It’s Better For Manny If Teixeira Signs In Boston
December 16, 2008 by Mike
From Jon Heyman:
The Yankees are in on the Mark Teixeirasweepstakes but don’t appear overly optimistic to outbid the determined Angels or Red Sox. Should the Yankees lose out for Teixeira, who’s drawing interest from the perennially also-ran Nationals and Orioles in addition to the three aforementioned clubs, they seem ready to pounce for Manny Ramirez.
There are those suggesting the Yankees are only in the running for Teixeira to either monitor the rival Red Sox or drive up the price for the switch-hitting slugger. But while it’s true the Yankees don’t appear as eager to sign Teixeira as the Angels and Red Sox, they do appear willing to sign him at the right price.
While the Yankees have a trio of accomplished corner outfielders — Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Xavier Nady -- they appear to love the idea of Manny and could still utilize Damon in centerfield on occasion.
If Teixeira goes to the Red Sox, Ramirez’s market becomes that much better because the Angels become a possibility for his services as well as the Yankees and incumbent Dodgers. If Teixeira stays in Anaheim, Ramirez loses a little leverage since the Red Sox don’t want him back. Boston’s resolve to win Teixeira is heightened since they don’t have a viable fallback option like Ramirez.
Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras, has been telling teams he envisions Teixeira closer to Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million, or $30.5 million annually, depending whether you count the performance bonuses)
The perfect scenario for agent Scott Boras is to have the Red Sox sign Mark Teixeira. Because no matter what, Teixeira will get his money. But with that, then the Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, maybe even the Nationals and Orioles could get into a bidding war for the services of Manny. Too date, there hasn’t been much interest in the slugger, but once Teixeira signs that will change, and Red Sox won’t be bidding on Manny, so that would takes out a big spending club which hurts Boras’s leverage. If Teixeira say signs with the Angels or Nationals, then basically Manny is left to the Dodgers and the Yankees (maybe), not the number of teams bidding on him that Boras would like. So, look for Teixeira too sign late this week with a team, most likely the Red Sox, and after Christmas let the Manny Ramirez frenzy begin.
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