|
Braves 1B Mark Teixeira is able to be a free agent after this season.
According to Jon Heyman on SI.com, citing ‘sources,’ the 28–year-old Teixeira and his agent, Scott Boras, could be seeking a ten-year, $200 million deal.
Teixeira, who has 174 career home runs in 779 games, is hitting .254 this season following a 5–for-32 start.
In the report, Heyman writes, “Jeff Wilpon is said to have been a Teixeira admirer for years,” while listing the Mets at 4 to 1 odds of signing the first baseman.
Ultimately, Heyman believes that the Yankees are most likely to sign Teixeira, with the Mets next in line, followed by the Orioles, Mariners, Braves, Red Sox and Giants.
…well, i am sure it will make Scott Boras more than happy to wrangle in both new york teams…
Speaking of first baseman, according to Jamey Newberg of the Newberg Report, Rangers 1B Jason Botts has cleared waivers and will return to the team’s farm system.
Personally, I’d LOVE to have Tex on our team. He’s young, hits for power, a great fielder and is a switch hitter. I’m not sure 10 yrs at $200 million is worth it though, that’s a lot to invest in one player. And, would the Yankees be so eager to sign a deal like that, considering they just signed a 10 yr contact for ARod? Not so sure…
6 yrs, 120 million…(maybe 7….maybe)
Ten years is way too much. I don’t care who you are! And ultimately, Boras will use the Mets to get to the Yankees. It’s happened before, it sure as hell will happen again.
We are not getting this guy… Yanks or O’s going to throw ton of money at him. We need to focus on Pitching… Sheets… Garland.. CC
We’re not getting CC, that’s for sure. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have him, I just think he’ll either resign wih Cleveland or go to the Yankees. Sheets, is too often injured and will command a much higher contact than he’s worth. Garland is solid though and could make a impact on our team…
i doubt we will get cc or sheets…garland may be reasonable though
DK I dont agree with you on somethings but here I am with you 100%. Pitching, pitching, pitching. I think we can get CC if we put our total effort into him and forget about Tex who we definetly wont be able to sign. If we show CC he’s our one and only prioity, his opinion toward the Mets might be higher. The chance to join Santana on a pitching staff, to not have to be “The Guy “, in the NL without a DH, could end up being factors in our favor. Pitching has never hurt the Braves all those years, not hurting AZ right now either.
Has anyone been watching baseball this year- besides Mets Game? CC is NO Santana.. he is built like Ray King.. he is injury prone and has looked like garbage this year. And yet ..He is still going to get a boatload of money.. I would bet the Rangers or Giants sign him… just on their track record of horrendous FA signings
Funny, I’ve been watching more than just this year. Your injury prone pitcher averages 31 starts a year, and 201 innings per year. True he’s not having a good year so far but he’s not anywhere close to looking like garbage. Over-exaggerating a little arent we? The man is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and every pitcher is allowed one bad season, and really it has only been one month. But your right, we shouldnt even think of signing a 28 year old left-handed pitcher with very good lifetime numbers, because he’s 1-5 one month in. What were we thinking about?
I hope the Yankees do get Teixiera and overpay for him. I’m afraid that their need to put Posada at first base may interfere with that.
I would rather the Mets gamble that one of Murphy,. Evans or Carp can hold down the fort at first base at least temporarily, if not permanently. They need to spend most of their money next year on pitching.
Teixeira may have had his best years already. 10 years is way too long to sing him. Just pass.
I don’t know if we’re going to be happy down the line when Tex is 35,36,37, and 38….putting up Delgado numbers for $20 mill a year…
The think is Tex seems to be different type of player than Carlos, who certainly aged a bit faster playing on the SkyDome turf – Delgado has a much longer, upper cut swing, whereas Tex is a line drive hitter with power—That type of swing doesn’t deteriorate as quickly. In addition, he is also a quality defender, which Delgado never was.
I’m all for 7/120-140 with a few option years or something…
I’ll pass as well. Too much $$$, and pitching will be the priority.
Plus, he looks like a damn bird.
I’m tired of overpaying for guys that are past their prime. we need to worry about our pitching staff next season. If we get absolutely no production from second base for the next four seasons then its probably a big deal that we get decent production from first base but lets see if we can make a trade or something. I really don’t think overpaying for theses superstars makes much sense anymore. Look at all the teams contending with young players.
how’s he past his prime? he’s 28 and is entering his prime.
ENOUGH ALREADY! Let’s try building on some young talent rather than looking for the next high-priced FA. We have two good young 1B prospects in Mike Carp and Michel Abreu.
Look around the league. The successful teams are teams like Arizona, Colorado, and Milwaukee. These are not veteran clubs. I don’t care if we don’t win in 2009 if it means winning from 2010 every year through 2015.
Michel Abreu is anything but young… is he like 31 or 33?
Abreu’s officially 29, but being a Cuban defector you gotta add a few to that.
Point remains, however, that we have a bunch of talent at 1B in the minors – Carp, Evans, Lucas Duda.
They might not be ready for next year though, but Abreu or Pascucci could be serviceable stopgaps until 2010.
We need to have cash available to address pitching this offseason, I think Tex is a luxury we can’t afford, especially with the Yankees likely to make a huge offer.
No it came out long ago that he was much older. I guess the Mets want to still list him at that to make him more attractive. Type it in on google and you will find the actual age.
I think maybe we need to add a few years to Luis Castillo’s listed age too?
Good point. If there’s one position where the league is flush with good players, it’s first base. 10 years/200 million is too much in a buyers market. If he was a second baseman I could maybe see it.
I agree with what you’re saying, but tell me exactly what success Milwaukee has had. Almost winning the division last year counts as success? In that case, the Mets were successful last year too.
And by the way, Abreu is not young… he’s like 34 years old.
Our two young prospects are Carp and Evans, not Abreu. But I agree, let’s go with our OWN young talent.
10 years is a lot of years for a position player whose name isn’t A-Rod. The Yanks would gladly pay big bucks for him, but they’re not gonna give him a 10 year deal. Nor will the Mets, or practically any other team in baseball. Except maybe the rock-stupid Baltimore front office.
Not sure Teixeira strikes me as one of those guys who will age well. I can see him declining sooner than we think. 10 years should be out of the question.
Pass…focus needs to be filling at least two voids in the rotation, possibly three if Pelfrey doesnt get it together.
I would love to have tex but i just dont see that happening. The yanks are gonna snatch him up for 10 years. Way to long of a contract for the mets to commit to. Id say let em go and focus on pitching. As far as first base we could look for trade because the 1b class of 2009 is not that inspiring
per mlbtraderumors.com
First basemen
Ben Broussard (32)
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) – $16MM mutual option for ‘09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) – $22MM club option for ‘09 with a $5MM buyout
Scott Hatteberg (39)
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)
………..
I wouldn’t mind giving Eric Hinske a look as a temporary replacement for a year or two until Carp is ready. He was always a big prospect and he’s clearly got something left in the tank…
If Delgado should turn out to be done, and it gets late in the season and the Mets are in the race for a playoff spot…. and if the Dodgers should fall out of the race I could see Nomar or Kent being trade options for the Mets to play IB…
By the way – I had Philly sportstalk on the radio today, and Phillie fans are really down on Ryan Howard. Some callers want him demoted to the AAA team to get his swing together, some were talking about putting him on the DL with a fake injury so he can clear his head. Crazy huh?
Of course he will be a Yankee…
He and Sabathia…
Just like Johan, right?
I agree with the popular sentiment here. However, I would love to drive the price up for the Yanks.
Put the money into pitching. Sign a stop-gap 1B until a Carp or Evans is ready (if they aren’t by then). Possibly let F-Mart try out in LF?
Ha you beat me to it… cant wait to drive up the price for the Yanks to over pay…
Courtesy of Cot’s, the 2009 1B free agent list (*denotes option):
Rich Aurilia SF
Ben Broussard TEX
Carlos Delgado * NYM
Nomar Garciaparra LAD
Jason Giambi * NYY
Wes Helms PHI
Kevin Millar BAL
Richie Sexson SEA
Mark Teixeira ATL
Frank Thomas OAK
Jim Thome CWS
Daryle Ward CHC
It’s Teixeria, and no one else…
That’s what it driving up price tag!
Yeah, not many choices… With Omar you never know whats going to happen. Last off season i never thought we would get Santana. No 1 saw the Church trade coming. Lets see what Omar does…
Id take Sexson for a year or 2
Uncool of Matt to use that picture. Makes me sad that Delgado cannot assume that position.
You can’t give a 29 year old a 10 year contract! That’s just stupid. Six years would be the absolute most I’d commit. Just look at a 36 year old Delgado, who was better than Teixeira at 29.
Without HGH, guys can’t play effectively into their late 30s and GMs certainly shouldn’t be stupid enough to pay them $20m/year at that stage.
With A-rod, it clearly different because of his chances of breaking Bonds’ career HR record.
I don’t think CC goes to the Yankee’s. I see him staying with the (1) Indians going to 2(LA Dodgers or Angels) 3) Some off the wall team 4) Mets.
As for Tex, I have no desire to spend that much money there. We need to pursue a trade for a guys like Kendry Morales, Nick Johnson types.
Get Garland he pitches consistantly and tons of innings then get a guy like Sheets or Harden (gamble guy). Santana, Maine, Garland, Sheetsand Pelfrey would be a solid rotation and could be had for the same price of Tex or close to it.
Nick Johnson would be good stop gap fix… I would roll the dice with Sheets.
DK, we need to pass on both of these guys(Sheets/Nick Johnson) as we already have enough injury prone players on this roster. Garland would be a nice 3rd or 4th starter
The thing is, the lineup has had a big void since 2007, with Delgado falling off the table. Combine that with the fact that Alou will be gone next year, the team HAS to bring in a big bat. They won’t upgrade significantly in LF, becuase Fernando will take over eventually.
The Mets need the power that Tex brings to the table. Plus, as a plus defender, not to mention switch hitter, he is exactly the type of two way player that Omar likes, similar to Beltran, Wright, Reyes, and Chuch (no latino jokes please). The only other alternative to fill that void would be Dunn, but he is lacking in his all around game.
I always figured that Wright would go to first base and we would look for a third baseman. Not sure if that is easier or something the Mets are considering.
3rd base market is even worse.
it REALLY is! if the mets are going to move wright, it won’t be because there is a viable solution at third, it will be because he is too error prone.
What about Garrett Atkins? He’s a decent bat and can play 1B/3B. No improvement in fielding but he’s 28 and is arbitration eligible through 2010.
Why on earth would the Rockies trade him?
Ken Rosenthal seems to think they aren’t going to extend his contract. Somethign about making over $20 million in arbitration and some Ian Stewart prospect they have. I didnt make this up.
CC is 1-5 with a 7.51 ERA so far this season, anybody watch any of those games? 37 K in 38.1 innings so something’s still working, but his WHIP is approaching 2.
To soon to make a decision on Tex. Wait and see how the 1B prospects pan out. Also, you never know what will happen with Delgado. He could get injured and the Mets would need to make a trade for 1B that is under contract.
If we do sign Tex, then the Mets can trade Carp for much needed pitching for next year.
I do see him getting 7 years 125 million.
I don’t see Tex happening.
I have thought for a while the priority signing for the Mets next offseason will be Jon Garland. A successful AL pitcher, innings guy, moving to the NL. Should be a plus at #3.
A flyer on a Sheets type injury risk or reclamation project as well rounds out the roration.
Hinske would be nice, or trading for a blocked 1B like Kendry would be excellent. Please, get young offense and pitching to add to the core!!!!!
Maybe F-Mart makes the jump to LF which means we’re just replacing Delgado. Maybe even Thome, depending how our season ends, for thump in the middle.
Reyes
Church or Castillo
Wright
Beltran
Thome
F-Mart or Church
Schnieder or F-Mart
Castillo or Schnieder
“Don’t mess with the ” Johan
Maine
Garland
Sheets / Pelfrey
Perfrey / Armas Jr. / Niese / warm body
I’m sorry but that does not look like a team that will make the playoffs…You really think Thome in 2009 gives you more than Delgado in 2007?
I think he probably does, but short term I’d prefer Hinske or maybe the Morales trade rumored. Thome is a fall back spot in my mind, maybe platooning with Carp. Not an awful one, but I’d prefer to get younger.
we need to make another Kris Benson and through in a MAINE.
don’t misunderstand me, I don’t want Kris back, my point is haw lucky we got with the Maine “through in”
Thing is, we don’t have a Benson to move, unless it’s OP, and he’s pretty much needed this season to have a shot at things.
Even if Pedro comes back strong, this isn’t impressive:
Johan
Maine
Pedro
Pelfrey
Figgy? El Duque?
If OP’s pitching well, we need him, if he’s not we get nothing back anyway.
They should pursue Teixeira. I’d start negotiations at 6yr/$100M (Carlos Lee’s contract).
What’s the deal with Adam Dunn. Is he an option to consider? He can play 1B or OF. I know he strikes out a lot but he has 40 HR capability. Wasn’t his name being tossed around not too long ago?
He makes the move to Shea and his home run #’s go way down…now you’re stuck with a guy that strikes out a lot and flies out to the warning track the other times….remind you of anyone?
Dunn may strikes out a lot but his OBP is consistently in the .360-.380, even on the road. In fact for most of his career his stats there hasn’t been a serious gap between his home/away splits. He’d easily be a major upgrade over Delgado.
At what cost? Do you want him for next year?
I didn’t say I wanted him just that he’d be a major upgrade.
I guess I would want him if trading for him didn’t open up a hole somewhere else, either immediately or down the line. And I really have no idea what he’d cost. I figure it depends on whether the Reds can move Jr. If they can’t Dunn’s cost probably goes down cause they need to move one of them if they can I’d assume his cost goes up, or he comes off the trading block altogether. Unless they have an outfielder other than Bruce being blocked.
But as far as I can tell the Reds are going to want pitching back and I think it would be stupid to move any more pitching prospects considering how thin we are in that area.
Oh and I meant this year, although I know it’s a pipe dream cause Delgado isn’t going to the bench. I’m with you on not wanting to invest heavy money on a first basemen until we at least give our prospects a chance to suck, or something.
Ahh, I would LOVE Teixeira as a Met. Seriously, he’s going to get a record breaking deal for a first basemen at the end of the year. The Yankees would probably throw that 10/200 figure out at him. Mets have a chance though. Love the idea of Tex at first. We’d have an all-star infield again (with the expection of Luisluis… but he can be the gold-glove guy as long as he keeps his defense up to par.)
thome can not field to save his life, he is strictly a dh for the chi sox, and wouldnt be an upgrade from delgado
unless an in season deal is made , or wright shifts over to 1b, i think were looking at Carp next season at 1st
I don’t get why everyone here wants starting pitching when everyone has been complaining about the offense and bullpen all year. I think our priority should be getting a power hitter for the clean-up spot. How about Manny, Adam Dunn, or Vlad(if he is a free agent, has a club option) for left field?
yeah i agree that the offense needs some upgrading and we need a mid rotation starter(Garland)….we need a few hitters that can hit with RISP. Dunn or Teixeira would be a major upgrade at first. The offense has actually cost us more games than pitching
Because good pitching beats good hitting. Maine proved that yesterday against a hot Dodger team. Next year we have Santana, Maine, Pelfrey, ?#1, and ?#2. Two high quality pitchers and an average firstbaseman would still have us at the top. What does AZ have thats so great offensively? They’re starting pitching is what has them on top. The Braves all those years had great starting pitching, Chipper, and a pieced together offense. Pitching is what its all about.
Also, we have some good positional prospects but are very thin in pitching.
If you have 30-40 million to spend I would much rather spend it on 2 starters to replace Pedro and Perez and go with either a stop gap in LF or RF or allow young players to develop. I would rather have a good competitive team that has potential for the future than to block our prospects AND struggle with pitching all season.