Pete,

You still think this gets done by Christmas for whichever team signs him, or do you think that was all posturing on Boras's end to start with?

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Pete's reply: I think something gets settled in the next couple of days, but that's just my instinct. No inside info.

Your last sentence says it all. And the truth of the matter will be revealed within the next 24 hours, I feel certain. I am not optimistic...

Andy - make it happen - he will pay for himself with increased attendance, better record, attraction of other free agents, resigning of current ball players, local advertisement... make it happen already...

Fiorentino on the fence! NICE!

Below are the results from the nearly 47,000 Boston Globe readers who opined as to where they think Teixeira will ultimately sign. Okay, we O's fans don't look to Boston fans for guidance on anything other than boorish, beery misbehavior. But it's interesting to see their contempt for Peter Angeloser.:

Red Sox
43.7%
Angels
26.9%
Yankees
17.3%
Nationals
8.4%
Orioles
3.8%
Total votes: 46801

What I want to happen: Tex will sign for less money to return and rescue his beloved O's from a decade of horror

What I think will happen: Tex realizes what a big gamble it'd be to play his prime years on the hope that the franchise will return to their glory days. He signs with Boston for more money than any of us will ever see...

Come on Andy, prove me wrong

Forget Tex.They're not going to sign him.

Hey Pete,do you think the O's will move to Sarasota for spring training? I would actually have to buy season tickets and give up some golf dates. I must be getting old.

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Pete's reply: The way things are going, they'll probably end up in the old Fort Myers Stadium.

Somebody's teasing somebody (and except for teasing themselves, it ain't the bird droppings). Personally, I think the Yanks are waiting for an opening. Boston, and the Angels? Don't believe they're out of the bidding. Washington? They'd love to spoil the O's home coming party. I hope I'm wrong, but the Birds have the least chance of all these teams in signing Tex..Time will tell.

Quetion for Steinbrenner, Inc: Why don't the Yanks just sign every one and take the mystery out of it. Adam Dunn, Manny, and Tex. It is hard to compete with all their bucks.

Idiots. Go ahead and sign him and get ready to lose for 10 more years. stick to the plan McPhail!

Schmucker,

If this was in the days of Hank Peters or the later years of Bennett Williams of Larry Luchino or anybody else besides who is there now, Tex would be here. I hope I'm wrong, but MacPhail is a bargain hunter and good at it. I don't think he'll pay a premium for Tex. He and Angelos may want to win, but they have their own conept in mind and it doesn't dove tail with what the fans want. Result? No Tex, little improvement over next year, and at least 3-5 years of continued losing if not more! Remember, you read it here first.

Pete, you really have to stop watching the "Lifetime" network.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox get back into the hunt and sign him.

Hey Peter-
I'm not taking a shot at the local media here, but why is it that there is so little information being reported about the Orioles pursuit of Teixeira? We don't even know the specifics of the offer from the winter meetings.... Is it that Andy MacPhail is so tight with info, or is there this much of a gap between our beat writers and the team.... Like I said, its not a shot at you guys, just curious.....

Dream on.

Are the O's doing anything? it seems like they're just twitteling their thumbs hoping he'll call them back, they are not being aggressive at all. Why not have Tex down the OPACY for XMAS?

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Pete's reply: Don't underestimate Andy. He doesn't say much, but they are at work.

yeah no excuses this time. Hey imagine this.. I have a question not relating to tex! Whats the progression of Chris Ray looking like? I havent really been following it much and have admittedly been dreaming up rosters (now that Tex is an oriole at least in MY head)

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Pete's reply: Ray apparently will be ready for spring training, where he and George Sherrill will get ready to be co-closers, or something like that.

Hey Pete. Have the O's put any thought into signing Pudge to catch this year while Wieters works his way in? I know he'll come at a price, but he hits when he's healthy and is likely a HOF'er when he retires. He would also be a good catcher for some of the young arms we're sure to put in there this year. Does he simply cost more than we're willing to pay for a catcher this year?

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Pete's reply: No, he creates a huge problem if he plays well. Do you want Wieters going stale for two years while Pudge plays. He wouldn't come to be a full-time backup.

Pete......What do you think the chances are that an "opt out" clause in the contract could be a holdup? If I'm Tex and I want to play for my hometown team, I'm still aware that the hometown team has been horrible for a long time now and might not wanna play for a loser for the rest of my career. So I'd want to be able to get out after 3-5 years if I see that they're not gonna do what it takes to win. Maybe the 2 parties are negotiating those sort of things and not so much the money!?!?!?!

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Pete's reply: I have no idea, but I wouldn't give him one.

Because its the O's way here is my prediction: We sign Tex and the fans are happy, that allows McPhail to then turn around and trade fan favorite Brian Roberts while everyone is still in a good mood..............

If they don’t act now, its pretty clear that they never wanted to sign him in the first place and that this whole charade was only to save face. Angelos doesn’t spend big...we have to get used to it or start watching another club like I am committed to!! If this doesn’t go down, I will become an Independent league fan real fast…Go York Revolution !!

Will PA be the Ebenezer Scrooge before the visit by Marley (Jacob, not Bob) or the one after the visit?
I want some Christmas pudding.

Why would the Red Sox AND Angels suddenly drop out the Tex sweepstakes? My take is that both teams got tired of waiting and offered him a "take it or leave it" offer and Boras didn't bite. I still feel the Sox will not just walk away, and the Yanks are primed to swoop in and sign him. To me, the Nats can offer him ownership of the team and Tex still wouldn't go there. So, it's now a three team race...Sox, Yanks and O's.
Here's the key question...do we (O's) even want him? Tex is a GREAT player and would be the foundation of this team for 7-8 years. His signing would probably also influence BRob to sign long term. BUT, last I checked, we had one starting pitcher with rumors of signing Looper, Redding and one of the Japanese pitchers. Not exactly a topflight staff. With Tex, we'd try to win every game by outscoring the other team and end up in 4th place. Without him, 2009 is another last place finish. I'd hold the $150M and invest in future pitching. We can always find a hitter, but you win with great pitching...something we haven't seen in Baltimore in a very long time.

Peter, dear Peter....

Angelos is like a State Prison Board - his purse strings pucker tighter than a ***** when confronted with spending any more money. He is still bitter by his own stupidity with Belle. Until he decides to win, the zerO's will be just that. ZerO talent, zerO big names. OH I dream of Cal Ripken taking over ownership. Then and only then shall I recall that I was once the most fanatical O's fan of them all. My heart was broke years ago, and I don't see it a-mending anytime soon. Tex will never be an O.

Peter, do you think MacPhail will up the offer? I know he's said that he doesn't want to big against himself, but he should also want to be sure he lands Teixeira. Losing him to the Sawx would be a dagger, but at least they're a perennial contender with a large budget. Losing him to the Nationals would be bloody unacceptable.

It would be a wonderful Christmas gift to O's fans if we sign Teixeira! C'mon MacPhail, make the move! There will be celebration in the streets, we need a game-changer.

Pete - I would love to see Teixeria in O's uniform as much as anyone . BUT I am not going to hold my breath . Just as you said , anything can happen .

Once the O"s offer the 8th year, which seems only natural, then we'll know where they stand in this fiasco. I, like you, still think that the Sox get him but if we go the additional year, then we actually gave it our best. If not, then they tried to be cheap, the old O's way of negotiating and deserve to be villified. TBD once this ends, if this ever ends.

Rumor has it that Looper is headed to the Brewers, Kawakami is getting 3 years from the Sox and Redding is getting 2 years from the Mets, If true then who is next on the O's "want" list of "leftover" pitchers?

Am I the only one that thinks Mark Teixeira is actually to blame in this? Scott Boras is doing what he is paid to do as directed by his clients. Teixeira is a grown man who could easily pick up the phone and get something done. If he really wants to play here than take 150 million. To go to the Nats or Boston for an extra 10 million is on him and it shows that he never really wanted to come home in the first place. I have a bad feeling that we are just being used to drive up the bids from other teams.

Peter,
ESPN's Buster Olney reports this morning that the Orioles offered $140 million over 7 years (not $150M) and that the Red Sox are still favored. If Tex doesn't sign with the O's, he sure knows how to drain the morale of his "childhood team."

Even if the O's don't sign Teixeira this off-season, I must say I'm very impressed with MacPhail and I believe he'll bring the O's back even in this tough division. He's shown that not only can he handle other GMs but he can handle Scott Boras as well.

My other question is, how good is Teixeira really? I understand hes a hometown favorite, a gold glover, and a great discpline hitter (which sounds like alot already). Is he even a top 5 1B? How much would Albert Pujols, or Lance Berkman, or Derek Lee, or Ryan Howard be commanding on the market right now? CC just got 7 years, 160 million. Is Teixeira really worth as much as someone who has proven to be a CY winner AND a possible MVP candidate last year? It doesn't seem like we are getting a hometown discount, it seems more like we're over-valuing someone because he has home-town ties.

I believe if you're going to get 1/6 or more of our teams payroll, you damn better well be a top 5-10 player. He might be eventually but I wouldn't consider Teixeira even a top 20 position player right now... but the fans do need something to be excited about, granted they'll only be excited for a month and start complaining again...

Did you really reference a "sexy thriller" and then use the word "pop?"
Awesome.

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Pete's reply: Don't lie. I know you stayed up all the way to 3:30 last night to see the end.

is this a big tease, i hop not.i wouldn't tust boras on any kind of bet. if the orioles really want tex,now is the time to act. this is no time for peter angelos to take time to analyze (woffle).i would like to think that the angels and red sox are tired of playing the type of games scott boras likes to play.so maybe before this day is over we will know where tex will be playing ball in 2009

Aloha Pete,

The New York Post is reporting the Yankees are in the mix. Any thought here that Boras might be trying to get a Yankee-Red Sox bidding war going? That could get him closer to the $200M level he's been seeking.

I'm still knocking on wood and keeping my fingers crossed that Teixeira comes to Baltimore.

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Pete's reply: The NY tabs had the Yankees ready to offer Manny a three-year deal yesterday. I wonder what they'll report tomorrow.

The longer these negotiations drag on, the less appeal Teixeira has as "a home-town guy coming home to play for the home-town team." That sentiment has, in fact, proven delusional. The most we can say is he's maybe a decent guy and a very talented ballplayer and one who would help our club out quite a bit. As far as I'm concerned he's just another dude who's gone along rather one-dimensionally with the Boras plan.

As for Ramirez, I don't see him going anywhere small-market. What I heard years ago was that the Yanks were reluctant to sign him at the time Boston did because, Yanks brass thought, his not-so-upstanding acquaintances in NYC would be a detriment to him and the club. Perhaps Cashman doesn't have that concern anymore? (I also continue to think the market out here, in L.A., is just too competitive for him, and even if Scioscia doesn't adore him, the fan base and the lineup certainly would.)

Goat Boy says they censor those movies on cable.

The last graf of your post is dead-on, Pete, the time is now. Nine years, $192 million and let's be done with this saga. He'll look great in O's uni for the next nine years, surrounded by Markakis, Weiters and Adam Jones.

offer tex 8 yrs. for 175-180 million. considering the market it's more than fair and if he really wants to play for the orioles he'll sign. what would be great is if everyone took their offers of the table. enough is enough with this though i can't imagine this blog getting more comments for anything else...though if the orioles don't sign him a lot of people will chime in on how the orioles should have bid more. somehow baseball needs to find a way to paying players one yr at a time. look at a j burnett. 3 times his contract was coming to an end and 3 times he stepped up and pitched well earning him the next big contract. in "non-contract" yrs he was an average pitcher.

Love that movie, love Fiorentino. But would love to have Tex here even more. Not that it would be better than ..., but of course having reality over unobtainable imaginations is always better.

So, Peter, if you were a betting man, what would you say the odds are of something getting done - one way or another - this week?

Also, I looked up that movie on YouTube and there don't seem to be any genuinely worthwhile parts, if you know what I mean.

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Pete's reply: Probably won't see the good parts on YouTube.

When are the O's going to step up? it looks like we have no other choice but to make a legitmate offer for Big Tex. All I want is some effort as if the O's were trying to make some noise for the future. We may not compete this year but we will in 3 years and he still could be batting 4th in the lineup when we decide to take the next step.Please O's make a move.

If the orioles sign Tex, and resign Markakis, they will have limited finances to keep Roberts, do you see them trading the second baseman for some pitching of a deal is struck for Teixeira?

Pete, is it possible that things are happening behind the scenes down at the warehouse? It seems to have gotten awful quiet around here lately and Andy McPhail is either really busy or looking for a one way ticket to that small carribean island that Tex's is looking into for his wife. I can't help but feel like a kid again at Christmas over this whole Tex saga. I just don't know if I'm going to get what I really want.

It's not my money, and we all know the O's have enough of it with MASN in the fold, give Tex whatever he wants, who cares. While you are at it overpay for some pitching help. It doesn't matter it's only money. You gotta spend money to make money!

Peter,

Please the next time you see or call Tex tell him to sign somewhere. At this point I don't care if its with the Tokyo giants or whoever - Just sign!!

After reading the hundreds of O's posts & comments, it's good to see I'm not the only insane fanatic still supporting this team. I refuse to get too excited about Teixeira because I don't think I can handle the let down too well. Sort of like that Patriots game last year. Hurt!

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Pete's reply: Well, Saturday night was nice.

maybe it's really like this...

Mark wants to play for the O's.

The O's aren't so sure they want him.

Boras uses other teams to get the O's to make a competitive offer.

O's know if they offer, he will take it, and thus are slow to make the offer, hoping that someone else gets it done. Signing Mark seems against everything AM is trying to accomplish with the re-build.

I'm sure the Warehouse is vexed. Losing him at this point is tantamount to crushing the hopes and dreams of a fan base, but in line with rebuilding philosophy.

Make fans happy vs. continue as rebuilding in a more classic sense. AM and PA have got to pulling hair out.

That's about the only way the fence sitting the O's are doing makes sense. kinda...

Here's what I think is going on PS...
Because of Mark's tremendous attraction to Baltimore and Baltimore to him.....
McPhail is acting as an "absentee auction agent" for the Orioles ownership.
Andy has told Scott Boras in no uncertain terms that whatever the highest bid is....
Baltimore will try to come pretty close to it.
But if we can't....
if it's just too rich....
we will do other things to compensate in Mark's future financial & personal life.
Why???
Because Texiera will mean so much more to the city of Baltimore than just another baseball star.
His presence with the team will boost the economy of downtown "charm city".
I believe other Baltimore/Maryland business people are pledging to include Boras and Texiera in quiet but legitimate business deals.
Like the John Elway and Denver Broncos arrangement.

Pete, sorry to be a latecomer to the comment party, but what are the chances these other teams are bluffing to force the runts (O's and Nats) into a bidding war? MacPhail said publicly the Orioles could up their offer, and then the other teams push back from the table. Boras and Teixeira haven't accepted yet, so the Orioles lose their nerve and pay out more to get him, diminishing the likelihood that they'll improve their pitching. So, the team improves its offense but look like the Texas Rangers of the last few years losing games by scores of 10-9. Meanwhile, Boston, New York and L.A. have eliminated another threat, not by adding him to one of their top-tier lineups but by containing him on an essentially noncompetitive team.

I want the O's to sign Tex at least to show us they have what it takes, but at what cost?

If I am Tex do I want to have the pressure that he will have if he goes to the O's or Nats as the Savior. The guy who will rescue them from losing? Or do I want to go to a team where I will be one of many on a team that is already a winner?

pete if the 0s do sign tex do you think that wil get brob to sign an extension?
and visversa do you think brob will sign an extension without tex?

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Pete's reply: I think it will help with BRob. Don't think it affects the other way around.

the o's were my hometown team growing up....but if i had a chance to put a ring on my finger id go to boston or NY.....its just business

o's wont sign tex, roberts and markakis wont resign and wieters will be gone when his contract is up....its ok tho cuz mora and millar are really where the lumber is----pleeez

I hope we can sign Tex. It would give me a reason to go see a game when i come home. It wont happen because Angelos doesnt want to step up and compete again for the sake of us, the fans.
Hey Pete, why arent we hearing anything about Derek Lowe and us. Isnt he a Scott Erickson type (ground ball pitcher)?

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Pete's reply: I'm sure the Orioles are paying attention to Lowe, whose price appears to be dropping.

The more I think about it. The more I believe that Tex wants to be an O, and he and Boras are using all the drama to get the O's to up their offer in years and money.

Just an observation.

Pete,

I'd love to see Tex sign. We'd have a heckuva lineup both offensively and defensively. It might mean a terrific amount in 2009, but when Tillman and the others are ready maybe 2010 we are competitive.

Am I overly optimistic, or do we have the makings of a fairly solid bullpen this year?

It would be great to have Tex, but I feel that starting pitching is a greater priority at this point.

Pete,
After reading Buster Olney this morning I'm starting to get the feeling that some big name columnists just want to keep the attention on the big market teams. I agree with you that we (fans) keep putting pressure on people like you to give us information and sometimes you just can't get it because officials won't say anything new, but even when boston had an impasse with Boras (probably just strategy), the Angels withdrew their offer and the Nats haven't done much more than the O's at least officially, I keep reading that this is between Boston and the Nats or that the Orioles only chance is that Texeira gives them a huge discount, etc...
I know that Rosenthal and Peter Gammons are Boston fans, but the only non-baltimoresun writter that I've heard say something positive about the Orioles chances is not considered a heavyweight...
You get to know people in time but I've always considered these guys as having very good inside info.
What are your thoughts?

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Pete's reply: I don't know why you think Ken Rosenthal is a Red Sox fan. He lives right off the beltway and used to cover the Orioles with me.

Actually I do like the suggestion of Pudge coming here. I would hope that someone can help Wieters get use to catching MLB games and he could DH when Pudge catches. Split the catching between the two and use Pudge as a teacher, catcher, PH and DH. Of course I am saying this thinking that Huff will be our everyday first baseman, because I am losing faith that Tex will sign here. I like taking the time to break in players. Since Wieters has only had 120 games or so in the minors half at A and the other half in AA, I think it would be good to break him in with someone that has the heart and fire of Pudge, who is a 14 time all star. But then again, he will not fit the payroll needs and probably would cost the O's two years at 16 to 20 million.

Fact is it still comes down to pitching they have to do something soon. Guthrie was a nice find and he is good for the Orioles, but he is not a number one starter and on many teams he would not be a 1, 2 or 3 starter. If the team does not do something about it, they could lose 110 games.
Pete, Any word on any free agent pitchers that could come to Baltimore, I know Boras reps a couple of good ones that are still out there. Why don't the Orioles brass just show Boras the love on two or three players. Kiss and make up?

Can't wait till this saga is over. I want to hear about starting pitching.

I think 20 million a year for 7 years is a pretty great contract to play for you hometown team. If doesn't accept that he didn't want to play here in the first place. That is comparable to even the salaries that the executives at Constellation Energy were getting.

The Orioles won't be appreciably better this year with Tex. Without him, we can move Huff to first and between Scott, Montanez, Freel and Salazar we can be pretty good at LF and DH. That being said, I think it is crucial that we sign Tex as we would have 2 reasonable options for the future. #1 Spend a lot more money and sign some good free agent starters this year and/or next year . If we have Tex in the fold along with good hitting and superior defense (especially up the middle), the chances of us convincing good free agents to come here and players to stay here will be increased,.#2 Just wait for our young pitchers to mature.

Pete,

No one has really talked much about other free agents, but if the O's biggest need is pitching, then why aren't we pursuing a top-flight pitcher (when healthy), who's coming off a career year -- the one, the only, Ben Sheets!!!!

Here's a dude in his prime, and not going to get much more than a 2-3 year contract. When healthy, he's a strikeout machine (like Burnett), and would be an excellent veteran presence on our staff...

Thoughts?

Pete, please tell me why we should even be in the bidding for Tex? We still need 4 pitchers, we're going to need a 3rd baseman soon, we may lose our all star second baseman, and we probably need an upgrade in LF, and they need to pay Markakis. Why tie up soo much money in one guy with so many other holes to fill? Are we really 2 years from contending? What happen to "The Plan"?

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Pete's reply: I think Tex would fit into "The Plan." Long-term deal for a young cleanup hitter. Got to build around somebody.

that poll shown above, you have to think about which paper took that one. Of course redsox fans are going to want to add him to their already world series caliber team.. that a biased poll.. dont read into it

Ok... Teixeira signs with Boston, Manny signs with Yanks. Hands down. Stop dreaming. Stop talking about it. This is what will happen. Dont believe me? Take my Gentlemen's bet

www.sportsfanlive.com..

sign up. Local Baltimore guy created it. Its fun.. Sign up for free...

I love Schmuck. Pete, did Buster even have a desk or did he work out of the bathroom?

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Pete's reply: Buster worked everywhere. He was, and still is, a relentlessly hard worker. If I had his energy, I'd be a very rich guy by now.

Pete - Assume you look under your Xmas tree and find the first present on your list on the fridge, and are granted the opportunity to be "Andy for a Day," including all of of Peter's trimmings (i.e, his checkbook). What do you offer Teixeira? At what point do you draw the line in the best long-term interests of the organization?

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Pete's reply: In the current situation, my top offer to Tex is eight years for $165 million. And it doesn't sit for more than a few hours.

Pete- Even with Texeria, the Orioles are still a fourth place team at best in 2009 right? Doesn't it seem silly to spend this kind of money with the current state of the division instead on focusing on acquiring and developing young talent.. most importantly starting pitching?

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Pete's reply: It really depends on whether that would be the only free agent acquisition. The O's can afford to sign him and sign a couple of modestly priced pitchers. I think Tex actually does make sense, since he'd accelerate the rebuilding program and be here when (if) the team is ready to compete.

OK...wishful thinking BUT...

I wonder if Tex is waiting for a Christmas morning announcement to finalize his signing with the O's? It would explain why it is so quiet and that the Angels and Red Sox have had public statements of being out of the running.

Angelos has already given Tex his Christmas present and we get ours in 3 days!

...I wish.

Pedro Schmuckeroo, It seems the Sawx are posturing & the O's are teasing the fans. Angeloser will not sign Tex & McFail knows it too. They think the fans are dumb enough to believe it too. Stop thinking we can save the $ for pitching. What guy wants to come to a losing situation like this? We finally have a SS & need 1B, LF & 2 starters. Get Tex now & attract other FA.

Here's hoping everybody pulls out of the Texiera sweepstakes for real, and that Texiera winds up in Japan. If there's an indictment against baseball, it's the circus surrounding a baseball contract that exceeds most small towns annual budgets. Half the people in our nation worry about putting food on the table. Something's just fundamentally evil about this.

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Pete's reply: Let's not get carried away. If you go to the movies, you aren't too outraged that there are people making obscene money while Joe 30-Pack struggles to make ends meet.

I know he used to cover the O's, but it's just the feeling I got during the last 5 years reading his columns... He's just not objective when he writes about the Red Sox...

It is amazing that nobody from the Baltimore sports writers and commentators can get an answer out of the O's front office if they are truly trying to sign this home-grown allstar.

Here is a kid born in Baltimore, probably wore O's uniforms and had a favorite number from a former Oriole and we don't sweep him off his feet.

Furthermore, it is amazing that the national press kill the Orioles for the front office's lack of production with players when their team has lacked any offensive or pitching production for years.

Haven't they realized they need to actually spend money to help this team because there is no question they have no ability to draft players anymore.

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Pete's reply: The O's have a standing offer on the table for seven years at between $140 million and $150 million. The top other offer we know of is probably eight for $160 million. I'd say they are trying. We'll find out at the end just how hard they tried or -- just as important -- how much Tex wanted to come here. It takes two to tango.

Why do people feel like Markakis is tied in with Tex? Nick would have to be a bigger gambler than Charles Barkley to not sign an extension and wait the 3 years till free agency because all it takes is one injury. I do feel that B Rob would be more apt to stay if Tex signed.

O's need pitching, but Tex would be a nice anchor in the middle of the order for years to come. His #s are consistent, his defense is excellent and he fills a big void since we haven't had a great 1B since Raffy was here the 1st time around.

Pete, I'm curious why you feel Lowe's price is dropping?

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Pete's reply: Just stuff I've read and heard. I could be wrong.

Hi again Peter!

I have another non-Tex related question.

Have you heard any progression on the Kenshin Kawakami or Koji Uehara fronts? I know you had stated that the Orioles have an offer on the table to Kawakami, but do you know anything about the terms of length or neighborhood of the money?

One other team, I think it was the Mets, think Koji Uehara could be a starter. Along with the Orioles I think those are the only two teams that think of him more than a reliever.

And to the other poster who asks why we haven't heard anything locally about Tex:

Quite simple. Andy MacPhail is not an idiot. He made a legitimate offer and so far he hasn't been told to shove it. He hasn't upped his offer, but said he was willing to. This puts the ball back in Boras' and Tex's court to call up the Orioles, set up a meeting, and start having serious discussions about a contract. So far, that hasn't happened. MacPhail isn't going to make a crazy huge offer without any contact from Boras. Why? Because that would just simply inflate the price tag and meanwhile the Orioles have no idea if the interest is actually genuine.

This should have been a done deal. The obvious 21st century Ripken. A no brainer. The Orioles Schmuck!

What ever is going to happen will happen soon..IMO. If I were AM I call Boros and ask him What the hell is going on?" What do they know about your player that is causing them to pull back?" When Boros bloviates.. then I hit him with "OK Scott, what will it take to get your guy to sign here tomorrow?" Then away we go. Hit boros back every time and keep him going til you have agreement on a deal he and Tex can live with. Everybody wins...except the Sox and Angels of course.

When do you think the Orioles are going to make a better offer? Come on Andy DO SOMETHING!!!! We are going to regret this if we don't sign Teixeria!!!!

Look, I'm looking at this situation and thinking that Mark Teixeira wants to come to Baltimore. I mean honestly, what do we know?

The Nationals have offered Teixeira an 8-year contract. The Angles also offered Teixeira an 8-year contract. The Red Sox may or may not have ever made an offer, but we do know that they left a face-to-face meeting with Scott Boras after which they were announced that they were tired of the game, they weren't going to negotiate any more, but if Mark would come to his senses and sign with them the offer they may or may not have made would hypothetically still be on the table. Shortly after which, the Angels announced that they were also tired of playing, and that the pair of them could take a hike. So apparently, the only suitors that are making offers that are drawing legitimate attention from Teixeira are Baltimore and Washington. And you know what? We really haven't been given that much information that says he's all that interested in Washington's offer. Apparently, they have the highest offer on the table, and at no time has it ever seemed like a deal was imminent.

The way I see it, there were four teams in this sweepstakes, now are there are three - but one team isn't really playing, they just haven't officially quit - and all of them but one appears do be drawing half-hearted interest, at best, from Mark Teixeira.

If the Orioles make Teixeira a offer similar to the one the Nationals made, there is no way Mark goes to Washington. I think if the Orioles offer Mark Teixeira 8/150 on Wednesday morning, that will bring this process to a conclusion.

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Pete's reply: What about this situation makes you think he wants to come here, other that the mere assumption that he should.

I recommend "Jade" Decent movie, but great Linda Fiorentino scenes. Tough to swallow that you you up at 1:30 AM and did not watch the steamy bedrooms scenes. I have to call you out on that.