Hey K-State...

[florige]

Do you think there is any chance in that we will land Teixeira now? I am hearing that they are really close in Boston to a deal and the O's are not going to up their offer any. Thats the only thing that sucks being in this division. Those assholes jump on any and every free agent out there.

[K-State Spur]

Do you think there is any chance in that we will land Teixeira now? I am hearing that they are really close in Boston to a deal and the O's are not going to up their offer any. Thats the only thing that sucks being in this division. Those assholes jump on any and every free agent out there.

Boston's got a bigger piggy bank, no doubt. But they also have some fiscal responsiblity - and with Papi, Youk, and Lowell in the fold, I just can't seem them giving Tex a contract in the A-Rod/Pujols neighborhood. But I've been wrong before. I think the real fear is if the Yankees get heavily involved. However, for now they seem semi-content on cornering the SP market.

That said, things looked pretty bleak earlier today. Yet, there are a couple of "insiders" on OriolesHangout that feel things are pretty positive for the O's right now - one with a good track record says that it's all but a done deal. Tex has given the O's the opportunity to match any offer, and Angelos is refusing to be outbid...or so goes the rumor.

Sounds like it's going to be something ridiculous like $190 million over 9 years. But...he's a hometown guy and the O's badly badly need some positive direction. And he could finally give the team a "face" of the franchise that they have lacked since Ripken (no offense to Roberts or Markakis).

With Weiters coming up this year, Adam Jones & Markakis continuing to improve, and they do have some very good young pitching in the system - getting Tex would make this team a lot more interesting over the next couple of years. I canceled my Extra Innings TV package last week - but I might re-up if they nab Tex.

[ATRAIN]

I heard the Nationals were making a heavy pitch for him, but I wouldnt be suprised to see him an Angel again. Kstate are you an O's fan like flo? Did the O's make any moves with the winter meetings?

[K-State Spur]

I heard the Nationals were making a heavy pitch for him, but I wouldnt be suprised to see him an Angel again. Kstate are you an O's fan like flo? Did the O's make any moves with the winter meetings?

Yeah, I grew up in DC during the Ripken era.

I don't think there's any way that Angelos lets him go the Nationals. I don't know if he has the pockets/willpower to outfight the Sox or Yanks, but I cannot envision him letting the hometown guy move to the beltway's compe ion. I think he would offer an A-Rod type deal before that happened.

At the winter meetings the Birds did sign Izturis and traded Ramon Hernandez for Ryan Freel and some prospects. The best part of the second move is that it basically ensures that Weiters will be with the big club this year.

[ATRAIN]

Yeah, I grew up in DC during the Ripken era.

I don't think there's any way that Angelos lets him go the Nationals. I don't know if he has the pockets/willpower to outfight the Sox or Yanks, but I cannot envision him letting the hometown guy move to the beltway's compe ion. I think he would offer an A-Rod type deal before that happened.

At the winter meetings the Birds did sign Izturis and traded Ramon Hernandez for Ryan Freel and some prospects. The best part of the second move is that it basically ensures that Weiters will be with the big club this year.

Awesome Ripken was a great player and respected everywhere. I hate for all the big names to go to just the yanks and bosox. I dont blame the players though. Like CC said they just offered him too much to that he couldnt say no to. If I was a MLB player I would get my payday from the sox or yanks then once I was rich I would go to my home team (in my case Astros). Not bad signings, lets see how they pan out. You guys showed some promise early on last season and because of flo I was rooting for you guys (except when you swept us hahaha). Astros winter meetings were quiet and a little dissapointing but im just happy the Peavy Cubs talks cooled off. How you guys liking Luke Scott?

[K-State Spur]

Luke Scott is the O's best LF since BJ Surhoff - and that's not saying much.

But I think it was a bit a coup to get the Astros to include him in the deal - he actually outproduced Tejada last year (albeit at an easier position to find offense).

[ATRAIN]

Luke Scott is the O's best LF since BJ Surhoff - and that's not saying much.

But I think it was a bit a coup to get the Astros to include him in the deal - he actually outproduced Tejada last year (albeit at an easier position to find offense).

Yeah I wasnt happy with the whole Tejada deal. I really liked Scott but he was too streaky. I wanted us to re-sign Aubrey Hale too but you guys got him. He was commanding too much I think. All in all though Tejada was an upgrade in the SS position that we havent had in years. I think they shipped off Scott because of Pence coming up and playing good ball and us signing Bourn. I hate rebuilding which seems like we are always doing that.

[florige]

Boston's got a bigger piggy bank, no doubt. But they also have some fiscal responsiblity - and with Papi, Youk, and Lowell in the fold, I just can't seem them giving Tex a contract in the A-Rod/Pujols neighborhood. But I've been wrong before. I think the real fear is if the Yankees get heavily involved. However, for now they seem semi-content on cornering the SP market.

That said, things looked pretty bleak earlier today. Yet, there are a couple of "insiders" on OriolesHangout that feel things are pretty positive for the O's right now - one with a good track record says that it's all but a done deal. Tex has given the O's the opportunity to match any offer, and Angelos is refusing to be outbid...or so goes the rumor.

Sounds like it's going to be something ridiculous like $190 million over 9 years. But...he's a hometown guy and the O's badly badly need some positive direction. And he could finally give the team a "face" of the franchise that they have lacked since Ripken (no offense to Roberts or Markakis).

With Weiters coming up this year, Adam Jones & Markakis continuing to improve, and they do have some very good young pitching in the system - getting Tex would make this team a lot more interesting over the next couple of years. I canceled my Extra Innings TV package last week - but I might re-up if they nab Tex.

Thats good to know. That would be so much of a FU to the Red Sox if we were to sign him. The Sun had reported that Angelos wasn't budging though.

[K-State Spur]

Thats good to know. That would be so much of a FU to the Red Sox if we were to sign him. The Sun had reported that Angelos wasn't budging though.

As of about 2:30 today, everybody except for that one insider now ways the O's are out of it.

Peter Gammons has even said that Tex will take a discount to go the Saux - although I think that's him just being a bag homer.

[florige]

As of about 2:30 today, everybody except for that one insider now ways the O's are out of it.

Peter Gammons has even said that Tex will take a discount to go the Saux - although I think that's him just being a bag homer.

Figures. I thought that maybe because we hadn't heard anything that maybe, just maaaybe that would be good news for us because maybe he was thinking about our offer. I guess not.....

[K-State Spur]

Figures. I thought that maybe because we hadn't heard anything that maybe, just maaaybe that would be good news for us because maybe he was thinking about our offer. I guess not.....

Multiple reports that he is in Baltimore this weekend and will be a personal guest of Peter Angelos at the Ravens game tomorrow.

Roy Firestone (yes, the Jerry McGuire Roy Firestone) is a regular poster on the Hangout and has been saying for a month that Tex will NOT sign with the O's. He just changed his tune about an hour ago.

[K-State Spur]

Hypothetically (and purely hypothetically, I don't want to jinx this thing):

2B - Brian Roberts
RF - Nick Markakis
1B - Mark Texiera
DH - Aubrey Huff
3B - Melvin Mora
LF - Luke Scott
C - Matt Wieters
CF - Adam Jones
SS - Cesar Izturis

...would HYPOTHETICALLY (and purely hypothetically) be an everyday line-up that could compete with anybody in the division. A little bit behind the Rays, about even with the Saux and Yanks (when's the last time you could say that?) and ahead of the BJays.

The problem is obviously the starting pitching. But with Guthrie entrenched and Matusz, Arrietta, and Tillman not far away - even that is not completely without hope. I think we could see a HUGE improvement from Garrett Olson as well.

[florige]

Multiple reports that he is in Baltimore this weekend and will be a personal guest of Peter Angelos at the Ravens game tomorrow.

Roy Firestone (yes, the Jerry McGuire Roy Firestone) is a regular poster on the Hangout and has been saying for a month that Tex will NOT sign with the O's. He just changed his tune about an hour ago.

Thats encouraging news. I just figured that if he was going to sign with Boston he already would have. I wonder how much his family is weighing in on his decision.

[K-State Spur]

A couple of guys are calling it a done deal. Seems like it's going to be for a ridiculous amount of money - i.e. 9/215.

But Angelos has the deep pockets. And - in the past - when he's started to spend, he tends to do it in bunches. So there may not be much fear that this contract would just become an albatross that would prevent them from spending elsewhere. , they needed to do something significant in order to open up Markakis to signing a long term deal.

[florige]

A couple of guys are calling it a done deal. Seems like it's going to be for a ridiculous amount of money - i.e. 9/215.

But Angelos has the deep pockets. And - in the past - when he's started to spend, he tends to do it in bunches. So there may not be much fear that this contract would just become an albatross that would prevent them from spending elsewhere. , they needed to do something significant in order to open up Markakis to signing a long term deal.

Geeeezuz that is alot of money! Do you think us signing him will make us contenders next year with the pitchers that we have, minus Cabrera thank God? lol

[K-State Spur]

Geeeezuz that is alot of money! Do you think us signing him will make us contenders next year with the pitchers that we have, minus Cabrera thank God? lol

No, probably not until 2010. But if they don't sign him, they'll probably have to rebuild again, which means that Roberts either won't resign or will be traded and maybe the same for Markakis too (who won't even discuss a long term deal until he sees some commitment from the front office).

As it is, despite any rumors or "insiders" - the longer this goes, the worse I think it gets for the O's.

[florige]

No, probably not until 2010. But if they don't sign him, they'll probably have to rebuild again, which means that Roberts either won't resign or will be traded and maybe the same for Markakis too (who won't even discuss a long term deal until he sees some commitment from the front office).

As it is, despite any rumors or "insiders" - the longer this goes, the worse I think it gets for the O's.

I think he is just weighing his options to this point. Probably deciding if he wants to win right away, or be the cornerstone of a possible Tampa Bay story in the next two years with the birds. He would be the man here no doubt. If he goes to Boston he will just be one of the many....

[K-State Spur]

From ESPN: "Which team will ultimately sign Mark Teixeira? Karl Ravech says the Teixeira sweepstakes are nearing a conclusion and indications are that the free agent has "an enormous attraction to the Orioles."

Considering that the NATIONAL media has been giving us ZERO chance in this thing up until this point...I'd say that's a VERY encouraging sign.

Of course, once he signs, then it will be spun to say that the O's overpaid (and they will have, but still necessary for many many reasons).

[florige]

From ESPN: "Which team will ultimately sign Mark Teixeira? Karl Ravech says the Teixeira sweepstakes are nearing a conclusion and indications are that the free agent has "an enormous attraction to the Orioles."

Considering that the NATIONAL media has been giving us ZERO chance in this thing up until this point...I'd say that's a VERY encouraging sign.

Of course, once he signs, then it will be spun to say that the O's overpaid (and they will have, but still necessary for many many reasons).

I don't want to get my hopes up, but this is looking very encouraging. Hey K-State, what would had been the odds two years ago before McPhail came that this would even be up for discussion?

[K-State Spur]

Not good, but Angelos has long coveted Tex because of his Baltimore background. Maybe it would have taken $40 million/year to even get the foot in the door then...

Side note:

It's the final weekend of the 2000 season, the orioles enter it at 71-88 - 4th place in the division. The Yankees (eventual champions) come into town having already clinched.

The Birds role them in 3 consecutive games for the sweep to finish 74-88. (Baltimore actually finished the season winning 7 of their last 9.)

Why is this important? Because with 74 wins, Baltimore finished ahead of the Rangers in the AL standings...but behind them in the draft order.

In the 2001 draft, the Rangers took Tex (who the O's badly wanted even then) with the 5th overall pick. The Birds had to settle for LHP Chris Smith - viewed as a reach at the time - who only pitched in a grand total of 24 minor league games (none of which were above A ball).

Gotta love the Syd Thrift era...

(In the interest of fairness - I will point out that they also had another pick later in that round that they used on Mike Fontenot, who has proven to be a very competent ML player.)

[florige]

Not good, but Angelos has long coveted Tex because of his Baltimore background. Maybe it would have taken $40 million/year to even get the foot in the door then...

Side note:

It's the final weekend of the 2000 season, the orioles enter it at 71-88 - 4th place in the division. The Yankees (eventual champions) come into town having already clinched.

The Birds role them in 3 consecutive games for the sweep to finish 74-88. (Baltimore actually finished the season winning 7 of their last 9.)

Why is this important? Because with 74 wins, Baltimore finished ahead of the Rangers in the AL standings...but behind them in the draft order.

In the 2001 draft, the Rangers took Tex (who the O's badly wanted even then) with the 5th overall pick. The Birds had to settle for LHP Chris Smith - viewed as a reach at the time - who only pitched in a grand total of 24 minor league games (none of which were above A ball).

Gotta love the Syd Thrift era...

(In the interest of fairness - I will point out that they also had another pick later in that round that they used on Mike Fontenot, who has proven to be a very competent ML player.)

Ughhh don't remind me. I think that Tex is really considering coming here big time for some reason. I think that he just wants a commitment from the team that we are committed to winning what I think we are now.
But I would be lying to you if I told you I wasn't nervous everytime I click on to ESPN. What would just really, TOTALLY destroy my week would be this headline..... "Tex chooses the Big Apple" At that point I would just throw my hands up. I wouldn't be as pissed if he decided to stay in Anaheim though.

[florige]

Hey K-State what do you think of this story?
McPhail has always been known to keep stuff quiet. I still thinks he signs here....


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3775042

[K-State Spur]

I do too.

You've got two guys that are pretty much reporting that he's going elsewhere:

Olney - this whole period he's been saying that Baltimore was never in it to begin with. NOW, he says that they are no longer in it (with a giant disclaimer)? How can they no longer be in it if they were never in it? Buster is also the same guy who said that there was a 0% chance that the Expos leave Montreal right before they packed their bags for DC.

Gammons - says he's going to the Saux. What a shocker there. It's almost like he was from Boston and a lifelong Sox fan or something...

The Red Sox boards are starting to sound pessimistic about getting him. Anaheim has basically moved on to Manny. Yankees never seemed that interested in him once they got Swisher (at least not beyond just wanting to bump the price up for everybody else). So that basically leaves the 2 area teams - and I think there is noway nohow whatsoever on this green earth that Angelos lets his prized possession sign to play in his neighborhood. That would be the nail in the coffin as to which team owns that region.

[florige]

I do too.

You've got two guys that are pretty much reporting that he's going elsewhere:

Olney - this whole period he's been saying that Baltimore was never in it to begin with. NOW, he says that they are no longer in it (with a giant disclaimer)? How can they no longer be in it if they were never in it? Buster is also the same guy who said that there was a 0% chance that the Expos leave Montreal right before they packed their bags for DC.

Gammons - says he's going to the Saux. What a shocker there. It's almost like he was from Boston and a lifelong Sox fan or something...

The Red Sox boards are starting to sound pessimistic about getting him. Anaheim has basically moved on to Manny. Yankees never seemed that interested in him once they got Swisher (at least not beyond just wanting to bump the price up for everybody else). So that basically leaves the 2 area teams - and I think there is noway nohow whatsoever on this green earth that Angelos lets his prized possession sign to play in his neighborhood. That would be the nail in the coffin as to which team owns that region.

Exactly! I think if he was going to sign with Boston the deal would have been finalized already. After NY signed those overrated pitchers for $215 million I think they are going to layoff now....

[K-State Spur]

Exactly! I think if he was going to sign with Boston the deal would have been finalized already. After NY signed those overrated pitchers for $215 million I think they are going to layoff now....

Moving off into a tangent.

Starting to hear rumors that the Yankees are in some trouble. The economic situation is a bit dim all over - but NY has gotten hit the hardest. Companies simply cannot afford the luxury boxes that the Yankees need to sell. They assume that they will sell them by March just because they always have - but that may not prove to be the case.

You're hearing some people predict that they might have to drop down to ONLY a $120 million payroll in a few years.

The one thing that O's/Nats have going for them in this economy is the abundance of government jobs located in that area - which will be some of the last to collapse (god forbid).