Redsox to make big push for Texiera

[Believe in Boston 7]

Just got a new computer so lost all other info... but this drew it again

 

Red Sox Pursuing Teixeira

By Nat Boyle [November 2 at 10:02am CST]

Ken Davidoff of Newsday is confirming the Red Sox will be pushing hard to sign Mark Teixeira this offseason, a free agent perfect storm situation for Teixeira who also has interest coming from the Yankees. Writes Davidoff,

 

"Boston will aggressively pursue Teixeira, two industry sources confirmed. While the Red Sox have a very good first baseman in Kevin Youkilis, they can move Youkilis to third to make room for Teixeira. Incumbent third baseman Mike Lowell is recovering from hip surgery and isn't expected to be ready until mid-March, and as much as the Red Sox like Lowell, they can look to trade him."

 

Or they may hold onto Lowell and explore the market during the season as they did with Coco Crisp this year.

 

Teixeira, a switch hitter, would give Terry Francona an impact bat and added flexibility with the middle of his lineup which figures to have lefties David Ortiz and J.D. Drew and righties Youkilis and a motivated Jason Bay.

 

In this piece, Davidoff also suggests the Sox part with Jason Varitek and move to acquire Jarrod Saltalamacchia for pitching, as MLBTR discussed earlier today; however, if Varitek can be had for little and the Red Sox can afford it, it may make sense to re-sign Varitek and transition in his replacement at a pace dictated by production and success.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I like tulips

[Believe in Boston 7]

I like tulips

 

Sorry the link didn't copy paste first time around my fault Jake.

[Cocos Disciples]

Did you forget your password or something?

[Believe in Boston 7]

Did you forget your password or something?

 

Yea

 

But to the Email and Email password too.

[Cocos Disciples]

Er, okay.

[BoSox21]

nothing says baseball insider like Ken Davidoff

[example1]

I am not shocked if the Sox go after Texiera. He's a year younger than Youkilis and is just as difficult an out with more power. Defensively, Texiera would give them phenomenal players at 1B, 2B and 3B (Youk is above average at 3B ), all of them with superior bats.

 

I can imagine the Sox putting together a package with Mike Lowell and young pitching like Masterson, Bowden or Buchholz that would be a nice return for just about any team to fill a coveted spot; whether that be in a deal for a guy like Peavy or trying to land a coveted catcher (I think Lowell + any of those guys is too much for any of the TEX catchers.)

 

I think that Lowell's great character allows his salary to be tacked on to a deal for prospects, as most teams would (should) be happy to add a guy like Lowell to their lineup.

[Cocos Disciples]

I bet we have to eat half, if not more, of Lowell's salary.

[Dojji]

I consider this a waste of resources.

[Dipre]

For some reason i think FO has gauged at least mild interest from some of the starved-for-power at the corners teams (i.e Twins, White Sox, Giants) for Mike Lowell (3B is currently a position almost as thin as catcher) and that's the reason they're trying to push for Tex, otherwise, this is simply not a smart move since having 3 excellent to above-average corner infielders is not a good problem to have unless you can trade one of 'em.

[Dojji]

Anyone else still remember the Helton trade? We've been trading Mike Lowell for awhile now.

[riverside sluggers]

I am not shocked if the Sox go after Texiera. He's a year younger than Youkilis and is just as difficult an out with more power. Defensively, Texiera would give them phenomenal players at 1B, 2B and 3B (Youk is above average at 3B ), all of them with superior bats.

 

I can imagine the Sox putting together a package with Mike Lowell and young pitching like Masterson, Bowden or Buchholz that would be a nice return for just about any team to fill a coveted spot; whether that be in a deal for a guy like Peavy or trying to land a coveted catcher (I think Lowell + any of those guys is too much for any of the TEX catchers.)

 

I think that Lowell's great character allows his salary to be tacked on to a deal for prospects, as most teams would (should) be happy to add a guy like Lowell to their lineup.

 

I dont believe Texas would be interested in Lowell. Theyre pretty much set at the corners with Davis and Blalock

 

Teams that would be in need of 3rd baseman are:

 

White Sox, Twins, Guardians, Angels (Chone Figgins could be on trading block this winter), Giants

[Believe in Boston 7]

Texiera is a clutch bat need him.

[BSN07]

I dont believe Texas would be interested in Lowell. Theyre pretty much set at the corners with Davis and Blalock

 

Teams that would be in need of 3rd baseman are:

 

White Sox, Twins, Guardians, Angels (Chone Figgins could be on trading block this winter), Giants

 

This is true, but there's also been rumblings the Rangers want to move Blalock.

[Dipre]

I don't think the Sox NEEDTeixeira, besides , Lowell is also clutch,if that's what you're referring to, however, Teixeira + Youk is an obvious upgrade over Lowell + Youk, but is it really worth the money to sign Tex plus the hassle of trading Lowell plus eating a huge chunk of his salary.

 

I honestly believe that the budget constraints the moves mentioned before would cause do not justify acquiring Mark Teixeira unless trading Lowell would help the team acquire at least a B+ catcher.

[ORS]

I consider this a waste of resources.

At the expense of? Resources are only wasted when an expenditure precludes you from acquiring other assets (if the primary goal is fielding the best team you can). The L/T threshold goes up to $162M in '09. The Red Sox were at $133M to start '08, and about $25M of that comes off the payroll (this assumes Varitek returns in some capacity). They'll have a little over $50M of space to play with. Also, the L/T threshold grows to $178M by the end of the current CBA which runs through the 2011 season. If they were to decide to go after Teixeira, I don't see this move hancuffing them in the future.

[TheKilo]

IT BLOCKS LARS!!111

[BSN07]

IT BLOCKS LARS!!111

 

I've thought about this as well. But how can they be certain Lars will be better/as good then Tex? What if the sign tex and use Lars as a trade chip, his value must be up there right?

 

All I know is the Sox need a power bat for now and the future. And the price of FA is only going to keep going up from here on in. They might sign Tex and 4 years from now it looks like an absolute steal for the money. 5 years from now, 20M a season could seem avgerage.

 

The thing with money in these deals seems to be going one way, up. And I can't see it ever changing, unless America's economy completely bottoms out( depression of sorts). Or MLB does something to the current LT system. Which the PA will have a fit about.

 

 

There so many different scenario's that could happen.

 

Who knows, the Sox could just be trying to bump up the price.

[BoSox21]

Its Boras creating a market, Tex isnt coming here

[CrespoBlows]

I've thought about this as well. But how can they be certain Lars will be better/as good then Tex? What if the sign tex and use Lars as a trade chip, his value must be up there right?

 

All I know is the Sox need a power bat for now and the future. And the price of FA is only going to keep going up from here on in. They might sign Tex and 4 years from now it looks like an absolute steal for the money. 5 years from now, 20M a season could seem avgerage.

 

The thing with money in these deals seems to be going one way, up. And I can't see it ever changing, unless America's economy completely bottoms out( depression of sorts). Or MLB does something to the current LT system. Which the PA will have a fit about.

 

 

There so many different scenario's that could happen.

 

Who knows, the Sox could just be trying to bump up the price.

 

Lars can DH after Ortiz's contract is up.

[BSN07]

Lars can DH after Ortiz's contract is up.

 

Hmmm never thought of that. Ortiz is up in '10 right? Is that the ETA of Lars?

[TheKilo]

I've thought about this as well. But how can they be certain Lars will be better/as good then Tex? What if the sign tex and use Lars as a trade chip, his value must be up there right?

 

All I know is the Sox need a power bat for now and the future. And the price of FA is only going to keep going up from here on in. They might sign Tex and 4 years from now it looks like an absolute steal for the money. 5 years from now, 20M a season could seem avgerage.

 

The thing with money in these deals seems to be going one way, up. And I can't see it ever changing, unless America's economy completely bottoms out( depression of sorts). Or MLB does something to the current LT system. Which the PA will have a fit about.

 

 

There so many different scenario's that could happen.

 

Who knows, the Sox could just be trying to bump up the price.

 

I was being sarcastic. Teixeira is exactly the type of player you spend big $ on in freee agency.

 

Lowell won't be healthy until Mid-March, and there's concern about Ortiz's decline phase.

 

There's plenty of ABs to go around, IMO. A guy like Lowell could be a valuable trade chip come the deadline.

 

That being said, I don't think the Sox will land him because the price tag will be too great.

[TheKilo]

Its Boras creating a market' date=' Tex isnt coming here[/quote']

 

These two things aren't mutually exclusive, you know.

[BoSox21]

I believe Tex being linked to every single team with money is the work of Boras creating a market and I just dont see the Sox making the commitment that its gonna take to land him

 

Basically, I think reports of the Sox being on the shortlist of places he'll likely sign are inaccurate

[TheKilo]

That doesn't mean they won't seriously pursue him.

[BoSox21]

Yea, but "seriously persuing him" means being ready to make a commitment in the range of 10 years and $200 million. Do you really see the Sox throwing that kind of money at a free agent?

[TheKilo]

As I said in my previous post, no.

 

If they can move Lowell, however...

[Dipre]

As I said in my previous post, no.

 

If they can move Lowell, however...

 

That's a pretty big IF, even though the market for position 5 is weak and there are a couple of desperate teams, moving Lowell is still no certainty, and i ask you, if your team needed a third baseman, would you want to trade for Lowell right now, post-operation and all?

[TheKilo]

Depends on how much I have to pay him.

 

A team like the White Sox could be a fit...Lowell would produce in that small ballpark.