Roberts
Jones
Markakis
Teixeira
Huff
Weiters
Mora
Scott/Montanez/Freel
Izturis

Seems like a line up that at least could put a submission hold on the late summer slump we normally see next year.

We will remember 2008. Ravens second championship and Tex to the heart of our lineup. 2009 will show us some great defense and outstanding offense. 2010 we can bring up our young pitchers and shock the world. Imagine watching this lineup every night: Roberts, Jones, Markaikas, Tex, Huff, Wieters. Sorry, I must already be dreaming.

Get it done Macphail. Tex will bring people out to Camden yards just like Cal did.

As an Oriole fan for life the Texeria signing anywhere else but Baltimore would put a serious bad taste in my mouth especially after 11 years of futility. He is 28 year old native son who hits for average, power, and is a slick fielder. I've always believed that the most important position for a winning team is First Base. Look at the record of the Birds with Boog, Eddie, and Ralphy and without them and my point is won. I know the Orioles need pitching help, but this will prove to anyone that the Orioles are serious players and not doorstops for the soxs and yanks.

In another direction, any word on Juan Castro signing with another club. I love his glove work and it's a shame he doesn't have the bat to go with it. He is a great shortstop.

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Pete's reply: I haven't heard anything about Castro. Sorry.

So the word in DC is that the Nationals stepped up with an 8 yr. $160M deal. I hope that now that DC is in this thing that will light a fire under some backsides down at the warehouse. Under no circumstances can Tex be allowed to go to DC. Any word Peter?

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Pete's reply: I think this has a ways to go, but both teams are still in play to some extent.

The updates are really great, but I have a question. How much is Angelos looking to spend? With Markakis and Jones looking for raises coming up and with a starting rotation of Guthrie and TBA I am a little worried that money that could go towards shoring up our future may be lost on a gamble.

So far, the O's basically dump some salary to make way for Wieters, pick up a bench player, some long shot minor leaguers, and a journeyman SS. The SS at league average or slightly below will still be an upgrade. We're supposed to see the young pitching develop this year. The rebuilding plods along.... and the O's will take their lumps. Perhaps we'll see some results about 2011? Given this, it would be nice to see Tex in an O's uni to generate some excitement. I'm not holding my breath.

In the meanwhile, your missing the real excitement brewing here in Baltimore, Pete. There's an honest-to-goodness meaningful game in Baltimore on the slate for Sunday at M&T.

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Pete's reply: I'll be there.

Hey Pete, do you REALLY think Angelos will let the Nationals out-bid him?

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Pete's reply: Sure. He needs them to be better, too, since he basically owns their television rights.

With Texeira the rebuilding could move forward at least two years. Angelos needs to put Brooks, Cal, and Eddie on a plane to Vegas to put the hard core press on Tex. I am sure they could borrow Redskins One if Angelos does not want to pay the bill.

Most telling comment is when 'MacPhail acknowledged the Orioles are "handicapped" if the most important factor for Teixeira was winning immediately.'

Looks like Boston is the place for him. He was drafted by the Red Sox before he went to college. Epstein wants him and will give him 8 years.

C'mon, I can taste it. LET'S GET TEX! And then let's ride that momentum and get the starting pitching. Don't think there's anything that isn't doable, Andy. Be like a ferocisous competitor would be on the field. Hopefully, the O's really are looking at Looper, as has barely been touched on. He's not that far below Burnett and Lowe for the money. And revisit things. Is there really not a way to entice Peavy now that the Cub deal for him may be dead? He's really not far below Sabathia, and now for a big money difference. Let's get outside the box and GO!

Ahhh the O's are in it... for maybe 1 day..LOL
if that 5 yr 150M is what they put out then i gotta say they are serious.. however again one drawnback.. there not winners.. and won't be for some time to come... don't think Tex is gonna sign here because of it...
but then again neither is DC... so you figure the Red Sox or his current team will get him! i'm betting the Red Sox...
Stay Tuned!

If we get Tex, the money worries will go away because the fans will return to the Yard! We may even see sellouts again like the first several years we first opened the yard. Who else benefits - the concessions and local economy.

Do it, Andy!

I'm pleased the O's are negotiating seriously with Texeira and I hope the home town star joins the Orioles. I expect the percentage difference in value between the offer made by the O's and that made by other teams will be rather small. If he signs with another team, like the Red Sox, then I will by equally pleased because he didn't sign with the O's. In the latter case I would have discovered my foolishness to root for a mercenary.

Nice job Pete. I especially like the fact that you got Boras looking like a good guy. That is good stuff, maybe you and Jeff have patched up the rocky relations the O's have had with Scott. Does he represent a pitcher that would help?

i love the birds however do you make a 7 year offer when tex is looking for 10 and other teams have offered 8.i just hope and pray they get a few good arms and a good 4 and 5 hitter .

Why is it that the Baltimore Sun seems to be the only publication that is listing the O's in the "final four?" Just about everytime I hear someone from the national media speak, they say it's down to the Red Sox, the Nationals, and the Angels.

I am actually feeling excited about the Os and the possibility of having a potential future hall of famer to build the team around. Go get him. Get AJ, too. the money is there, it's just not getting spent.

So, like, who's going to pitch next season? I missed that part.

I'll be glad to see Tex in an O's uniform, but unless they get some pitchers they'll just be losing a lot of 10-9 games next year.

GO ANDY!!! GO PETER!!! (Yeah, didn't think I'd ever say that again, BUT GO PETEY GO!!!). I can NOT see Angelos letting Tex goto the NATS unless Tex straight up just chooses them over us. The fact that Angelos was sincere about opening the vault for Tex, and now they're down to 3 other team's as competetion (one of which NOT being N.Y., who I was certain he was going to go play for considering he grew up idolizing Mattingly). Let's do this Peter & Andy. The Ravens did their part in the beltway beating, now it's your turn. BRING TEX HOME TODAY!!!!! Then Let's take The Steelers Sunday, and let XMAS begin in Baltimore!

I would love to get Tex in an O's uniform for the next 8-10 years, but if that doesn't happen, is there a back-up plan? Would the team pursue Adam Dunn?

Just to confirm. I'm a former season ticket holder who just couldn't pay the price to commit to coming up from DC (I'm originally from Baltimore and proud of it thanks). If they sign Teixeira, that all changes and I'm back at the Yard every chance I get, instead of watching on MASN 45 miles away.

sorry we filled the shortstop void already juan castro out, it would be great to have another home town phenom as cal was, roberts is close but doesnt live here tex would be a great fit and its just a hop skip and a jump from atlanta go peter just add a few other pitchers get rid of cabrera, and get a descent vetern catcher hopefully we will have a better team then last year i hope 2nd half was a desaster as usual

it looks like the red sox are in the drivers seat to real in mark teixeria.tex is saying how he wants to be close to his family. that is a bunch of garbage. boston sure isnn't anywhere close to baltimore as always it boils down to (m o n e y)

Phelps and Teixeira, homegrown and back home...and the Ravens moving into Championship Contention...it may be the beginning of Baltimore's return to the rank of TITLE-TOWN!

I find it amusing to see so many Orioles fans who believe Angelos is going to crack open his wallet for Teixeira. Angelos is a businessman, and is only interested in squeezing money out of the Orioles in the short-term. He has no interest in investing in a long-term plan for rebuilding the glory of years past. It is all about the money for little Pete. The Orioles need to offer an 8 year deal worth $200 million if they are serious. Teixeira is no idiot. He wants to be paid well, but also wants to win. He stands a much better chance of winning with either LA or Boston. The fact that the Nationals are outbidding the Orioles now is pathetic. The only way the Orioles get Teixeira is by paying a premium to compensate him for the fact that he will have to sit through 2-4 seasons of "rebuilding." The problem is that Angelos is too cheap to recognize this reality - because his money is more important to him than either the reputation of the Orioles' franchise or the passions of the Orioles' fans. The odds are good that Teixeira ends up in either Boston or LA. If you had to pin me down I would say Boston, because it is an East Coast team, and that organization went after Teixeira when he graduated from Mt. St. Joe's.

I was thinking to myself........If Tex signs with boston I wonder if he would get booed when he played at Camden yards. Then I thought wait he will actually get the biggest ovation outside of fenway.

I think it's unlikely that Teixeira will be coming to the O's.on the

Boston & NY are both on the East Coast, their owners will pay up for talent, and, they both have WINNING teams.

Baltimore, well let's see, oh yeah...... it's close to Severna Park!

As an earlier poster noted, if the O's don't find some QUALITY pitching, they will lose a lot of 10 to 9 games with Teixeira, or a lot of 10 to 6 games without him.