Olney's take on the O's interest in Tex

You can make the argument either way

and we have all been wrestling with it.

If its an eight year contract what Buster is saying is the first two years are wasted. Well I agree but I disagree. Tex is an investment. I consider this a signing like Detroit made with Magglio and Pudge a few years back. Like Omar made with Pedro a few years back. Its was to bring credibilitly to the franchise, to restore some confidence to the fanbase, to let other players know the team was changing for the better. I think this deal would work much better for the O’s then the other signings as those players were older.

I also think Tex will sell tickets in year one. After that, yes you need a winner. Still, signing Tex probably is the signal to Brian Roberts staying or going. I just dont see Brian wanting to stay without some change or sign of change. It may also be important to Nick signing off on free agent years.

Strategically, another poster has already indicated that next year has no key free agents available at first base although economics could make some other players available-such as Lance Berkman, Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard sometime in the near future. You can also argue not allowing Tex to go to Boston or NY is also strategic. Its very clear the O’s dont have organizational answers for first or third base in the next three years.

Still, the team hasnt competed for years and in these uncertain times will signing Tex really bring the season tickets? Does signing Tex, Brian and NIck (and locking up 40 mill for three players) make sense? Until the organization has ample major and Triple A pitching does it make sense to lock up anyone other then Nick?

40 million and no starting pitching puts you right on the bubble. We have all talked about teams like Florida, Tampa, Minn who dont get into these problems because they just wont take these financial risks. The Orioles are a between team, they can spend a little more, but should they?

My sense is, risk wise, no. But I suspect Peter is making this decision in all ways. Tex is probably well past where Andy wants to go but if Peter wants to sign off and doesnt want to be embarrassed by the Nationals then who knows. That is how Barry Zito wound up in SF, Andruw Jones in LA-the owners trumped their GM.

I suspect we do finally take a pass. My hunch is the economy is going to make some players available in mid season and next offseason. The O’s should keep the powder dry and I hate to say that. I wont complain if they sign Tex but it leaves little margin for error for Andy Macphail if the young pitching doesnt pan out.

by sanders833 on Dec 15, 2008 11:29 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

it all does come down to the young pitching

with tex, if the guys we are developing pan out in 2010 or so, this team would definitely be competitive.

but if those guys don’t pan out (and let’s face it, we need 4/5 of a rotation to pan out), all the teixeiras in the worlds will not make us competitive.

by zknower on Dec 15, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

We need 2/5 of a rotation to pan out. That’d give us a quality to above quality top 3 and some stop gaps or misfits in 4 and 5. That sounds like a plan to me: heck, Boston uses it routinely to victory.

spring breeze / the green field / tempts me to play catch

by elk on Dec 15, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good points.

I agree with most of them, but I can’t say this isn’t worth the risk. He goes to NYY or BOS & we’ve got to play him 19 times a year. He goes to DC (I don’t think this is even plausible, I think they’re the patsy team) and it looks bad but doesn’t hurt us until the god-forsaken interleague series.

Signing Teixeira means Roberts will stay. It means Markakis will lean towards signing away some of his FA years. It signals a willingness to invest. It solidifies a lineup that will already be adding a Matt Wieters. Assuming Guthrie sticks around & at least two of Matusz/Tillman/Arrieta pan out, it makes us a very attractive destination for some final FA pitching pieces.

On the marketing side, we’re going to score an assload of runs. People will watch that. People will show up to see all those HRs. If it’s slugfests vs. pitching duels, you’re going to see more casual fans show up for slugfests. Angelos is already well aware of what having a hometown hero on the roster can do for a middling team, so the new face of the franchise will Oriole-born, Oriole-bred, prodigal son returns, yadda yadda yadda. HR countdowns on the Warehouse wall.

Yes, it’s going to cost truckloads of money. But Pete’s got the cash & if there was ever a way to kick off a team’s return to prominence, you’ve got to admit this is one door-busting way to announce your return.

I see no lose here.

From the Land of Pleasant Living...

by OEutaw on Dec 16, 2008 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tex will be a bird

Texieria was in Baltimore last night as a guest of Peter Angelos at the Ravens/Steelers game. Brent Harris of Comcast Sportsnet is saying that the offer the O’s have on the table is 9 year, $180 Million. With Hernandez gone it is a pretty good chance we are going to see another big name gone to make room for Texeria. Roberts? Millar? Huff? There is a pretty good chance that one of those will be let go also.

by Misterwookas on Dec 15, 2008 12:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

this was widely reported, and widely refuted

did anyone actually see teixeira or angelos at the game? if it had happened, i’d think it’d be all over the papers this morning.

by zknower on Dec 15, 2008 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it is widely believed that the rumor was just that

A rumor and nothing else.

by PhilR8 on Dec 15, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

According to the Ravens’ radio broadcast team, Tex was at the game, as was a power trifecta of MD sportsmen – Cal, Phelps and Gary Williams. But then again, maybe the radio dudes just got wrapped up in the hype and rumor like the rest of us.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again."

by 2632 on Dec 15, 2008 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's huge!

But a little mystifying.

I can see Cal at 3B, Tex at 1B, but where does Phelps play? Maybe their planning to go with an underwater outfield next year?

by dkdc on Dec 15, 2008 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Phelps

would be better at SS then the rest of the clowns we had there last year

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 15, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sheesh

does that mean Phelps’ mom will be at every game screaming her head off?

Always trust your cape. -Guy Clark

by BPinOK on Dec 15, 2008 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We can't be choosy with what fans come to the park!

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 15, 2008 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Underwater Outfield

Will it be like the underwater infield in Game 5 of the WS?

by blawk359 on Dec 15, 2008 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we should fill Memorial Stadium

with water

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 16, 2008 12:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gary goes to alot of games

He’s always in Bisciotti’s box and Bisciotti, despite going to I believe Salisbury, has floor seats at the Comcast Center.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Dec 15, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Steve does have floor seats at UM

And strangely enough, SU makes no mention of Steve in any materials I’ve ever seen promoting the college. Weird.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 15, 2008 6:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So much for Buster's credibility

Besides Kevin Millar, the up-and-coming Nick Markakis is probably the best-known Baltimore player.

So, Huff doesn’t exist, even though he won the DH silver slugger award this year? BRob doesn’t exist? Guthrie certainly doesn’t exist, because he doesn’t know how to win. But KEVIN MILLAH?

Although I generally agree that this is a lot of money that could be down the toilet and hamstring us in the future. I’d rather see us spend $10-15M on rotation help. I’d rather see us get more prospects.

OTOH, I agree that this could be the big signing that puts us on the map and attracts star players. It all depends on ’09 and ’10.

I think I’d have to pass on Tex. Lock up Nick and get some pitching instead.

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 15, 2008 12:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think baseball types know Huff and some of the others

but I talk to a lot of casual baseball fans who have no idea who he is (Markakis). Nick is our Arcade Fire — kicking ass and taking names, but you’re average dimwit, doesn’t have a clue.

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 15, 2008 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's fine if your average fan of another team doesn't know Nick

But your average ORIOLES fan that doesn’t know Nick? Or Huff? If anyone who claims to be an Orioles fan doesn’t know why Huff is awesome, then that person should be given a pink hat and expelled from Birdland. I mean, seriously.

by PhilR8 on Dec 15, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Give it time

Next year will be the year that Nick and Adam Jones make names for themselves.

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 15, 2008 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin...

played for the Sawx ya know.

by howie14w on Dec 15, 2008 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Which is why Buster mentioned him

But I wouldn’t think of Millah as a ‘Baltimore player’. Neither would your avg BB fan. He’s a non-tendered FA now anyway.

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 15, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure I would classify Markakis as “up-and-coming” anymore. I mean, he’s been in the league for 3 years. And they’ve been 3 pretty good years.

And did he compeltely forget about Brian Roberts? Isn’t he kind of well known?

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Dec 15, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Only a two-time All-Star

Nothing to see here, move along. Pretty embarrassing work by Buster.

by Brotz13 on Dec 15, 2008 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, totally

I mean, they sell a pink Roberts jersey, don’t they? Shouldn’t that tell you something about the level of his popularity?

by PhilR8 on Dec 15, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pastels

I have a B-Rob jersey in every pastel color available. Sort of a Miami Vice meets MLB thing going on.

by blawk359 on Dec 15, 2008 9:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's hott

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Dec 15, 2008 9:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

they make jerseys in pastel colors?

I’ve actually never purchased a baseball jersey — I prefer t-shirts, but I might get one for Markakis, Jones, or Wieters, perhaps.

Football is a different story. I’ll wear football jerseys.

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 16, 2008 12:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Buster does have a good point about the wisdom of investing 20% to 25% into one player.

by birdman on Dec 15, 2008 1:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And a first basemen to boot

The amount of prospects that AM could get with that money would be far more efficient.

I thought before the off-season that AM would try to finish 2nd in the Tex sweepstakes in order to save face and not handcuff himself and I still think thats AM’s plan.

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Dec 15, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's been

the FO’s strategy (IMO) for too long, and what it ends up looking like to the fans is: “We were willing to go to 9 years/$180 mil but couldn’t tack on an extra year (or an extra $10 mil)?” The fans only accept, “Aw shucks we were close but no cigar” so many times, and we’re well past that number.

Whether or not you think the O’s should pay the big bucks for Tex, it doesn’t save any face at all to go into these negotiations aiming for second.

Game Over T-shirts: http://www.cafepress.com/beltwaysports

by CStoneNo37 on Dec 15, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

If, with that money, the O’s could get guys who contribute to a winning team then very few fans will obsess over what Teixeira did a few years earlier. Winning cures a lot of ills. I’m inclined to believe MacPhail thinks that way and this current baloney is all Peter Angelos.

by drj on Dec 15, 2008 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But I will say this

who are the highest paid players on the Twins and Tampa? I know Morneau is and Pena is right there and Florida wrapped up Hanley. Still if Tex is 20-22 and Brian is probably 10 in 2010 and Nick jumps pretty fast. I would really need to sit down and spreadsheet this thing for the next five years or more.

If we just knew if a Patton, Olsen or Liz could really make the jump? If a David Hernandez or Brandon Erbe were the real deal? Can we steal one free agent and trade for a mid level starter? I had high hopes for acquiring one of the Japanese hurlers and now they all seem to be moving into a price range that I suspect will eliminate the O’s.

I am going to watch and see….

You guys jump on me when I say we should trade Adam, Brian or Nick for pitching. I mean without pitching its just a wasted season…we need more and more pitching unless some of these other question marks finally have answers. I might wait one more year but we might just have to trade one or more of our center pieces even with all of our young pitching talent.

Without pitching your nothing. Give me five quality starters and avg replacement value offense and we can compete and win. Basically what Tampa just did.

by sanders833 on Dec 15, 2008 7:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

on Tampa and trading offense for pitching

Let’s remember that Tampa also has B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena. While they were not the dominant offensive force in the league, that’s a pretty serious offensive core – hardly replacement value.

I think that, given the burnout rate of young pitchers, a projectable position player is more valuable to this franchise than a projectable arm. While we can’t KNOW what sort of player Adam Jones is going to be for example, we have a pretty solid idea of the range of probably outcomes, the same cannot be said for a Chris Tillman or a Jake Arrietta.

In addition, while our offense is far superior to our pitching, it is only a position of RELATIVE strength, and not a position of actual strength. If we trade a Jones or a Markakis for pitching, we simply switch or strengths and weaknesses. What Tampa Bay did, was deal from a position of actual strength, trading from an outfield surplus of talented 20 somethings. We don’t have any surpluses of talent, merely surpluses of bodies (no one can project Luke Scott as a future star for example).

The Blue Jays had the best pitching in MLB last year, and it got them 86 wins, now I don’t mean to suggest that a team doesn’t want to have the best pitching, but it is clearly not enough to win, you need both.

by ItsBenFeldman on Dec 15, 2008 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good points all

Of those three Upton, Pena and Longoria either struggled or missed a ton of games.

Halliday and Burnett can skew some numbers. Give me five starters avg or better and a bullpen and that is how you get the extra wins with an avg offense.

I am not disputing your points. But Tampa made the same call I just suggested trading Delmon Young for Garza and Bartlett. Its just something I think you have to consider. I dont like trading any of these positional gems but to get this organization deeper pitching talent we may not have a choice. You then go to the free agent pool for a replacement bat.

I am just saying we may have to sacrifice a Jones or Markasis if we can get a three for one and use payroll to acquire a replacement value hitter from the free agent pool.

by sanders833 on Dec 15, 2008 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As for trading an OF....

Jones? Maybe, as sacrilegious as that may seem – his numbers weren’t THAT good last year that you wouldn’t trade him for a young pitcher you think is on the cusp of greatness.

Markakis? No way in hell – there are 3 years of proven numbers that would be impossible to replace with anyone we have. You’re filling a hole by digging another one.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 15, 2008 8:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, perhaps...

what made the young-garza trade so intriguing was the lack of data on young…young’s potential. markakis is already acknowledged by some in the know as one of the best rightfielders in the game. to compare, you didn’t see tampa trading carl crawford (even though i think he’s a BIT overrated), right? remember, they also traded dukes and at least dangled baldelli, so if we’re talking about dealing from a position of strength, the o’s should be looking at dealing pitching prospects, no?

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Dec 16, 2008 9:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Crawford was dangled many times

and he is now not over rated for the first time in a while.

Why would I want to trade our young pitchers for older pitchers?

I have suggested trading Adam Jones or NIck for a package like Matt Cain and Bumgarner arguably two of the best young pitchers in baseball and saying go get a free agent outfielder to replace the player moved. The time to consider this is most likely next year after we really see if all our young pitching prospects keep moving forward.

I have to admire to some degree Atlanta this offseason. Their stated goal was to acquire two quality starters. Peavy check, no go. Vazquez for Flowers. Burnett, check, no go. Backtrack, sign Furcal. Recheck Peavy. Check Japan. Check Oswalt and Halliday. Atlanta’s offense and bullpen are no better then the Orioles yet they seem to understand what they need to do. I admire its tenacity.

by sanders833 on Dec 16, 2008 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Defense

Tampa’s pitching was so great on large part because their defense was outstanding. An outstanding D with great pitching and decent hitting made for an extremely good team.

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Dec 15, 2008 7:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jumping on you

Jones, Roberts, and Markakis aren’t the people you trade. They are multi-dimensional players, and the ones you build a team around. They provide offense and defense. Roberts is the only one out of this bunch I’d trade, because he’s getting older and expensive and is a decline risk (although that’s uncertain).

Of course, like my father said, there’s a price for everything, so if we can get a blockbuster deal, do it, but these are guys that would be nearly impossible to replace, so trading them just creates more problems.

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 16, 2008 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Coach I dont mind you jumping on me

at all. But if our young pitching is only fair over the next three years then all of those years are just wasted. Add that to the last 12.

I am just throwing out different ways to get competitive and they all have to be considered. If we can get a package for Nick or Adam that is as good or better as the one for Bedard I just think you have to consider something like that.

by sanders833 on Dec 16, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well sure

I’d be a lot more willing to trade players like Huff and Roberts then Markakis or Jones. Players with present value who are at their peak versus players with mostly future value.

And if things don’t pan out, we’re in a good draft position ;)

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 16, 2008 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Roberts is the only one out of this bunch I’d trade, because he’s getting older and expensive and is a decline risk (although that’s uncertain).

I’m really afraid Roberts will go Luis Castillo on us. At age 32, Castillo really dropped off. Roberts has a bit more power thus his OPS+ is a bit better than Castillo, otherwise, they look like similar players (2Bs with good on-base skills and speed).

by birdman on Dec 16, 2008 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Castillo looks like a singles hitter

Which makes an early offensive fall off inevitable. With no gap power, and speed decreasing, there’s gonna be trouble. Now he’s a no-hit hot glove at 2B. Or, maybe he just couldn’t handle NY, and he’s a buy low candidate.

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 16, 2008 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

flipside

I think the interesting flipside to this argument is that one could make the argument that it’s the stupid contracts that kill you…giving Payton $5M to do whatever it is he did, $8M for Baez for reasons unknown, $7M for Ramon to dog it down the first baseline and $8M for Mora to make certain we have at least one Oriole to decline.

And I know the 20 to 25% on one player thing…but how many players does this really apply to in the history of the game? I don’t know…it may be legit it just sounds like something that looks good but may not be. But maybe I’m just being contrarian.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Dec 15, 2008 9:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Jay Gibbons

$16M to play in the independent leagues and beg for a job in MLB.

Jaime Walker: $4M to be a LNOGY. And we cut Chadwick for salary relief…

So it’s only OK to spend $20M+ on a player if your payroll is $100M+?

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 16, 2008 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LNOGY?

I may have to steal that in the future.

by Brotz13 on Dec 16, 2008 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Freel Free

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 16, 2008 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

O's need Tex

If we miss on him who else will come! Most will say – home town boy wouldn’t even play for them why should I

This is a chance to make others see Peter isn’t a tight ass anymore(not as tight)

We don’t have a guy for 1st, could we trade Huff for a number 2 or 3 pitcher?

by merdon1332000 on Dec 15, 2008 9:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

we could trade Huff

for someone who would be OUR 2 or 3…maybe, but certainly not for a legit 2 or 3 starter

by ItsBenFeldman on Dec 15, 2008 10:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hotstepper

Haven’t heard that song forever now.

Lucas with the lid off, now that’s another story

by merdon1332000 on Dec 16, 2008 6:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

….what they sing in that song is “Murderer”. But I always thought it was “word ’em up” too till someone showed me otherwise.

by Jonny Pops on Dec 16, 2008 10:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Buster Olney is a turd

I used to like him, but I have seen the light. He cares more about being on ESPN and being known then actually knowing anything about how baseball works or, you know, not being a sanctimonious prick.

by pipkin on Dec 16, 2008 12:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think to make a point sometimes

writers will stretch their argument a little. To bring up Millar who isnt on the team, yeah that was bad. Brian Roberts was know from last offseason just because we all got tired of hearing the trade rumors and I suspect that may happen soon if we cant get him signed. I also had a very bad realization that Nick Markasis didnt halt his contract talks to see where the market went (down) but to see what the O’s do.

Usually Buster is pretty fair and objective. I will give him a pass on this one.

by sanders833 on Dec 16, 2008 12:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I see the Sawx have made a big offer to Tex....

apparently for 8 years also…… Just what we don’t need…..

To read go to:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1139328&srvc=sports&position=3

"The main idea is to win"-John McGraw

by Orioles 1894 on Dec 16, 2008 11:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tex to Sign Soon?

From ESPN’s Karl Ravech:

http://blogs.weei.com/alexspeier/2008/12/16/report-teixeira-anticipates-22-28-millionyear/

The sense I got from the people I spoke with was that the decision is getting closer and closer to being made.

It appears as if the idea that he wants to play for a competitor in the East, while that’s a priority, it’s almost neutralized by the fact that there’s an enormous attraction to the Orioles. He grew up in Maryland. His family is there. His wife has very, very close ties to that area. There’s something that kind of keeps bringing he and (agent) Scott Boras back to the Orioles as a hometown, ‘I’d love to play for the team I grew up watching,’ (destination).

by dkdc on Dec 16, 2008 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

well...

this is either a well-orchestrated ploy or a tremendous cock tease.

i suppose it could be legit…but, oh, years of hoping has brought me down, man.

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Dec 16, 2008 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm ready to be pleasantly surprised

but I will not, repeat not, wish for this to happen, so I won’t be crushed by the inevitable disappointment of him signing with PHN or MFY.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 16, 2008 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

If you assume the worst, you can’t be disappointed.

In that vein, Boras is probably just using Tex’s Baltimore roots to use the O’s as a patsy to drive up his price for the Yankees/Red Sox.

Tex will sign with the Red Sox.

by dkdc on Dec 16, 2008 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Maybe he'll still give us a hometown discount

By not knocking the cover off of the ball while in OPACY

The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.

by CoachOfEarl on Dec 16, 2008 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It seems like every other day someone ups the ante a little bit; so I’m not sure why Teixeira and Boras would be in any hurry to sign. I know that Tex wanted to get this done by Christmas, but if he can make more by waiting a little longer, why not? And it’s not like anyone is close to signing another player and getting out of the race (unless you want to count Manny and Yankees).

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Dec 16, 2008 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wonder if

Tex is sitting in severna park, laughing at all the reports in baltimore, say to his wife “Hey Hun think we should stay here? or go on up to Boston, but no way am playing for the MFY, ohh ya get me a beer bitch”

by merdon1332000 on Dec 16, 2008 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs