Olney chimes in
I'll save you the trouble of looking for it.
ESPN's Buster Olney says the Orioles haven't increased their original offer to Mark Teixeira, which was the impression I got, but couldn't confirm, and only a willingness to take a major hometown discount will get the first baseman in an Orioles' uniform.
Earlier today, an Orioles official denied that the club struck a deal with Teixeira late last night. If it's possible to see someone roll their eyes during a phone conversation, it happened this morning. So I guess you can stomp on that rumor, too.
And while you're at it, feel free to hold the people accountable who started it. I assume it's more than one. This is a big job.
I tend to trust Olney and his sources in these matters. If he's wrong, we'll hold him accountable, too.
I know the Orioles considered their first offer to be flexible. How far it stretches will be the determining factor.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Why is Buster so involved with behind the doors conversations??? He just seems to hate the Orioles and Baltimore. Sour taste in his mouth when he left the baltimore beat sports job and moved on??? I saw Tex here when he was a Ranger, the man knows how to carry himself.. I saw how he treated the fans here and the media and he said he would love to play for the O's. Not saying that he will but Buster always seems to get a kick of Bustin on the O's just as the rest of the national sports media does...
If we don't up our offer and give this a serious shot then we should of never placed an offer to begin with. Show Teixeira an offer at least close to the others and he chooses Baltimore. If he were to turn it down then he would take Angelos's place as the most hated man in Baltimore.
Why am I not surprised by this information?
Certainly, this is the "Oriole Way" we've come to know and loathe!
Roch , Peter the Great is a business man , he knows Tex means increased ticket sales which means more dollars for Pete. Andy will get this done for Pete and the love of money. The great fans of Baltimore will be the benefactors of the deal because the O's may just be more fun to watch , if a few of the young pitchers come around they may just be competitive. I can't believe I just said that..........
Hey Roch, I found on orioles hangout one of their insiders said we struck a deal with tex late last night...so i take it this is the rumor. You say our deal was said to be flexible, well assuming that it was 7 yrs/150 million, thats almost 21.5 mil/yr and everyone else is offering 20/yr, is that not the best offer out there? (I know he will be more expensive but, of the known offers isn't that the highest?). Also assuming that is the highest and we say we have flexibility that surely puts us ahead in the race. Well if you could clear that up for me it would be nice because I have been confused for the past couple days.
COME HOME TEX!
-alex-
Hey Roch, Thanks for everything that you're doing! When you spoke to the O's today did they confirm that they are out of the Tex sweepstakes? Just thought that maybe they would have said one way or the other!?!?
This is where I have the problem with Buster Olney because every time he writes a report about the Orioles, it's usually not so good about what the team is doing. Then, I see Karl Ravech say that Teixiera has this enormous attraction to the Orioles, and is leaning toward them.
It's just one big whole contradiction between media reports and writers. Can't they get on the same page?
Thank God we have you, Roch. I believe you're quicker than ESPN reporters or other media writers.
If reports say this deal will get done in the next 24-48 hours, then we'll probably see it done today or tomorrow. If not then, then probably Friday.
Hey Roch,
I read here a couple posts back that the higher ups read through these comments. I have a minor one. Its tough to scroll back through older posts. Your old blog at the sun was easy to move back and forth between posts this one lets you click back through one, but then you have to get back to the main page to read another old one. its tough for someone like me who at times needs to read through a couple to get caught up.
something like a:
Prev. Home Next
would be really helpful.
Roch, I find it hard to believe the orioles have not increased thier offer. My feeling is that boras is trying to get the o's to bid against themselves.
Roch,
Could it be through a source via Boras, who knows that Teixeira is intrigued to play for the hometown team (per the Ravech report) but trying to get the rumor into the media therefore potentially forcing the O's to sweeten their deal?? Just a thought...
I'm really starting to get tired of this "poor me" attitude in Baltimore in relation to their sports teams. Everyone is against us. Nobody gives us a chance. Blah blah blah.
The truth of the matter is that Buster Olney is pointing out what everyone in baseball already knows. The Orioles have done this to themselves with years of shaky free agent negotiations, ineffective free agent signings, lack of talent, and bad decision-making. If the O's want to be mentioned in the same paragraph with the Yanks and Sox and Angels, they need to put a more competitive product on the field. Ultimately, the best players want to play in the city that gives them the best combination of financial security and on the field success. Tex is no exception.
The coup of bringing Tex back to Baltimore would put butts in the seats. It would immediately increase revenue and merchandise sales. It would fix one issue that has plagued the O's since they let Palmeiro go the first time--a first baseman that can play gold glove caliber defense and all-star caliber offense. Their lineup could compete with anyone's in the AL East. It's their pitching that won't be ready for at least another year. It's really a shame that Tex is a free agent this year and not next year. I think they would have a much better shot at him next year.
I know this is slightly unrelated, but it was be nice if the blog had the 4 or 5 most recent articles listed on the left hand navigation menu below the school of Roch image. This way we can see if you have posted something newer than what we are reading without having to head back to the main Roch index.
Maybe this is something the folks over at MASN could accommodate on (not so subtle hint hint.)
I say we do what it takes to sign Tex, Dunn and Lowe. Then we trade Luke for a AA pitcher to open up left field for Dunn. After that, signing Roberts and Nick will be easy. This is a dominoe effect people. Signing Tex makes everything else easier.
Roberts
Jones
Nick
Tex
Huff
Dunn
Mora
Wieters
Short-stopgap of the week.
Then we play the waiting game with our young pitchers.
Can't wait to see the season ticket numbers if the Orioles don't get this done.
ESPN just reported that the Orioles are withdrawing from the Teixeira bidding war. I wonder what this is based on.
There goes potter again, overplaying his hand, thinking a guy wants to come here for personal reasons, or stay as the case has been before, then making a low ball offer thinking he can save a few $$ with that info. That SOB never learns!
The day I believe anything that comes out of the mouth of Buster Olney is the day I die.
This thing ain't dead yet.
Tex is an Oriole, you can book it.
Yeah, I don't know where people get off bustin' on the O's. It was just yesterday that they were in the playoffs two years in a row. And they've been very respectable since then. I'm sure it's a conspiracy.
If Buster's report is true, once again this proves Angelos' propensity to low-ball people actually interested in playing in Baltimore. First with Mussina, and now with Teixeira. This just shows that we are not going to be able to win until the Scrooge gives us our team back!
Is this the same ESPN who reported yesterday that Furcal signed with the Braves and now this morning says he's close to signing with LA? Or the ESPN that said on Mon he signed with Oak? If they're not stealing Jay Glazer's reports and calling it their own then I don't believe them.
"I know the Orioles considered their first offer to be flexible. How far it stretches will be the determining factor."
Come on Roch.... Flexible and Orioles do not go together. When you have an owner like Angelos, there is no such thing as flexible. It's his way or no way. I can't see him budging from his original offer. For some reason in his mind, Angelos thinks he can make the smallest offer to Tex hoping that he'll want to play on losing team for less money just because it's close to home.
Note to Angelos... its always about money. Nothing else.
I'm sorry, but I don't believe that Buster Olney knows anything more about what's going on and what the Orioles true offer has been any more than anyone else who's thrown their hat in the ring. Doesn't mean he isn't right, just that I don't believe his sources have any more clue than anyone else's. This has been a most tight-lipped negotiation from ALL parties involved and there has been an incredible amount of disinformation given across the board. My guess is that there is a grand total of about 5 people or so (Texiera & Boras included) that TRULY know what is going on and the rest are sort of fumbling around for what makes the most sense to them from their perspective.
Olney is a bum IMO (seems lazy to me), but I have no reason to assume he's wrong here. Why would anyone believe the Orioles are stepping up big?
Honestly, it's sad that Baltimore media is just taking national media types at their word. Gammons and Olney? Really? Roch, you're better than that. To hell with these guys. Stop hanging on their every word like it's The Truth.
Thanks for keeping us up-to-date.
Roch, I've said many times how much I love your work. If I could only hit one site a day to get my Os fix, it would be your blog hands down. But please, my cyber friend, hold back with the frustration toward the rumors, the folks that start them, and the folks that latch on to them like a Titanic lifeboat. Os fans have been beat down and trod upon for a very, very long time. If we tend to cling to positive rumors as gospel truth in the hopes that the darkness finally might be lifting, please be patient and forgiving toward us.
That's what drives me crazy about the Orioles...they always talk about if the price is right w/any players they're negotiating with (meaning if they can get them cheaper than anyone else is willing to pay). Granted, this is a large sum of money we're talking about for a great player, but why would anyone want to come here, regardless of whether they're from the area or not, if our offer is not competitive with the other offers he has received from WINNING teams! To say you're interested in a player is misleading the fans if you're not willing to offer them the market price. I hope they surprise us and do what they can to land this great player. Building from within is great and that's where it starts and we're starting to develop good players, but eventually we are going to have to play the game and negotiate like the big guns do (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.)
This whole scenario makes me wish for the "media" options of 20 years ago. So many sources, so many people listening only to what they want to hear. This whole thing has only reiterated by belief in the more traditional media, which ensures that they are accountable for their sources. I include Roch in this group because he is accountable...
By the way, when did we Marylanders develop this obnoxious Napoleonic complex? I blame the Nationals and Ravens, but thats because I'm a mid-metro area guy. Any of our teams can/will compete with the rest of the sporting world, and the media doesnt have the slightest bias against us (they just have a bias for Boston/NYC). We arent Cleveland guys!
Go figure...the O's are coming in as the low bidders.
I would hope that O's fans will do what I plan on doing after this and not spend one dollar with the Orioles...no MASN viewing, no tickets to games, no hats and jerseys...nada...All in all that's probably about $2,000 a year for me and my fiance. Now we only need 10,000-12,000 people to feel the same with me and there's Tex's salary.
I have a feeling the product on the field next year will probably cause quite a bit more than 10k fans anyway to leave the Orioles.
Unless of course the Orioles, failing to field a decent product this year, will lower prices to the rate of the Frederick Keys. Than all is fair. They can even add the little carousel the Keys Stadium has. That'll be more fun than watching the O's pitchers give up 8 runs a game and the hitters score 3.
I know we weren't going to win it next year, but Tex fits perfectly into our rebuilding plan. If Angelos doesn't want to pay to put a top notch Maryland athlete on the field next year, I'll just spend all my money with the Ravens.
Giving one dollar to the Orioles next year would be an absolute absurd gesture. After 27 years...I'm done.
I'll be a fairweather/bandwagon fan from now on and come back when their is an actual product on the field. My entertainment dollar is obviously better spent somewhere else. Toothless/pregnant strippers in West Virginia carry more entertainment value than the Orioles will.
My only hope and I think this would be a first...is that this story is being used to drive up the Orioles price so Tex can sign with us. I must've accidentally inhaled second hand crack-pipe smoke to think that's the case though.
This is so Orioles. Make a play for the big free agent but safely don't bid enough to get him. We won't try for Dunn either. Orioles money is for Angelos. If Buster's righ it's time to totally boycott the Orioles.
The Orioles' couldn't have played this any worse. If we weren't going to make a real effort to sign him, at least try to justify it by saying "we don't feel he fits in our plans just yet." Now we come off as stingy, desperate, stubborn, and probably with the consolation prize of an Eric Hinske. What a complete slap in the face of the fans.
Roch,
If for some reason Texiera does sign with Baltimore, do you think Boras will want a clause similiar to Sabathia's where Texiera can opt out of contract after 3-4 years?
I posted the following on the 11th and six days later it still seems relevant. My suggestion only extends the clubs guaranteed offer 15M and one contract year. The last two years are vested upon solid performance at salaries that will probably be considered bargains at that point. This is a whopper contract but it would send a message to MLB that the Orioles are players again.
Either Tex wants to play in Baltimore or he doesn’t. When you’re in the price range he is I don’t think an extra couple of million is really going to make a difference.
If the bidding hasn’t already gotten to 8 x 20M, it will shortly. With that in mind perhaps the best thing to do is offer that as a guarantee and add two vested option years at 25 to 30 M per year that a player performing at a very productive level could easily reach. By that point 25 to 30 M will be considered no better than average for a star player.
In essence we’re looking a potential 215 to 220 M contract, second only to ARod’s. Give Boras 24 hours to take it or leave it and, if he turns it down, accept that Tex doesn’t want to play here and start focusing on our other needs.
I want to see Tex in an O’s uniform as much as everyone else but at some point we all have to accept the hard realities of life:
“If the girl doesn’t like you, money ain’t goin to fix it”
I donno. I think that the Front Office is making a big mistake at not throwing a blank check at Tex. I know it's easy for us to sit back and say that, but they're really alienating their fans. At least, I wish they'd be more vocal in the media, at least showing us that they're trying. Right now, it seems like they've just thrown out an offer, and that's it. Please, Please PLEASE tell us that you're still working. I know it's Andy's way, to keep things low key, but we're so thirsty for a good team, or at least something exciting. I used to have a season ticket plan, but got rid of it because the team got unexciting. I got rid of it even when we had Tejada. The problem is that we've signed the wrong "big name" people in the past. They didn't put in the effort. Tex seems to be the "right" big name person. He seems to put in effort, no matter what. AND, he'd be the right "Face" of the organization. Make it happen Andy, PLEASE!!!
Plus, where is Olney getting his sources? MacPhail? DOUBT IT. Everybody knows MacPhail doesn't say a WORD to anybody about contract negotiations, etc. There's no way Olney knows anything more than anybody. And it's really, really disappointing that you take him at his word, Roch. Wow.
Its all negotiating ploys -
Boras is playing the media like a fiddle -
One day he tells Ravech that the O's are the front runner - then they've fallen behind
Tex MAY want to come to Baltimore but Boras CERTAINLY wants him to get top dollar.
And what better way than to tell the media that Baltimore has fallen behind because they won't match the BIGGER offer he has from other players.
I still think he could end up in Boston - because Boston NEEDS him to compete with the Yankees heavy spending this offseason - but I think the Orioles are closer to the front of the pack than Buster Olney has been led to believe.
Why be third fiddle in Boston (behind Pedroia and Big Papi) or New York (behind Jeter, A-Rod, C.C., et. al) when you can be the king of Baltimore and lead a revitalization of a franchise you grew up loving?
Its all about ego -
Peejay, let's not be whiners. Do you expect Buster to sit on the story because of his Baltimore allegiance? Are you picturing him twisting his mustache laughing maniacally as he types the update? He didn't come up with the content, he just wrote it.
And one more thing..... if for some reason (or miracle) Tex ends up signing with the O's (won't happen), a nice bottle of booze (your choice) will be waiting for you Roch, at whatever address you would like me to send it to. It will be a "sorry I was doubting the O's" and "Holy Crap let's celebrate" christmas gift.
I swear on Brian Roberts sexiness, that I will indeed send you the booze!
~Jennifer
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You don't deliver? - Roch
I read Olney's entry on espn.com. To me, the story consisted of nothing but opinionated conjecture and contained no new information. Hasn't the O's offer been a little lower than some other clubs all along? If so, how is it somehow a revelation worthy of a new story that their offer relies on Tex giving them a bit of a hometown discount? I simply saw this story as Olney's way to try to refute Ravech for casting doubt on Olney's opinion that the Os have a good shot.
Peejay,
I don't believe that Buster and the media hate the Orioles or Baltimore. They hate what Angelos has done to this once great organization. I am sure they don't mean to bust on the Orioles or the city. It is the owner of the O's that they have disdain for. Having said that, ESPN reporting in general makes me ill. They only report on the spankees and red sux.
Buster Olney is a terrible man. He would write about a flee race and claim Angelos fixed the race. He hates Baltimore and sours on the idea that Baltimore may sign Teixeira. Maybe, he should write the Baltimore Mariners (Indoor Football) and explain why they couldn't sign Jonathan Ogden. Olney, man you really hate Baltimore when you were here. We were just a stepping to your life. May your career do well in the future. I have a job for you...Cover the weather in Northern Seberia.
Buster says one thing, Ravech says something almost opposite, and then Gammons old self weighs in. ESPN is nothing but a rumor mill, three reporters saying three different things. Boras has what he wants and we, fans of every team in the mix are just pawns.
The scenario sounds all too familiar... bring the fans hopes up and act like you had legitimate interest in a superstar, only to have the fans feel the horrible hangover when he signs with another team that actually did want him. I'm starting to think I should root for the Phillies... Enough of the bs, we tried games.
Here's my way out theory -- Tex wants to play in Baltimore and isn't as greedy as we think most of these guys are (he actually thinks $16million-$20million what's the difference?)
This is killing Boras, given his aversion to taking less money for things like quality of life, etc... So Boras starts this PR machine to make it look like if Tex takes the O's offer, he must REALLY REALLY REALLY want to play there, thus making Tex a local hero for the next 8 years - and taking Boras off the hook for having a client who in the end just wanted to play for his hometown team.
Reading Buster's comments that "Teixeira would have to 'really, really want to play there' to take Baltimore's offer" got me thinking that Buster may just be repeating what Boras told him. Boras could be using the media once again - only this time to save face in the long run.
I know I'm probably wayyy off here - but something is up with all this back room talk. Either the Angels and Red Sox haven't stepped up like they thought they would, or Boras is setting this up for when the O's land Tex.
I understand the need for wild & fun speculation but please stop addressing the Orioles Hangout-type nonsense. Ive never seen anything like it, thousands of conspiracy theorists trashing reality-based journalism (because of perceived slights, grudges etc) while relying on "inside" information from some source of a source of a source.
The sad truth is Peter Angelos is a man of principle whether you believe in those principles or not. History suggests he made an offer his ego thinks is fair and thats that. It should come as no surprise to anyone if Teix spurns the Orioles for a far better offer that Angelos could prolly match but (rightly) thinks is lunacy.
Bill in Elkton, I would rather talk about paint drying, Calvin Pickering's diet, or Matt Reilly's potential than Jay Gibbons. Don't mention that roided up, overpaid, loser again please. Thanks.
Roch,
Rumors aside, the most important thing in this entire soap opera is that the Orioles have announced to their fans that they have no intention of ever competing for a title. We are offically the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinati Bengals, LA Clippers, a joke. To be outbid by the Red Sox is one thing, to be outbid by the Nats, is an entirely different matter. To not up your bid once and to go after no other meaningful FAs, such as Burrell, Dunn, Garland or Perez, when you have a payroll hovering around 50-65 mil, speaks louder than any PR statement by the Os front office. They might be only a few hundred yards apart geographically, but the the difference between the Os and the Ravens is light years. One organization wants to compete every year, the other wants to max out profits. As long as Angelos is at the helm this will always be the case. Why do I feel like I've seen this movie before, oh yeah, this is exactly what happened with Vlad G. Only the names have changed, the movie is the same.
http://www.examiner.com/x-436-Baltim...ixeira-bidding
A little truth on ESPN.
This is so Orioles. Make a play for the big free agent but safely don't bid enough to get him. We won't try for Dunn either. Orioles money is for Angelos. If Buster's righ it's time to totally boycott the Orioles.
This is amazing. I love watching the manipulation going on here. On Tuesday, someone close to Teixeira says: He's going to Baltimore. Telling everyone else to raise their offers. Wednesday, someone else says: He's not going to Baltimore. Telling Baltimore to raise their offer. Scott Boras has to be the one pulling the strings behind all of this.
it would be irresponsible to just keep raising an offer based on what everyone else is doing. I'll bet he's just told them here's our offer - it's negotiable and check back before you make a final decision. Why would they just keep raising the offer? makes no sense. And why wouldn't Boras check-in once he has a final offer from the angels, Nats and Red Sox? the bottom line is the O's have the only leverage in the game - hometown...so they can wait till the final offer from the others and then make a final bid. To raise their offer now only gives Boras leverage with the others and drives the market price up.
Let's think about this from a business perspective. Sites want page hits. ESPN is no doubt seeing the passion of O's fans to want this guy to come home. Olney isn't lying due to the one original report that the O's offered a 7-year deal. One source has heard nothing else and assumes a bidding war and that the O's are out of it. MacPhail could be up to something - who knows. All in all, no lies, just assumptions lead to major page hits due to all the O's fans that are in a panic and sending the link of Olney's article to all their friends. Thoughts Roch?
Roch what is lost in all this Tex discusion is the effect in dollars it has when you deal with Markakis and Roberts. If Tex is worth 20-25 million what are they going to ask for? If you sign Tex you better be prepared to trade Roberts.
Roch- Why are the O's just sitting there? It seemes that they are saying they would give more. Why dont they put in their best offer and then when that gets passed just say there out? I would hate for Tex to take the Sox offer, and the O's would have given a better 1. We here he is close to making a decision, but the O's just stand pat?
I'm not reading a whole lot into Olney's comments. After all, if this is true, wasn't it just yesterday that Karl Ravech reported the O's as the favorite? Geez. As long as the O's are still in the conversation, then that should be good enough.
I salute you Roch. I get frustrated just reading these updates, and you actually have to chase your tail trying to differentiate fact from fiction.
Here are facts that I'm sticking to in my mind:
- Boras and his staff are orchestrating all of this drama behind the scenes.
- Tex still hasn't signed, so until he does, all teams are in play. (And yes, even teams other than the ones that have been commonly mentioned.)
- Tex will make more money in one month with ANY new contract than my family could ever hope to have in my lifetime.
This is why the Orioles will never be competitive again. This is also why they have lost so many fans along the way. Open up your wallets and give money to Teixeira! He deserves it and he will be the face of this franchise for the next 10 years! If he ends up going to the Red Sox, Yanks or Nationals Angelos will have lost even more fans over another pathetic attempt to sign a marquee free agent
Say it ain't so!! I'm at work... somebody update me!!
The O's had a flexible offer, I can't see them NOT raising it. I think Tex just wants the O's to match the Red Sox offer.
Olney is an idiot. He predicted 55 wins for the O's last year. For most of the summer we were on pace to finish .500.
At work,
Steve
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the huge bonus for the community that Tex would be. He was a year ahead of me at MSJ and now he donates generously. These are the kind of x-factors the O's should consider when the decision to increase the offer comes.
Can you imagine what him and Roberts could do for the surrounding Baltimore area?
I think it would be another good step forward for franchise respectability.
The Ravens certainly try their best.
I think Tex would love to play for the O's but for the right price. I can't understand why everybody is so big on Tex, I know nobody wants to hear this but we may be better off without him.
Im so sick of Olney and Gammons and their hatred of every small and mid market team... They always talk about the Yankees, Redsox, Cubs and the Dodgers. It's so annoying.... I have been watching Peter Gammons since I was a young buck on ESPN but now once he gets on I change the channel....
From what I understand, if the Nationals and Red Sox are at 160 million over 8 years, and were at 7 years between 140-150 million, then we're paying him more a year, just for one less year. Our offer is definitly better if that is the case, he would be able to become a free agent again when he could still have some pop in his bat for another pay day.
Wow...we can hate him as fans, but if you were a player at the top of your game how would you not sign with Boras? He's playing the national media like a fiddle, and his commision just keeps climbing with every factless rumor. He really is the best at what he does...simply amazing.
I am sorry but I don't agree with you Roch with Buster. His sources seem to be wrong more than not. I also believe there is a bias at ESPN, mainly for ratings. They do not want Teixeira to sign with Baltimore because that can either help or hurt their rivalry. Some say how does him reporting this help keep Tex from the Orioles? I don't believe it does, but they have to report something and maybe they think they can influence it, kinda like they do College Basketball, talk about Duke and North Carolina all the time and highschool players will believe they will get the best exposure and go to play there. ESPN went crazy just recently when a player picked Kentucky over Duke and North Carolina and accused Kentucky of wrong doing. For ESPN, its all about the popularity contest, Boston and New York is invited to the dance and everyone else in the American League East can stay at home. It really bothered them that Tampa Bay messed up their post season!
Roch,
Is it possible that Teixeira has told the O's that he would give them the last shot at him, and they are going to get the chance to atleast match any other offer he has. I'm no expert on how these things work, but if I was Tex and I really whated to play in Baltimore, that is what I would do.
Roch - how is that possible? Olney is saying the Orioles stood pat and you're saying that the offer had flexibility. How can it be both ways? It does not make sense.
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Being flexible, and using that flexibility, are two different things. If the Orioles have stuck to their first offer, that doesn't mean they can't change it (though perhaps more of a tweak) down the road. - Roch
I'm curious, why do you tend to trust Olney and his sources? Really I think the loaded question I'm asking is if you believe Buster Olney is typically more right than wrong when it comes to his reporting, his sources, and what have you. I'm just sitting back and taking all this information in, regardless of whether it's a real "source", some media BS, or legitimate media reporting.
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Buster is one of the best in the business and has a million sources. He also has a great relationship with a certain owner who takes his calls. - Roch
Deja vu all over again. Tex turns down a 140 million contract with Texas so what does Baltimore do? duh, offer the same amount he turned down!!! Remember Vlad ? He turned down 5/65 from Montreal, what do the stupid friggin Orioles do ? Offer 5/65. They eventually upped their offer to 6/78. (Before anybody chimes in with the crap about how "Vlad just wouldn't come here", the Angels just picked up the option on the 6th yr bringing the value of the contract to 85 million so 85>78). I can hear the apologists now defending the O's on why Tex juSt wouldn't come here. MEMO TO THE ORIOLES AND OTHER APOLOGISTS; PLAYERS AREN'T COMING TO THIS PERENNIAL LOSER FOR LESS MONEY THAN WINNING TEAMS OFFER!!!!(seems obvious, right?)
Before people chime in about how the money can be better spent elsewhere, plan B is Eric F Hinkse or Hammering (while playing at home in Texas) Hank Blalock. On the pitching front you can look for retreads, has beens and never weres.
Remember when the O's excuse for not spending money was that they had to wait for the DC situation to play out? Well, MLB gave them a sweet deal and a TV network to boot and we were supposed see the impact of MASN "immediately" That was several years ago.
I also don't think the O's want to be used in a way to just keep increasing the bids. We've been played like that before. AM is smarter and he's waiting to see where the other clubs are drawing a line.
In that BO article, John Henry said that 10 years is out of the question. LA is beginning to look at other options, too.
Tex may be waiting to see if the O's will match the offer or not. AM & SB just worked out the Weiters deal, so I don't think either side is worried or frantic.
I'm at work and COUNTING on this blog to keep me updated! Thanks!
When Boras exhausts the options elsewhere, he'll get back to AM and we'll see from there. I think the O's will up the offer. Like you always say, "It's not my money..." but I think we offer him $20M+ a year for the next 9 years.
Roch- They say that we are WAY off in the Numbers. And I watched that show with you and Donahue with Trembley on the phone as he was preparing us for not getting Tex.
The Sox were not this kind of power house until this new ownership group took over 8 years ago. They are properly run.
I was reading where people from YES and NESN laugh at MASN.
I hope the whole thing goes bankrupt personally.
I only pray that when this is over, we see the numbers of who offered what. WHY SHOULD OR WOULD TEX HAVE TO TAKE A HOMETOWN DISCOUNT? Thats ridiculus. There is no reason the fans can't get a bone thrown at them with this. Where is the money from the last 11 years? Payrolls 30 million after this year and that includes 10 to Nick.
The O's get NO national repect because of this kind of stuff. Bottom 3 every year in worst run professional sports teams. And in 15 years, after 50 losing seasons (minus 96,97) this will loom over them.
Wow, we upgraded at SS. Still last place. We cut ties with Cabrera and signed a better veteran smokescreen. Still last place.
i just wish they'd move the team to indy.
Anyone that spends a dime on this team should have their head examined cuz your getting laughed at all the way to the 1st National Bank of Greece.
Roch,
This is Scott Boras we're talking about. He's got Olney, Gammons and the rest of them on puppet strings.
Whatever happens, I just hope it's wrapped up by the weekend b/c I'm just about fed up with Mark Teixeira.
Oh, I know Olney has his sources, but I was more or less asking if you think it's possible that he's wrong on this count? He's been wrong in the past. Remember the entire Matt Wieters ordeal? Now, I can't recall if Buster Olney was one of the naysayers, but there were quite a few media outlets saying that this deal was completely dead and that Wieters wasn't going back in the draft next year. There was actually a lot more negative articles out regarding this, but I can't recall each, but I'm sure you can.
Just colour me a skeptic of the overall state of baseball media reporting. I think it stems from a lot of "reporters" rehashing things from other reporters and putting their own spin on things. That's all good and fine, but the trouble comes when people take it as fact.
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The deal actually was "dead." Every Orioles executive gave up on it. Then Boras called at 11:40 p.m. and brought it back to life, lowering his demands from $10 million to $6 million. The Orioles are counting on history repeating itself. Maybe it does. Maybe it's too late. Or maybe they struck a deal early this morning and haven't told anybody - depending on who you believe. - Roch
This is my first time writing on this blog but I read it all the time and love your insight. Im from the DC area but have grown up loving the Orioles and this Tex business has become frustrating. If the latest report is true, I'll want to throw my hands up. The National are and will continue to be worthless for at least the next five years and underbiding them with regards to Tex will be shameful. I really want this to happen for the O's but especially for the fans. I've always read that Angelos is cheap especially with good players but if he lets Teixeria go, it will prove to me he has no intention of producing a good ball club. Just wanted to add my 2 cents.
Hey roch if you cant confrim it then how can olney confim the o's are out of it.
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Buster has multiple sources saying the club hasn't budged from its initial offer. Doesn't mean they won't, or that they're out of it, but he paints a bleak picture. (As opposed to a bleak pitcher, which is another topic entirely). - Roch
looks like its gonna be yet another let down in charm city..makes me sick
thanks peter!!
Remember what MacPhail said... It's not over 'til it's over.
Roch - Any movement on this side regarding an Olsen for Pie swap? http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1334574,CST-SPT-cub17.article
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I thought that trade only worked if the Padres were involved. They're the ones who wanted Olson, not the Cubs. - Roch
Yeah, I hear you, Roch.
Either way, I enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work.
Anything new on the starting pitcher front? Are the O's moving any closer to signing anyone?
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Nothing real close, from what I was told yesterday. That's expected to be the last area addressed. Same cast of characters are in play that you've been reading about. - Roch
Roch,
I appreciate your efforts to put the Teixeira media circus into perspective. In the words of a sci-fi movie hero from the 1980s, "No matter where you go, there you are." While I believe you've made clear your personal feelings about the advantages of the Os signing Tex -- and I agree with you there -- I can't help but wonder if the Os might still do as well spending some of the money they've reportedly opened up for him on several other players, such as one or more good pitchers (not retreads or fill-ins like Paul Byrd) and maybe Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, or Pat Burrell. While none of those would carry the lustre or individual promise of Teixeira, maybe the combination would significantly improve the Os to the point where they could be much more competitive with the other teams in their division. Do you know if the Os have a "Plan B" in the event they fail to sign Teixeira, and if so, which players might be in that plan? Also, in your last post ("More Teixeira Talk"), I believe you meant to say "disdain" rather than "distain," in your remark about the reaction to a buyout clause.
Thanks.
Hey Roch, something that I found interesting was that the O's said they were flexible, but didn't specify what they were flexible on.
Was it years? Dollars? Both? Peripheral terms?
As far as the sports reporters are concerned, I pretty much don't believe any of them outside of Baltimore, unless it's from a partner city in a trade.
They seem to jump at every ounce of wild speculation out there.
Roch, I had a family member who was a scout. Loved baseball, and was lucky enough to get a job in it. Two decades later, he was out and now he doesn't even watch it on tv. Can't stand the game. You ever feel like chasing down these rumors is taking away your baseball interest? Or that dealing with the anger of fans who just want a winning team, and positive news, but take out their anger on you, is taking away your love for the O's? Ever wish, for more than just personal reasons, that the O's would hurry up and win a WS?
It must be hard. Also, do you ever take a day off? I can't remember the last day you didn't post a blog.
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I'll admit that some of this is sucking the fun out of the job, but that's typical for this time of the year. As for taking a day off, that hasn't happened since I started at MASN on Aug. 1. I'm such a bargain! - Roch
The truth is, as fans we are being used. Teixeira has no intention of signing here and stating to Ravich that we are in the mix is a tactic used to up other offers, I thought he was a high character guy but it will be the highest bidder (Boston unfortunately). He should have said, "I want to play for my hometown team as long as they pay me the most..."
We are also being used by PA/AM, they want us to believe that they where in the mix so we don't jump ship but being 1 yr and $$ millions behind the other three is not "in the mix". They knew he would not accept such an offer with the others on the table, that's why they made it, face it there is no intention by O's ownership to bring him here, just to sit on the edge and say "Ooops, we tried... Now buy your season tickets for the new kids in town".
I have been an O's fan unquestionally all my life and have endured the last 11 years like the rest of you but no more. I live in California so whenever the O's come to town I spend good $$ to get seats in the front row, behind the plate, behind the dugout, I wear my O's jersey and bring my kids, I traveled to Baltimore and paid the scalpers $$, purchase merchandise online, I also bought the MLB package on DTV to watch the games since I get nothing if I don't.
I went to games in Ca when the O's fans outnumbered the angels fans by at least 3-4 to one and the attendance was less than 20k a game, all that is gone now. PA has decimated this team with his poor decisions and lack of concern for the fans (without the fans there is no team).
I don't believe they really tried, they think the fans aren't smart enough, it's insulting and I've had enough... I'll bet you all of my O's merchadise (game balls, signed Ripken ball, jerseys, the #2 produced 50th anniversary bat, other signed merchandise and trinkets) I am right, Teixeira signs elsewhere and the O's offer never went beyond 7 yrs...
Unless free agent Mark Teixeira is willing to give the Orioles a major hometown discount, it does not appear he will be playing in Baltimore ( Buster Olney ) He said the Nats offer is 8yrs / 160, thats 20 mill per yr. He said the O's offer is 7yrs / 150, thats about 21.5 million per yr. I don't see what Buster is talking about with his major discount ??? Unless someone is offering 25 mill per yr. he is really bias, or out of it !!!
Roch -
I said it once before but as a life long sports fan from the MD/DC/VA area you are a must read. Right up there with Boswell. Keep up the good work.
As for Teixeira: if there was ever a time or person the O's should invest $150 - $200 million it's in Texeira and it's NOW December 2008. Peter should pony up at the unique opportunity that presents itself because with one roch he can make up for many bird doo doos.
Bob in Gabon
Olney tends to be a credible source, and Gammons is in the MLB Hall of Fame for a reason, so we should lay off on them and quit whining like Sox and Yankees fans, which is exactly what we sound like right now. The fact of the matter is that as long as Angelos owns the team we have no hope.
As long as he owns the team we will continue to give out $7-10 mill a year contracts to guys like Jay Gibbons, Ramon Hernandez, and Melvin Mora who are never-wheres or has-beens that sound nice, and then when a real target like Tex comes onto the market we don't have the money to get him.
The O's offer should not go up any higher than it is at 7 and 150. Tex is a nice player but he is not someone that will change the balance of power for us. We need to follow the path of the Rays and Twins, grow pitching and defense and patch together retread platoons. The 20+ million a year that we would spend on Tex can be better spent locking up our defense up the middle (Jones, Wieters, Roberts, Izturis) for a long time and still leave us money to lock up some of our key young arms such as Matusz, Arrieta, and Tillman.
We will compete by growing our own from inside, if you paid attention to baseball you would see that the 90's Yankees teams and the current Red Sox and Rays teams were built this way, home-grown talent locked up long-term and supplemented by a role playing free agent or two. That is McPhail's plan and we need to shut up and let it happen.
In all reality, no one knows what exactly is going on except the men behind the closed doors. I mean look whats been happening...The national media has been seeing the Sox and Angels as favorites from the start while the "insiders" on OH claim that Teix will sign with the Os. To add to the matter, yesterday Ravich declares Teixeira has an "enormous attraction" to playing with the Os and within hours Gammons is claiming the Os are pretty much out of it. To me, Olney's news doesnt change anything because I feel like his report doesn't really change anything he's already reported. Thus, here we still stand, with absolutely no idea what is going on...
You don't deliver? - Roch
Oh Snap!
Deliver? HAHA!
If you want me to deliver booze Roch I will! However, I dont think they'd let me in the MASN studio/building/whatever it is.... I'm a crazy O's fan... If I saw Rick Dempsey walking around I might tackle him like I almost did to Jay Payton at the grocery store last summer (and I'm not even a fan of his).
So did anyone buy opening day tickets for a christmas present???? haha