Rumors are beginning to circulate [scroll down a bit] that our own Washington Nationals may actually make a strong offer for Rangers-turned-
Angels-now-Free Agent slugger Mark Teixeira. Baseball Prospectus says they “may go as high as” $200M for 10 years, which is what Tex’s agent Scott Boras has floated as his target salary. Open Free Agent signing period begins at midnight tonight [Friday Nov 14].
The purported offer goes against every conventional wisdom there is with respect to the Nats (e.g. the Nats have a long term “Plan” to build from within; the Lerners are cheap/won’t spend on high-priced free agents; the Nats aren’t ready to contend; etc…). That is, except two schools of thought, which may indeed drive this signing: that (1) the Nat’s #1 off season priority is a left-handed, middle-of-the-order power bat, and (2) that the Nats got embarrassed this year – not only with their last-in-the-majors 59-102 record, but with a significantly underwhelming box office tally in their honeymoon season in the brand-new Nationals Park. There aren’t too many of the former out there which can stabilize a batting order, and Matt Holiday (tho a Righty) was on the Nats wish-list, and has now been dealt to Oakland. Prince Fielder is out there, but would command top prospects that the Nationals likely don’t have. Teixeira is a switch-hitter and is only 28 – so a long-term deal may not smack “The Plan” too strongly in the face. Heck, in 5 years, a $20M salary may be a bargain for a .290/40 HR/.900+ OPS guy!
#2 may be the most important, as the Nats attendance dwindled significantly from the start of the season, and there’s a growing resentment among it’s rather transient fanbase that the organization isn’t commited to a winning team at the MLB level. In short, they need a star – beyond FoF Ryan Zimmerman – to put some butts in the seats, sell some more luxury boxes, and win a few games.
We shall soon see… perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
November 13th, 2008
I think the first 5-6 years of the deal are good, the last 4 will stink, but it’s the kind of legitimizing deal you need to make in order to be taken seriously.
The thing is, he is probably the #1 hitter on the market, even over Manny. He was the most dangerous hitter in the AL playoffs not in a Rays’ uniform and the Sox and Yankees and Angels are all in the mix. If you can get the same money or similar from a playoff contender, why would you come to DC after getting a taste of playoff baseball.
The Nats basically have to overspend and hit Boras’ number if they want to even get a seat at the table.
November 13th, 2008
I’d guess the Nats are exactly what Boras is looking for. Someone who needs to overspend to get Tex, thus increasing the Boras vig. The question is will they do it…
If attendance is really what you want, a well known character like Manny probably fills more seats. Tex probably brings a few more seats, but also makes the team look they are trying to be competitive. My guess is some big dollars and being able to move back to Annapolis could actually make the Nats contenders for Tex.
So, what happens to Nick? We already have dameathook making 7 figures in AAA. I’m not sure you can trade Nick with $5.5MM of salary and one year to free agency…