The eight-year, $180 million deal agreed to between the Yankees and Mark Teixeira has a full no-trade clause and $5 million signing bonus, reports Bill Madden in the Daily News, who adds:

“Until Tuesday, the Yankees were mostly interested observers… But when the Angels pulled out of the bidding on Sunday night, and the Red Sox failed to reach an agreement… the Yankees suddenly became more interested… It was then learned that Teixeira had favored the Yankees all along and according to sources he conveyed that to them this week.”

…so, wait, after the Angels pulled out and the Red Sox disappeared, and all that was left was the Nationals, it was then, after that, when the Yankees suddenly learned of his interest…hmm, sure, that sounds about right…

Update, 3:25 pm:

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports the Yankees and free-agent 1B Mark Teixeira have reached agreement on an eight-year, $180 million deal.

…great…now let’s move on, Scott Boras…it’s time to talk about Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez i believe…

…now, the question is: will this motivate the Red Sox to spend additional money on lowe, who the Mets prefer to sign…

Update, 3:20 pm:

The Yankees are on the verge of signing Teixeira to an eight-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.

Original Post:

The Washington Times reports there will be an announcement today about where Mark Teixeira will sign his next contract.

Peter Gammons and Buster Olney of ESPN.com believe a deal is ‘seemingly imminent.’

Meanwhile, the Nationals have upped their offer to Teixeira to nine years, $180 million, reports the Boston Globe, while the Red Sox remain at eight years, and roughly $170 million.

However, while MLB.com believes Teixiera will decide today between the Nationals and Red Sox, Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Yankees are in deep discussions with Teixeira.

According to Newsday, the Red Sox still have an eight-year offer on the table, and could up it to $180 million if necessary, though the two sides have not been in contact since last Thursday.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Angels are no longer pursuing Teixeira, while the Yankees and O’s once made offers that are believed to be less than Boston’s.

Why do you care…

The common belief around baseball is that if the Sox land Teixeira, they may less inclined to get in to a bidding war for Derek Lowe, who is believed to be Omar Minaya’s top choice from the list of free-agent starting pitchers.

Jon Heyman of SI.com believes Teixeira could sign by this Thursday, noting that rival executives see the Red Sox as the favorites, while ‘the Yankees remain the wild card.’

In fact, Angels GM Tony Reagins later confirmed the report to the Los Angeles Times, adding that he is no longer pursuing Teixeira.

Similarly, Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the Nationals do not expect to sign Teixeira, despite making a eight-year offer.

Meanwhile, according to the Newsday, Teixeira still has an eight-year offer on the table from the Red Sox, worth roughly $22 million per season.

…ok, so, the Sox have the high offer, the Angels are out, the Nationals lack confidence, and the O’s have reportedly only offered seven years…which would suggest the Red Sox are in very, very good position to land teixeira…unless, of course, a new team can be wrangled in to the mix…

In an earlier report, Newsday reported that Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras, is working to get the Yankees involved again.

Olney believes Brian Cashman made Teixeira an offer earlier in the off-season, but has since pulled it back.

…in case you’re wondering, six articles and the Mets are not mentioned once as ever having interest in teixeira…

However, late last night, the Boston Globe relayed an e-mail from Sox owner John Henry, which read:

“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”

…honestly, my first reaction to this e-mail was that boras tried to package Jason Varitek in to the deal, as he’s accused of doing from time to time, and that – not the specific dollars for teixeira – is what is keeping them from being a factor…or, the Sox feel they are now bidding against themselves, due to boras’s mind games…but, that’s all just speculation…though, it’s logical, because, going in to yesterday, the general buzz in baseball seemed to feel it was inevitable that he’d sign in boston…

…that said, i did speak with two people yesterday, who deal in the business side of the game, both of whom, though guessing, felt teixeira would end up back with the Angels…so, who knows…

The Red Sox, Angels, Yankees, Orioles and Nationals have all been pursuing Teixeira since the end of the regular season.

Why do you care…

…if the Red Sox lose teixeira, knowing they’re not signing Manny Ramirez, it seems there is a good chance they decide to focus on Derek Lowe, who the Mets are wishing to sign…inversely, if the sox do sign teixeira, i believe it strengthens Omar Minaya’s position to sign lowe…

…also, if the sox sign teixeira, the buzz in new york suggests the Yankees will push to sign ramirez, who the Angels will likely try for, but if manny goes to the Bronx, the Angels could end up reaching out to minaya about Carlos Delgado…

…by the way, i hate blogging about teixeira, because it pains me knowing the Mets are not involved…i understand why they’re not involved, i just don’t like it…if there is ever a player worth an eight-year deal, it’s this guy…that said, he doesn’t pitch, and i agree pitching should be their primary focus right now…

Speaking of hitters, so to speak…

The Angels are close to re-signing free-agent OF Juan Rivera to a three-year contract, reports Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports.

…good…get him off the board…i don’t know, but i just had this bad feeling he would end up on the Mets, either in left field or at first…

According to multiple reports, the Red Sox, Angels, Nationals and Orioles have all made offers to Teixeira.

Jon Heyman of SI.com believes that if the Yankees are unable to sign Teixeira, ‘they seem ready to pounce for Manny Ramirez.’

…from what i can gather, the Angels will first push for manny if they lose teixeira…if, however, manny signs with the Yankees, the Angels could come knocking on Omar Minaya’s door about 1B Carlos Delgado, who would be a one-year fix at first base, while also playing filling in at DH in the American League…

Delgado will earn $12 million in 2009, after which he’ll be a free agent.

…i always got the sense delgado would be here come opening day, so long as a better option did not come in to view…i believe the team sees Daniel Murphy as their first baseman of the future, but not Opening Day 2009…so, even if the Angels have interest, at this point, with Raul Ibanez, Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeria off the board, i am not sure the Mets would be inclined to trade him…

For what it’s worth, Delgado will be the best free-agent first baseman on the market following the 2009 season.

The Red Sox recently made an eight-year offer, reports Michael Silverman in the Boston Herald.

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times believes the Angels offered $160 million to Teixeira, which is for eight years, the team’s GM told MLB.com.

“The Yankees have re-entered the Mark Teixeira Sweepstakes,” wrote Jon Heyman yesterday to his blog for SI.com.

Lastly, the O’s final offer to Teixeira was for seven years, and roughly $145 million, according to the Baltimore Sun, while the Washington Post believes the Nationals offered him an eight-year, $160 million contract.

The Braves have offered A.J. Burnett a five-year, $80 million contract, according to Gerry Fraley of FoxSports.com.

The Cardinals offered OF Rick Ankiel to the Mariners for closer J.J. Putz, according to Ken Rosenthal on FoxSports.com.

…so, are we to assume the cost of putz for the Mets could have been, say, Ryan Church…

The Blue Jays have shown interest in free-agent RHP Matt Clement, reports the Toronto Star.

The A’s continue to meet with free-agent SS Rafael Furcal, according to ESPN.com, despite the player rejecting a four-year deal earlier in the month.

However, according to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, while speaking to WFAN, ‘the Yankees are in on Ramirez.’

Speaking of hitters…

Jon Heyman of SI.com talked to two high-ranking officials who believe Mark Teixeira will end up signing a 10–year, $200 million deal.

That said, the Nationals have made a seven-year, $150 million offer to Teixeira, reports Yahoo! Sports.

The Washington Post believes the Angels, Red Sox, Nationals and Orioles will compete for Teixeira, while Heyman seems to feel the Red Sox will eventually sign him.

According to FoxSports.com, Teixeira would prefer to sign with a team on the East Coast, to be closer to his family.

According to the report, ‘the Orioles are in hot pursuit as well.’

…also…

The Blue Jays have shown interest in trading for Astros 3B Ty Wigginton, as well as Rays infielder Jason Bartlett, according to the Toronto Sun.

“The Pirates have had several discussions with free-agent infielder David Eckstein,” reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The O’s have signed infielder Cesar Izturis, says ESPN.com.

The Dodgers and Mark Loretta have agreed on a one-year, $1.4 million contract, according to MLB.com.

…if loretta got one year, and everett got one year, i am not sure Nick Punto will get more than one year, though he’s certainly trying…apparently, according to eyewitnesses, punto is not hard to find in the Bellagio…

The Twins are not interested in Astros SS Miguel Tejada, but the Indians are, explains MLB Trade Rumors.

Jason Giambi expects to sign a contract with the A’s, bringing him back to Oakland, writes Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.

The Marlins may make look to sign Pudge Rodriguez, reports Mike Berardino on his blog for the Sun Sentinel.

The Tigers could end up trading OF-1B Marcus Thames, in an effort to save money, reports the Detroit Free Press.

In a post to Yahoo!, Gordon Edes surveys a group of team officials who believe the Red Sox will end up with Mark Teixeira.

The Braves and Cardinals have discussed a deal that would send OF Rick Ankiel to Atlanta, according to FoxSports.com.

The Red Sox have expressed interest in free-agent LHP Andy Pettitte, writes the Boston Herald.

Lastly, the Yankees will soon make an offer to free-agent RHP Ben Sheets, reports the Daily News.