowball bid. That said, as long as the O's are competitive, he conceivably still could sign for a little less to play for his favorite team.

In the end, I believe when all is said and done, Andy MacPhail will pull off a deal that defies the odds and confounds 'conventional wisdom,' and a smiling Mark Teixeira will soon don the black and orange at a press conference to announce his signing as a member of the Baltimore Orioles.

Here are the Mark Teixeira links:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070706&content_id=2071694&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal

http://bringmarkhome.withthispetition.com/

(Some of the above along with other comments were originally posted on Dan Connolly's Baltimore Sun blog for 11/26/08 under the entry entitled "Give your thanks to the sporting world.")

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Ken:

Most in the media put little stock in those comments now. I guess we'll find out if this is all talk. Adding Tex and Wieters to the O's makes this club a lot better and he must have heard about pitchers on the way like Matusz, Arrieta and Tillman. If all five of those ever are on this team at one time the future should be bright. Tex knows the Orioles are currently a losing club but with those additons that all could change. I don't think he could say the O's have little hope of winning as a reason to not come here.

Steve

Steve,

Not to make a big deal out of this, but I'm tired of hearing what a great teammate TEX is. I'm down here in Ranger country and I can tell you that the guy was not exactly the epitome of the consummate team player. But he wasn't a cancer either. He did miss a little time here his last season with a hamstring injury, but the guy is generally out there everyday. And you are correct, with Boras as his agent, there's no way player & agent take any kind of back loaded incentive contract. Especially to go to Baltimore. I hear the Angels are turning their attention away from CC and back to Tex. That's where I see Mark. And with their pitching, resigning Tex on their part makes sense!

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There have been whispers that he is not always a great clubhouse guy, but nothing bad at all that would throw up a red flag for any team looking to sign him. The Angels could certainly end up being the winner here unless getting closer to home is really that important to him.

Steve

The Yankees and Red Sox can blow away any Oriole offer. Tex will have to decide if he wants to be a "Cal like" local legend on a rebuilding team, or a big fish in a much bigger pond.

Lets hope if he doesn't come home, that he helps us out by going somewhere outside of the AL East (Angels). It will be bad if we don't get him and twice as bad if the Yankees or Boston gets him.

This could be the biggest one player "production swing" since Reggie Jackson moved from the Orioles to the Yankees after the 1976 season. The Yankees won the next year by 2 or 3 games and in 1978 by a wider margin.

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The Yankees and Sox better not be able to blow away the O's with an offer, not for this player. The O's need to pony up big if they are serious about this local product. If he picks the Yanks or Sox it needs to be because they can win now and the O's are building. It should not be because the O's didn't have enough money or make a big enough offer.

Steve

Steve,

The media is putting little stock in his comments? They're putting no stock in them...none. Shoved them straight down the memory hole.

He might as well have not said anything about wanting to play for the Orioles, because no one was listening.

This is shoddy journalism. It's "interpretive journalism" at it's worse, where information that doesn't fall in line with reporters' personal prejudices concerning how they view the free agent process falls to the wayside.

Unless someone has inside knowledge that somehow negates Teixeira's remarks, which certainly isn't the case, then those remarks must somehow be factored into the equation. Yet they aren't.

Understand, I can appreciate it if a reporter decides that vague stories of how A.J. Burnett told Oriole players that he'd like to play for Baltimore doesn't rise to the level of evidence. That's just hearsay.

But we aren't talking about that with Teixeira, we're talking about statements made very openly, carried on the O's official website and never repudiated by Tex. Granted, other considerations come into play that might trump his love for the home team, especially insanely high contracts waved under his nose by other clubs.

Yes, we must be realistic about the possibility of him signing elsewhere, but the lack of anything positive in the media regarding his statements does nothing but fuel fatalism in O's fans, whereas I believe the correct attitude should (for once) be more one of guarded optimism.

The closing point of your response is exactly right. How Teixeira views the viability of O's rebuilding process is critical, and there can be little doubt that Andy MacPhail is going to make this a big selling point. Honestly, if Mark's true feelings are close to what he conveyed in print, if the dollar amount of the proposed O's contract is enough for him and if he believes the team can be a real contender by 2010, then I think the Orioles have a fair chance of signing him.

As you put it, we'll soon find out if this is all talk. At least this winter we have a top free agent of whom it is reasonable to assume will give Baltimore a fair chance to sign him. And that's not something that's happened too often over the past decade. It's going to be an very interesting next few weeks, that's for sure!

Picking up Teixeira would really help pick up free agent pitchers, if there would be any room left. They could put anyone at ss if they add Lowe Tex and John Garland.

The Orioles reportedly made 150 mil off MASN this year so I don't want to hear this nonsense about not having the money for Tex and pitching. Considering nobody's watching or attending games or buying advertising on MASN you could make the argument they need to spend money to make money. The growth potential of MASN is huge. Right now everybody from Southern PA to NC is forced to spend $2.50 a month on MASN, most of which winds up back in Peter's pocket,if they spend money and become a better team who knows what they can get cable companies to charge 5 years from now.

Tex getting hurt should not neccessarily be a "con" as far as his contract goes. AS with Albert "Glass" Belle, Angelos will insure his contract, wisely.

Secondly, haven't we heard the same story about signing pitching for the past 10 years? I am still waiting for the big name pitcher to walk into the clubhouse. Where are all the arms we have been stockpiling in the minors the last several years? And why would we trade away a great prospect (Olsen) for an unproven major league outfielder such as Pie. We already have 2 great, young, outfielders. Bad move.

As the fan base goes, down, down, down, year after year, due to poor performance and lack of talent, stealing from that famous phrase from the Field of Dreams,"'sign him,' and they will come . . . "

Steve,

Yes, the Orioles must be very competitive in their bid for Teixeira; if they're not ready to go down to the last strike of the last out in the ninth innimn, then better not to get involved at all. In the end, I don't think this is going to be about money, because he's going to be rich regardless.

If it comes down to whether Teixeira wants the instant gratification of going to the postseason now or being ready to wait a year, I hope that his warm feelings for the O's win out over cold business decisions.

The main competitors are probably going to be the ones we expect: New York and Boston. Some reports have it that the Yankees won't shell out the really big bucks for Tex, because they need pitching more and because they've added Nick Swisher.

This would be a comforting thought, but I'm not buying it for a second. Even if the situation begs fiscal responsibility, I don't see the Yankees bowing out graceful in the Teixeira sweepstakes.

Maybe in other years, but not when the new Yankee Stadium opens. I'd almost be willing to bet that the Steinbrenner mentality is, when the first Yankee Stadium opened it in 1923 Babe and his teammates christened it with a World Series Championship and we intend to do whatever it takes to have history repeat. (Yes, I know George isn't in charge anymore, but...meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss.)

As for the Red Sox, whom I consider to be the only other truly serious competition unless the Angels attempt to retain his services (or unless Boras has a mystery suitor involved...the Mets?), there's the question of whether they'll go for him considering that first base is already a strength for them. Yes, I've heard talk of moving Youkilis to left, but how well can he play outfield (of course, less than stellar fielding never stopped them from putting Manny in left, and Youkilis would probably be an upgrade over him). Like the Yamkees, however, Boston has enough money that it can go after other needs (pitching, catcher, shortstop), and still pursue Teixeira.

There are going to be a number of very competitive bids, so it may come down more to where he whats to play for the next ten years, than how much he's going to get paid, which will be considerable whereever he plays.

Steve,
If you're mentioning formidable players, you can't leave out Adam Jones. He improved from day one and towards the end of the season was a quality bat and a very good center fielder.

It would be even nicer if Jake Peavy was on the other side of Andy when he made that announcement.