Peter,

You're right, it may be one of those times - especially considering we can't discount how much Angelos has reportedly loved Teixeira for years and years. This may be the one player that he may splurge on.

Wishful thinking doesn't even quite describe what you're saying about the possibility that the O's will do what is needed and outbid the competion. The extent that P.A cares about the team and its fans only extends to how much money he can make from them. He doesn't care about fielding a winning team, or how much the fans deserve one. By annually spending the least amount on player payroll he still makes a huge profit regardless of the record the team has. I realize shelling out the monet to Tex does not guarantee on field success, he not even what we "need" obviously starting pitching is our biggest need. However stealing TEX is what a majority of fans need to see, to know that at least someone cares about putting winners on the field.

The way I see it, the orioles dont need to sign him, They are in a rebuilding phase and this isnt what rebuilding teams do. However, if they do sign him, it really makes the team more appealing for other free agents in the future, which the Orioles will need to do. If it were up to me, I would add a clause that would allow him to opt out after five years pending the rebuilding process goes somthing like it did when Tejada was here

I would guess that PA has already made his decision as to whether or not he will jump in with an overbid at the end. He's not going to get caught off guard with this one- he's been salivating over Tex ever since the O's missed out on him in the draft.

(at least this is my hope)

What does Angelos need to be wary of in this situation? The guy's never been on the DL, isn't tied to any sort of steroids or PEDs, and isn't a clubhouse cancer. Or maybe thats what you need to be in order for Angelos to like you.

I mean, hasn't Angelos had enough time to think this thing out? And by enough time, I mean the past 6 years or so.

If the money is there, pull the trigger. Go the 9 years, 180-190 million and just do it. Teixiera will be 36-37 by the end of the deal, when most guys sign the two year deals until they retire. Put Mark in the Baltimore uniform, and put people in the seats. If Angelos doesn't go all in, I don't think he really knows how much is riding on this decision.

I do not disagree with you but . . . The Oioles have had years of watching Tex, years of the fans targetting this day to bring Tex in as the savior. This is not a knee jerk decision with no time to weigh the pros and cons. If they are just now weighing the value of Tex, they really are as incompetent as we all think they are.

Not how Angelos is built? Please explain how he is built. Is he built such that he enjoys losing 11 years in a row? Is he built such that when he is bullied by Steinbrenner he curls in a fetal position and just takes the body blows without fighting back in a serious manner? Is he built such that being hated and disrespected by his neighbors, peers and the media is amusing to him? Is he built such that he is only tenacious and a belligerent bulldog over money (ie. the MASN deal) and a wimp in pursuit of wins and losses? Please explain to us just how this man is built. Does he recognize that no matter how much charity and civic giving he does, his legacy is based on one thing and one thing only in the public eye? Does he realize that he could be a hero but is instead seen as a villain? Please explain how he is built for us.

I hope the Angels get him. Its their only chance to ever knock the Red Sox out of the playoffs.

A perennial playoff team in the weak AL West, with Gold Glove defense (torii Hunter) and the deepest rotation in baseball, and southern California weather.

If he doesn't sign with California he is nuts. The ONLY alternative - The Orioles, since its his hometown team and he can be Cal Ripken, Pt 2.

No way he goes to Boston or Washington.

What you say is true but this is not a quick decision. The numbers are out there for Tex from everyone but Boston, who figure to be in the same range or he'd have signed already. Boros has told everyone what he is looking for.

Boros is milking it like always to get the last dollar since no one has "flinched" yet. PA knows what it'll take to get him in an O's uniform. All he needs to do is pull the trigger and it gets done. No quick decision at all in this case and really a no-brainer since the increased ticket sales and TV will more than pay for it. And there is no way Tex does not use the kick out clause to get a new, bigger, contract, so offering 10 years is even safe.

Well they have had plenty of time to go over medical reports. So nothing is a "quick" decision. When angels signed vlad I don't think the owner just woke up and decided to spend the 100 mil. That was planned on their part.

Angelos know how much he will spend. So if he goes in with the "wow" offeer at the end it will be already planned.

Peter, I 'm in Va and would love to listen live but when I try I just get the dreaded "red X". No one on the technical side at the station has been able to come up with a solution, and I have no trouble listening to many other radio stations online (WCBM, etc.), but WBAL just won't work. Oh well...

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Pete's reply: Phil, I'm sorry to hear that. Thanks for reading. If you want, you can just time it and call in at 1-800-767-WBAL.

It should be clear to the Orioles what signing of Teixeira means to the city and the organization. I think it won't be completely off base to say that if they don't sign Teixiera then the O's wouldn't be a player in a tough AL East for next five years. All of us know, that top free agents don't like to come here, and there're not going to be many free agents of the calibre of Tex in the next few years. Non-signing of Tex could have a drastic effect on the fan base, which might be difficult to rekindle.

The consequence of a weak offence and shoddy defence can also tell on the confidence of young and upcoming pitchers like Tillman and Arrieta.

Teixeira shouldn't be treated like another free agent. The O's should do whatever it takes to bring him home.

Everyone can criticize King Peter for the mess of this once-proud franchise but personally, I don't think it is all his fault. He has signed numerous free agents but most of them never panned out, for one reason or another. If you look around MLB in general, most free agents don't pay off. For example, the Yanks made lots of questionable signings and really only guys like Mussina & Rivera gave them fair value. I'd debate that Damon, Giambi, Pavano were really worth it and besides, they haven't won mamy titles lately.
Clearly, the Yanks have the $$$ to shell out but I'd be leery of the latest pair of signings. I'd never wish an injury on anyone but Burnett does have a track record there and CC is very overweight. Burnett is also a 32 yr old .500 career oitcher and CC is solid but why overpay so much and the baffling thing to me is apparently he has an opt-out clause!!
Anyway, many fans are disappointed the O's didn't sign a big ticket item but not me. I can live with a losing team for another couple of years and I'm already positive about '09 because no more DanCabrera, Ramon, Payton-addition by subtraction.

This is one of those times...DO IT!

(Teixeira is no Belle!!)

Pete,

If the O's lose out on Tex, could you see them attempting to take a shot at Sheets? I know you noted previously that you haven't heard his name mentioned. But when he's healthy (an iffy prospect at that) this guy is a stud! After all we do really need pitching.

Pete, are you getting the"We've got to sign Texiera fever" too? No one player is going to mean very much to this franchise for another two or three years. Besides, nobody is worth that kind of money. From all reports, the Orioles have made a fair offer and Boras is just whoring up the price to the Red Sox, wher he was destined to end up all along.

Macphail is doing all the right things for a slow and calculated rebuild. It is too bad this didn't start 10 years ago but I am convinced that he knows what he is doing. We own 5th place in the Division for the next two years so let's get comfortable and note the progress.

"It's not over until it's over", will soon be followed by, "we gave it our best shot." They did just enough to keep the sheep content, but the rest of us know better.

I keep hearing about a "plan" and that O's fans need to be patient as the farm system is restocked. That's fine, but tell me, what "plan" couldn't accomodate an under 30, potential HOF bat anchoring the line-up for the next 8 years? Especially when the best option in the minors is at AA and is still suspect at best.

I fail to see the point, except to keep the local sheep content in their new BALTIMORE jereseys, of being #4 in a four team bidding war. Is that to appease us? Show us you're trying? Giving it the good faith effort and all that?

Very impressive; I can hardly contain my enthusiasm.

So enjoy Ryan Freel and Cesar Ituzus as the latest "stopgaps" as the O's build towards their "plan."

Here are some other things they can "plan" on:

20,000 empty seats at each home game this year. I don't count the games against the Yankee's or Red Sox, those are not home games anymore.

Markakis, Jones, Guthrie, Roberts and Weiters leaving town as fast as their free-agent eligibilty will allow.

Becoming irrelevant. They flew by laughing stock some time ago.

Pete, I disagree. It was a Peter Angelos "quick decision" that got us Matt Wieters. The man wants to leave a legacy, he's going to get his man.

People i am the first person to admit giving mrk all that money probably is not wise. But after years of frustration the fans of this town need some hope any hope that times are going to be different. I truly believe that signing mark would be a defining moment for that team in so many more ways that him hitting 35 hr's knocking in 125 rbi's , it would tell the yankee's and boston that we are now going to be players and not just sit back and watch as you sign 2 pitchers for 240 million. We are going to be in this division this year , next year and for the next 50 years and unless the orioles understand and accept that as a way of life we will never be able to compete with those teams under the current set of rules{NO SALARY CAP} Signing mark will have such a great trickle down affect to this team, brian will resign, nick will resign, attendence will again be close to 3 million, he will take the losing mentality off this organization even if we don't win more then 5 more games next year. It will allow other free agents to see that baltimore is a great place to play and that they aren't afraid to spend money. If they don't pony up the stigma will remain the same peter and everybody will just think the orioles offered something low to just say they made a a offer. For once i would love to see a ball player sign some where to be part of a legacy like brooks, and palmer, and cal. Mark has that chance and a few million dollars here or there shouldn't be enough to change that. If he signs with boston then he is truly a fraud like the rest of them .

A post I can agree with...Angelos is too slow too often. If the Orioles put out a $190 million over 9 years and still lost out on Teixeira then I don't think we could blame Angelos or McPhail for not trying. There is some point that you have to say enough and a $190 million contract is more generous than any player deserves...but at this point the fans want it and probably deserve the offer (and the results [regardless] if it were to happen) to be made.

Here's to hoping...

Peter,

Doesn't some of this not add up?

1) If it was 100% to the Red Sox wouldn't this be over by now" I mean if it was just money couldn't Boras got the deal he was searching for by now?

2) In the same respect if if was all Orioles couldn't you say the reverse?

My theory is that the guy is still very torn on what direction he wants to go. Whichmeans if Peter actually does want to step up we can still make the big play. I just think the Red Sox thng isn't as cleary inevitable as people are making it out to be.

Peter,

Everything you say is true. I'm hoping that Tex really loves the Orioles as much as he's said on occasion and give them the final say by matching or trumping what the highest bidder's offered.

And maybe he's told Andy MacPhail exactly that, which is why you hear Andy and Dave Trembley talking as though the O's are right in the middle of this. Hope so (losing is getting old!).

Didn't being slow and careful cost of Mussina and Vladimir Guerrero? Sometimes it helps you avoid big mistakes (ex:Pavano) but if there ever was a time to take a chance it is on Tex. Can they really expect what is left of the fan base to be patient for 3 more years? Does anyone really expect NY and Bos to stop spending to give us a window to compete?

Pete , why would he want to play in a loser town like Ballmer?? The O's have no hope of even getting to 500 in the near future .

Actually Peter Angelos made a quick move to get Wieters at the last minute, if I recall.

Quick decision? we've been talking about this (bringing Tex to baltimore) for years and nows the chance and probably the only chance. Man up and get it done. No excuses. This is what this team needs.

Here is the view from the "Shore" Brooks Robinson was & is a lifetime Maryland hero to us all. Cal Rikin was & is a lifetime hero to us all. Tex has the same chance and it would be FOR his HOME TEAM that he grew up rooting for to boot! The rest of his life - a hero to us all on this blog. IF he opts to turn his back on us all and go to Boston OR (?) for a few million more - then he is not the man we want anyhow, if he goes, good riddance and screw him!! How much $ IS enough for the greedy pigs?? He can't make it on $150 million, MORE, and will STILL get another contract when this one ends? Screw him if he goes! Don't let the door hit you in the ass and enjoy the seranade of BOOOOOOS raining down on your greedy ass when you come to play in your home town with the other team for a few $ more!

Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough…the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go!

Atomic Dog - youmight be right but you assume things here in your rant. Sometimes you DO give it your best shot and fail. The Yanks and Sawx DO make more money from baseball than the O's do. Steinbrenner is richer than Peter and both Boston and NY get better return on their baseball spending than Baltimore does. So Angelos could offer a crazy amount of money and still come in second. We will never know for sure what the numbers are so you can assume the worst but will never be able to prove it. There is no possible logical reason for Tex to choose the Orioles over Boston or NY so it would take money and there is no amount of money Angelos could offer that Boston or NY could not match. And if money is equal, who would go to a team with 11 straight losing seasons and no sign of reversing that? Who would come to Baltimore with the unreasonable expectations of your being a savior instead ofBoston where you are just another expensive cog in the machine? You ask what plan couldnt include Tex, but here we are making offers so why do you even ask that? You dont offer 150M to someone if you wouldnt pay it. So they obviously feel that Tex WOULD fit the plan. Question is does losing every year fit in Tex's plans? As for number 4 in a four team race, again you are talking out your posterior. The race isnt over and you dont get gold medals for your splits, just for winning the race, so what is the point? The point is that you never know who will trip over a hurdle or turn an ankle in the race. You line up and run and let the race run its course before you whine lik you are doing. If PA has a limit of 180M, you go til the number exceeds that. What do you have to LOSE by trying? We know what we have to gain . . . TEX playing 1b. It is going to take some luck or a miracle to win more games than the teams who have the greatest resources in the game so you take your shots and hope for luck. Because even if Angelos wast a lousy owner, he cannot outspend the Yanks and Sawx consistently. It might happen sometimes but rarely does the slower guy win the race, and in this race, we are carryiing the handicap.

Playing for the O's will give Tex his first real shot at being the team leader. With the other young comers on the team the offense will be set. Pitching will be the next step and the studs out there will want to come to Baltimore when they show they REALLY want to win. Come on PA--This is like a court case--win it. We want Tex in one of those new BALTIMORE uniforms.

In my opinion, the whole city of Baltimore was waiting for the day that Mark became a free agent. However, when he was available in trade last year the Orioles didn't make a move, and to me that shows weakness. This is the same weakness they are showing by not having put the best offer on the table already. Texiera want's to play for his hometown team, For God's sake let's prove to him, "WE WANT YOU HERE!"
Give him the contract and let's move on. If this was Cal, we wouldn't be playing be playing his heart against the market. What is the difference. This guy wen't back to college for a second chance of getting signed by the Orioles, and this is the best we can do?

I love it! The ANGELOS SWOOP! Then the Os become world champs behind MVP Markakis (thanks to TEX hitting behind him) and the swoop becomes Oriole Legend!

cush

Why are the Orioles so enamored with Tex? We don't need him. So what if he is a MD native...WE NEED PITCHING!!!! When has one first baseman ever won a WS or even an LCS by himself? hmmm, let me think...never. AM has stars in his eyes....we have a solid core of young, talented bats, which we need to shore up with REAL contracts.
As for pitching, way to go letting one more of our rotation go by the way side....i'm not saying that D Cab was great, just merely a stop gap, that at times has a decent fastball, is capable of putting up 10 K's a game, and knows the organization. Now, we are faced with one more rotation spot to fill, which brings the total number up to 4, and all we want is Tex??!?!?! We didnt even try to court higher midlevel pitching such as Sheets or Oliver Perez....Way to go Andy, you jerk.

I was a die-hard Oriole fan while growing up and still am. If I was lucky enough to be skilled as Tex it would be my dream to play at Camden Yards, losing team or not. I would take 5 million less a year. But then again, I'm not Tex. My point is, if his heart is really in Baltimore, he'd come here, reguardless if Boston added 2 million more a year, or the Yanks come in and overpay.

The only news the Orioles have to report is that they have severed ties with Daniel Cabrera?? FAIL FAIL FAIL

He will undoubtedly go to a team that knows how to teach and re-emerge as the second coming of Bobby Witt.

Were the Orioles even in the running for Burnett??

What is Texiera going to do at any price with NO pitching!?!?

FAIL FAIL FAIL

well folks.....here is to another 100 loss season.

Losers.

Please, just make this stop. I mean, really, it's the not knowing that is killing me. I really don't know what to think, and the kicker is that the longer it takes, I don't know if that means, as suggested, he is torn and wants to come back or if they are just milking things.

I'll say this, how much of the $190M will they make back on the Baltimore Tex jersey over six years. A bit, a bit indeed.

Give us a reason to keep telling people about the O's. It's getting hard.

Here's a unique idea for our deliberate, prudent and oh-so-careful Mr. Angelos...
why not (and he can read this very deliberately and S-L-O-W-L-Y) set up a contingency plan NOW to be the high bidder at the very end, instead of, waiting until the last minute and then not making a "last minute" decision? Everyone knows it will come down to money...so if you know that, why not prepare yourself to do that? Why Ol' Pete could keep it all a big secret (you know...not tell anyone) and then at the very end call Andy and say "OK, offer him 9 year at 190M". He'd look like he was as bold as,,, as,,,, as,,, a gosh-darn
STEINBRENNER!!

You know... with a winning team staffed with proven "big-leaguers" and some rookies who can perform... Petey might make some money in this town and on baseball, not litigation.

Whatta' ya think Pete (I mean the Schmuckmeister)?

Wouldn't it be nice if PA just said, "Do it!"?

P.A. saved the Orioles from being shipped away ala the Colts.
He has spent money.
Winning teams make MORE MONEY not less.
I think he has made many mistakes, such as Jon Miller (still miss him!) but for goodness sakes give him some credit.
Would you be happier to see a winning Orioles team in some other city?

Peter-

I read somewhere that the O's turned something like a $50 million profit last year. The question is, if you're billionaire businessman Peter Angelos, why on Earth would you even consider reinvesting any of that money in the club if fans are shelling out their dough to see bums like Luis Hernandez boot grounders every day? IMO, this organization is doing just enough to make it look like they're serious about signing Texiera without running the risk of actually having that happen. Until fans start boycotting this team, management is not going to spend a dime more than they have to to keep this team crawling through 162 games a year.

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Pete's reply: I think you're looking at it backwards. If I'm a billionaire, why would I care about making $50 million and being embarrassed by my highest-profile business. What do you think, he's Scrooge McDuck swimming in his money in a vault somewhere?

Okay, let's recap. The O's finished last in the AL East last season. The Yankees have signed CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, are the favorites to sign Derek Lowe and have a pending trade for Mike Cameron. Boston is about to sign Teixeira. Tampa Bay went to the World Series and is young and improving. Analysis: If the O's play way above their heads this year, they might be only 10-12 games behind Toronto Aug. 1 in the battle for fourth place.

Here's what could be an obvious question...Why don't the Orioles use a full-court press with Tex? I'm sure the likes of Cal, Brooks, Palmer, and the like could whisper in Mark's ear and convince him to come home and play...ESPECIALLY CAL!

Forget Texiera, Angelos won't pony up.

A combo of Sheets, Wolf, and/or Garland would get the O's to 500.

Then Dunn would be a nice alternative.

I have to say I am quite dissapointed in the offer that the O's have made. They are a bunch of knuckleheads. In fact, the national media does not even consider them to be in the running. Everyone talks about the chances of the Angels, Red Sox and Nationals (C'mon, the Nationals?) at getting Tex. That is just plain sad.

Oh and yes, the O's once again have the lowest bid. When will PA get it? The lowest bid wont' work with a Scott Boras client. No way this gets it done. The O's, now that they know who has bid what (Sans the Sox) should call Boras and offer 8 years at $170. Then they can truly say they gave it the absolute best. We have got to reel him in so we can get the kind of nucleus that will make other teams look at us the same way they did last decade. Baltimore was an attractive place to go play.

Back in the mid 90's we loaded up on really good players that took us into the playoffs such as: Roberto Alomar, BJ Surhoff, Mike Bordick, Bobby Bo and even David Wells to go along with the nucleus of Ripken, Mussina, Erikson, Baines and Brady. So we kind of have that nucleus now with: Wieters (almost), Guthrie, Roberts, Jones and Markakis, so it is time to add to it with up and coming players (we got Alomar at his peak and when we got him we came within a hair of getting David Cone).

Teixeira would make the O's much more attractive and give them instant credibility. Why is it so hard to do that. If they up the bid by 1-2 million a year, they will make up for it in ticket and merchandise sales. They won't get a pitcher in here if they don't strengthen their lineup. C'mon McFail and PA, GET TEIXEIRA!!!!

Shorman, please, the Germans didn't bomb Pearl Harbor,

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Pete's reply: C'mon, it was a joke. The "Germans bombed Pearl Harbor" line is from "Animal House" and is part of the ninth-inning video at Camden Yards and a lot of other stadiums.

I think it is going to be really nice watching games in the new Nationals stadium this year......... I am tired of the losing and winter time also rans. If the O's management was as good at putting players on the field as they are at playing the free agent game there wouldn't be any discussions. There is NOT a financial reason for the O's NOT to sign Tex!!!
Roberts
Markakis
Tex
Huff
Wieters
Scott
Mora
Jones
Izzy

Not too bad offensively for years to come(except 3rd base). Add a good, young pitcher (not Peavy) to Guthrie and finish the rotation out via trades by July or next winter.

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Pete's reply: If you're planning on not seeing a losing team at Nats Stadium, keep in mind that the Nats will draft ahead of the Orioles this year.

There is no getting around it now PA. If you don't sign Tex the truth about your organizational intentions are clear, to make the most money as possible. Tex makes so much sense it is not even funny. Baseball skills are a no brainer but the intangibles this young man brings to the table; leadership, character, morality are something BMORE thrives on. He would be a player every dad would take their young sons and daughters to the ballpark to see. I have been a fan for 38 Years and am at the end of my rope with this organization unless he is signed. He is the free agent we have been waiting for Since Cal retired and even before that. There is no way McPhail can spin any reason why he didn't sign. Sign Texiera or I beg you sell this franchise so the O's can rise to prominence again.

I agree Frank, What pitcher wants to play for a weak lineup? Let's install the lineup for the next 8 years by resigning Roberts, coming to an agreement for Markakis. Then let's continue to develop the young pitchers, stop rushing them. Next, we should shore up the middle of the rotation with some solid veterans like Wolf, Byrd, or Lowe, maybe even a Japanese player or two. Burnett wasn't worth more than $8MM/YR in my opinion. He is a perennial disappointment, an underachiever to say the least, just like Cabrera. The O's shouldn't lose sight of the rebuilding process, develop the arms in the organization before promoting them. When a big piece of the puzzle appears grab it, like Texiera. The pitching free agents, other than Sabathia, were over rated and mostly now over paid. We don't need a high rent rotation, we need to build from the ground up. Palmeiro was the last great first baseman the Orioles have owned and he was juiced. Before that it was Eddie Murray. The Orioles made it to the playoffs with both, and won a World Series also. I think a solid first baseman is about as important of a position player that you can have on your team.

Don't know what was actually said as Sportscenter was going off this morning (Sunday) at 11am. Hannah Storm mentioned Teixiera, Peter Angelos and today. I didn't catch the fist part of the statement and by the time I heard it, it was just the parts that I mentioned above. Wouldn't this be just a great Christmas gift to every Baltimore sports fan: Angelos meets with Teixeia and ups the offer and he agrees to sign with us somewhere around 2 or 3pm. Then Teixeira makes his way over to Ravens Stadium to be part of the coin toss. The whole stadium goes crazy and the Ravens beat the Squeelers. Wouldn't the beer be cold?

Dear Santa,

I haven't written to you in over 33 years, but desperate times call for desperate measures. You see, I am an Oriole fan; always have been, always will be. Yankee and Red Sox fans look at the Orioles as a joke. I hear comments like the following - "the Orioles will never win the AL East again." Santa, it is my Christmas wish that the Orioles' owner, let's call him Scrooge, stops counting his money and signs Mark Teixeira. If this wish comes true, there will be tremendous joy in Birdland and hope for the future. As an added wish, it is my hope that the Orioles continue to build the team around the likes of Roberts, Markakis, and Jones. I'm no baseball genius, but keeping those three guys is a no-brainer. If these two wishes come true, I believe that Oriole fans will come back to Camden Yards and actually outnumber the visiting team's fans when the Yankees or Red Sox come to town. Merry Christmas, Santa.

I'd like to see Texeira in an O's uniform as much as anyone. But it would be a long time, if ever, that his presence would make a difference. It certainly wouldn't make a difference this year. 9 Mark Texeira's couldn't compensate for the worst starting rotation in baseball (who would have ever thought you'd say that about the Orioles). This orginization is soooooo dysfunctional it's pathetic.

Yes Peter Angelos has been willing to spend money. No doubt about it. The problem is he hasn't adjusted. In the 90's when he first took over the team the O's could spend wildly because their $70, 80, 90 million dollar payrolls were at or near the top in all of baseball. So they could "buy" winners. But now they're not even close. Several teams are able to handle payrolls over $100 million, while the Yankees are over 200!

The only chance the O's ever have is to embrace the Oriole way. They have to build a team around pitching and defense, and home grown players! The way they did in the glory days of the '60's, '70's, and '80's. The difference is the O's can use the revenue created by Camden Yards and MASN to keep those players for ever which they couldn't back in the Memorial Stadium days.

No, until Angelos realizes that the only chance the O's ever have of competing is to be like the Rays, and not the Yankees and Red Sox, it won't matter who they sign.

There needs to be a happy medium. It's all well and good to talk about the organization developing home grown talent again and building from within, but you need one or two proven stars to carry a team.

Don't bet that what happened in Tampa Bay is a sure fire way to get you to the World Series every year or even the playoffs. They had a solid veteran in Cliff Floyd in the middle of their lineup for the entire season and luckily had guys step into roles when other guys went down. Doesn't usually happen that way.

Texeira is a solid player who would attract other vets, namely quality starting pitching that would allow us to compete again. Coupled with an improving farm system and overseas scouting being developed, we'd be on the right path.

Mr. Angelos has the ability to essentially erase the damage done over the past decade with this one signing. The redeeming possibility cannot be overstated, nor can the chance for franchise resurrection. Mark is the quintessential franchise player and he would bring an electricity and excitement to Baltimore baseball that has been non-existent since 1997. This chance cannot be foregone--opportunities to drastically improve a franchise with one stroke of the pen are few and far between. Signing Teixeira would also spur further in interest in the Orioles from A grade free-agent starters because it would be indicative of a desire to build a winning team. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Angelos. He has been a true asset to the community. I'm currently a student at his alma mater, University of Baltimore School of Law, to which he has contributed a large sum of money. I am confident in this man to do the right thing for the team, the fans, and the community. I, along with countless other fans, have been loyal to this team regardless of their record because I knew that at some point we would rebuild through the farm system and acquire a franchise player to lead the new era of Orioles baseball. The day has come, Mr Angelos.

Pete,

You are correct, the Nats will draft ahead of the O's but at least their management is a breath of fresh air and will make moves to try and improve. Trading Tejada and Lefty were good moves and the O's have plenty of solid arms and youth there, is no reason not to start building around the young ones.