Word is, Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, is using the $153.3-million, eight-year contract that Miguel Cabrera got from the Tigers before last season as a baseline for negotiations, and Boras makes the points that Teixeira is a leader and also a free agent (Cabrera had two years to go before free agency when he signed that Tigers deal).
Bottom Line: A commenter over at FanNation nailed it when he said the Angel's are shooting themselves in the foot with a "deadline." Boras was not Hunter's agent and we all know that Boras will wait for the best offer - deadlines' mean nothing to him. Also Hunter was 34 when he signed that deal... Tex is 28.I'm gonna stick with my original prediction and say the Teixeira signs a 6-year, $108M deal ($18M per yr) with two option years.
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Heyman also said that free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia is hearing from most of the major-market teams since receiving the Yankees' bold opening salvo last week, a $140-million, six-year bid that beat the Brewers' initial offer by $40 million and makes a nice high target for someone to shoot at. The Dodgers, Giants, Red Sox and Angels are among big-market teams believed to have checked in on Sabathia.
ESPN's Peter Gammons said Sabathia doesn't intend to decide on his next team until after the Thanksgiving weekend.
Bottom Line: We haven't heard much about the Sox and C.C., and one can assume that they are simply jacking up the price on the Yankees - just as the Yankees could be doing to us with Teixeira, but the Sox are definitely in the market for another starter...
The question is: Is the Hefty Lefty worth $140 mil? 2009 will be C.C.'s 9th major league season - Bartolo Colon went 21-8 in his 9th full season and then went 11-15 with an ERA in the fives over the next 3 years due to injuries.
Sooner or later his weight is going to slow him down, and personally, I don't think he's a wise investment. I say jack up the price and let him go to the Yankees - I'll be very curious to see if he can match his Brewer numbers (9-2, 1.56 ERA) while pitching under pressure in New York...
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Speaking of the Yankees...
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner yesterday officially handed control of the major-league team to his son, Hal.
"I realize it's a great responsibility," said Hal Steinbrenner, who turns 40 on Dec. 3. "My dad is, needless to say, a tough act to follow."
The elder Steinbrenner has gradually withdrawn from the Yankees' day-to-day operations in recent years as his health faded, and brothers Hal and Hank were appointed co-chairmen in April.
Hank Steinbrenner, Hal's older brother, will continue to oversee baseball operations... and tell anyone who will listen how much he hates the Red Sox.
Check back all winter long for more Hot Stove updates!
1 comments:
The deadline thing is a dumb idea. If they go back on it, then it sets a precedent that they're not true to their word. If they DON'T go back on it, then they could lose Teixeira.
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