Just like that, the Red Sox appear to be in the homestretch of their quest to sign prized free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira to a long-term deal.Via the Boston Globe comes a report from a local Boston television station that Red Sox officials are in Texas at this writing and in face-to-face negotiations with Teixeira's agent Scott Boras.
According to [television reporter Mike] Lynch, who cited unnamed sources, the Red Sox were offering an eight-year, $184 million contract (average annual value -- $23 million) and are hopeful they can wrap up a deal tonight.Boston has long been the rumored destination for Teixeira despite the lack of any concrete offer that had been leaked to the media. If true, that's a whopper of an offer, especially for the current Red Sox regime, which has, generally speaking, balked at handing out deals of that length or value.
The Globe's Adam Kilgore has confirmed that Boras is in Dallas tonight. We are presently trying to confirm the rest of the information.
If you recall, this isn't the first time this Red Sox ownership stride has taken a cross-country flight to seal a deal. Boston took similar steps to ink Daisuke Matsuzaka in the 2006 offseason and Curt Schilling in 2003. Usually, when the Sox take a long trip away from home in Hot Stove season, they wind up coming back with something pretty special.
Also of note: Depending on who you talk to, the terms of the deal may have already been agreed upon.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-18-2008 @ 9:02PM
S.Desmond ex-bostonian said...
I am real glad that Theo,John Henry,et al,are going for this!!
They are making lots of $$$ and are putting some back to keep the Sox at the top of the baseball world!(yes Yankee fans, head and shoulders above your team.CC and AJ are NOT the savoiurs you dream of) ( I know they finished second last year to a flash in the pan) This is soooo much better than getting A-Rod and really is as good as getting rid of Manny! 100+ win season coming up!!!
Go BOSOX
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12-18-2008 @ 9:22PM
Bro said...
The Sox are HARDLY head and shoulders above the Yankees.
This is a GREAT pickup. I am stunned the Yanks were not more involved. Especially if anything just to drive up his price. IF this happens I expect Manny to be hitting behind A-Rod.
Signing CC is basically a wash with Mussina retiring. Tex will be playing 1B while Youk goes back to 3rd leaving Redsox loving Lowell where? A wash as well?
Now us Yankees fans can say it as well. The Redsox trying to buy a champoinship. I great player on a good team. He will not improve the team. You are replacing Manny and Lowell with Texeria. I'm wrong?
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12-19-2008 @ 4:31PM
ralphgmiami said...
Looks like the Red Sox forgot that defense and range helped them win it all in 2004 and 2007. They're back to the days on loading up on home run sluggers with lack of range. Yes Teixeira has a good glove at first base but the more important position of third base will now go to the stiff Kevin Youkilis instead of the gold glove caliber fielding Mike Lowell. Gone also is Coco Crisp as the Red Sox even got rid of speed. Jacoby Ellsbury can't provide speed on the bases all by himself. With less speed, range, Big Papi's balky wrist, Beckett's bad back, JD Drew's bad back, the Red Sox time near the top of the AL East looks to be over. GO YANKEES!!!!-from one of the hotbeds of the Yankee Universe, Miami, Florida.
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12-19-2008 @ 12:03AM
dennis said...
mike lynch, that faag has never broken a story in his life.
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12-18-2008 @ 11:57PM
sallie said...
MAKE LOWELL THE DH. IF tEX IS COMING TO BOSTON.
WHY ARE SOX REPLACING A WINNING INFIELD?
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12-19-2008 @ 8:08AM
TheHulk said...
I heard from a friend (with the Yanks) yesterday morning that the yanks told Scott @ the winter meetings, that the yanks would go as high as 9yrs/185mm. But have no intention of signing Mark T.
They were driving up the price and put nothing in writing, when I heard I did not believe it, now after what as happpened I think the Yanks just F*CKED the Sox...
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