O's say they're still in Teixeira running

Orioles officials left the Bellagio Hotel yesterday afternoon still believing they have a shot at signing prized free agent Mark Teixeira, though all signs continue to point to their having to overcome long ...

[Rockville Jake]

How much money does Teixeira need? How much can he spend in his lifetime? Does he want to do his own bailout of GM? Good Lord, these numbers are obscene, especially at a time when millions of families can't pay the monthly mortgage. A million dollars is 20 times the middle-class salary of $50,000. And Teixeira wants 20 times that EVERY YEAR??!! I grew up loving baseball, but its salary bubble will have to go the way of the housing bubble. It's not sustainable. Same goes for the other pro sports. They're all in fantasyland.

[SevernDave]

It's impossible to believe that he'd choose the O's over the Red Sox or the Angels. Hope I'm wrong. With the offers he's got on the table, he can certainly AFFORD to play wherever he WANTS to.

[Tom]

I can't WAIT for your paper to go bankrupt!!
Looks like your just another greedy corporation after all, right? ENJOY!!

[Prospect Expert]

Disgusting offseason, thus far.

Rebuild means REBUILD.

Why get Izturis when we could work a trade for Hector Gomez or Yamaico Navarro?

Why not trade Hernandez for a legitimate prospect in the Reds chain?

What happened to the deal for Pie?

As a journalist reporter bud told me 'they'll never learn.'

[Ghost Oriole]

Tom wrote:

I can't WAIT for your paper to go bankrupt!!
Looks like your just another greedy corporation after all, right? ENJOY!!

You don't have to wait. They already went bankrupt:

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/...

Monday, December 8, 2008 - 2:51 PM EST | Modified: Monday, December 8, 2008 - 3:08 PM
Baltimore Sun parent Tribune Co. files for bankruptcy protection

[Mr Baseball]

Prospect Expert wrote:

Disgusting offseason, thus far.
Rebuild means REBUILD.
Why get Izturis when we could work a trade for Hector Gomez or Yamaico Navarro?
Why not trade Hernandez for a legitimate prospect in the Reds chain?
What happened to the deal for Pie?
As a journalist reporter bud told me 'they'll never learn.'

No, they will never learn. They are going to pay Izturis $6 million next year. Certain people on here said Khalil Greene was too expensive for what would could have been a one year rental. Instead we get Izturis and his .299 career OBP for $6 million a year. Yes, Greene was injured and struggled last year but in '04 he was runner up for ROY and in '07 he had 27 hr and 97 RBIs in a pitchers park. Greene also catches everything at short. Another McPhail failure. This team is worse then last years team, if that's possible. What happens if these "prospects" don't pan out? We wait another 5 years to develop more?

[jbkj]

PA's offer was intentionally low because he wanted to appear that h was serious in trying to land Tex while being fully aware that his offer was lower than other teams offers. PA is just doing lip-service to the people of Baltimore, trying to make it appear that he is willing to spend money while being safe in his low offer that he knows will not be accepted. MASN money is going right into PA's pocket with ZERO being put back into
the O's - typical scrouge!

[CBcoach]

Mr Baseball wrote:

<quoted text>
No, they will never learn. They are going to pay Izturis $6 million next year. Certain people on here said Khalil Greene was too expensive for what would could have been a one year rental. Instead we get Izturis and his .299 career OBP for $6 million a year. Yes, Greene was injured and struggled last year but in '04 he was runner up for ROY and in '07 he had 27 hr and 97 RBIs in a pitchers park. Greene also catches everything at short. Another McPhail failure. This team is worse then last years team, if that's possible. What happens if these "prospects" don't pan out? We wait another 5 years to develop more?

I thought the contract was two years for six million. The value of the total contract was reported at six million, I hope that is right. I guess we will see.

[Ghost Oriole]

Rockville Jake wrote:

How much money does Teixeira need? How much can he spend in his lifetime? Does he want to do his own bailout of GM? Good Lord, these numbers are obscene, especially at a time when millions of families can't pay the monthly mortgage. A million dollars is 20 times the middle-class salary of $50,000. And Teixeira wants 20 times that EVERY YEAR??!! I grew up loving baseball, but its salary bubble will have to go the way of the housing bubble. It's not sustainable. Same goes for the other pro sports. They're all in fantasyland.

Why was oil $147/barrel six months ago, and now it's $47 per barrel?

It's the free market, chief.

Obama might someday punish Tex to "make things more fair," but until then scarcity + quality = high salary.

Boras has his job to do. The owners have gazillions in fan dollars. The media creates the hype. We read the stories.

If you get really good at something, you'll also be paid far more than you need.

[jbkj]

Rockville Jake wrote:

How much money does Teixeira need? How much can he spend in his lifetime? Does he want to do his own bailout of GM? Good Lord, these numbers are obscene, especially at a time when millions of families can't pay the monthly mortgage. A million dollars is 20 times the middle-class salary of $50,000. And Teixeira wants 20 times that EVERY YEAR??!! I grew up loving baseball, but its salary bubble will have to go the way of the housing bubble. It's not sustainable. Same goes for the other pro sports. They're all in fantasyland.

For the same reason Angelos needs to make 100s of millions every year!

[A Crank]

I said it before and I still believe it; Teixiera will come to play in Baltimore when he is a washed up 39 year old on the downside of his career, and not a dollar or day before then. Does it disturb anyone else to read Andy sounding so much like he has no idea whatsoever what is going on? Maybe it's just what he says to the media. And you gotta love the notorious Orioles Physical rearing it's ugly head again in the prospective Izturis signing. The only examination this guy need is a psych evaluation because he would have to be mentally unhinged to come play for this team.

[Smirkman]

If Teixeira wasn't from MD the O's wouldn't even "appear" to be bidding on him. They need pitching, badly. 2009 will be a horrible year for the O's, but the farm system does appear to have some talent on the way unlike the last 15 years or so (with a few exceptions).

[Prospect Expert]

jbkj wrote:

PA's offer was intentionally low because he wanted to appear that h was serious in trying to land Tex while being fully aware that his offer was lower than other teams offers. PA is just doing lip-service to the people of Baltimore, trying to make it appear that he is willing to spend money while being safe in his low offer that he knows will not be accepted. MASN money is going right into PA's pocket with ZERO being put back into
the O's - typical scrouge!

That's exactly right. Ghost Oriole has been making this exact point.

Peter Angelos is a pock-mark on the ugly face of MLB.

[Mr Baseball]

CBcoach wrote:

<quoted text>
I thought the contract was two years for six million. The value of the total contract was reported at six million, I hope that is right. I guess we will see.

You're right. What I read was yesterday was a one year contract with a one year option at $6 million a year but it looks like that was incorrect. I do know that Greene is scheduled to make $6.5 million in '09. I'd still rather have Greene at $3 million more.

[Ghost Oriole]

What happens if these "prospects" don't pan out? We wait another 5 years to develop more?
----------
It's far worse than that.

All five of the O's best prospects can pan out, and the team still won't reach .500 in the AL East.

Management is gutting the team at the MLB level, so talent is badly needed in all areas.

I don't know why people think that a couple guys from the minors are going to be able to compete with ARod, Jeter, Sabathia, et al (or the Sox) when none of the prospects (outside of Wieters) are that good.

The team had adopted an "all or nothing" approach. Tex or bust.

In reality, steady improvement and good decisions would lead the team where (most) fans want it to be.

[Ray]

The contract for Izturis was 2 years/6 million. They did not get him for his bat. His glove is what got him here. He's young, too. Anyone notice what a difference Jason Bartlett made in Tampa last year? Gotta be solid up the middle. I hope all contracts being close to equal Tex will opt to sign with the team he grew up loving, but we have all certainly heard Mr. Angelos' lip service before. We are not that far away from contending. Keep Cabrera this year, take a chance on Pavano and Eaton on one year deals and bridge the gap between when our first flux of young pitchers make their way. I also believe that Roberts would be more inclined to extend if Tex were here. That would leave next year looking for an upgrade at only 3rd base. McPhail has done well, folks. Pitching and "D" win championships.

[Ghost Oriole]

The only examination this guy need is a psych evaluation because he would have to be mentally unhinged to come play for this team.
----------
I disagree.

Izturis is joining his 5th team in 4 years. Do the math: good players don't get kicked to the curb every six months.

Much like Kevin Millar, Izturis is lucky to find a team willing to take him.

And that's the future for the Orioles. They'll be getting castoffs and washed up players.

[veedub]

Mr Baseball wrote:

<quoted text>
No, they will never learn. They are going to pay Izturis $6 million next year. Certain people on here said Khalil Greene was too expensive for what would could have been a one year rental. Instead we get Izturis and his .299 career OBP for $6 million a year. Yes, Greene was injured and struggled last year but in '04 he was runner up for ROY and in '07 he had 27 hr and 97 RBIs in a pitchers park. Greene also catches everything at short.

If you're going to run your mouth, at least get your facts straight. We're only paying Izturis $3M a year.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/balt...

He's merely a stop gap with a good glove. He doesn't preclude us from finding/developing a long-term solution.

[Ghost Oriole]

Mr Baseball wrote:

<quoted text>
You're right. What I read was yesterday was a one year contract with a one year option at $6 million a year but it looks like that was incorrect. I do know that Greene is scheduled to make $6.5 million in '09. I'd still rather have Greene at $3 million more.

But why pay for good players when you can cut payroll?

Remember, the team is bad, so they shouldn't spend money.

I really hope that MacPhail gets paid a nice bonus to slash paytoll. Because if everyone associated with the team has to suffer through this Angelos period, SOMEONE other than Angelos should benefit from this ongoing payroll plummet.

The team was 22nd in MLB payroll last year. So far, that'll drop another few spots in 2009 to roughly 25th or 26th. And by 2010, they'll be 29th, like the team ERA.

[Mr Baseball]

Besides Greene, I'd also like to know if the Orioles inquired about JJ Hardy and if so what the Brewers were asking for in return. Hardy could be a long term solution (5 + years) at short, not a two year solution like Izturis. Someone like Izturis makes sense when you have a stud shortstop at AA who's not quite ready. If McPhail doesn't make another trade to acquire a good, young SS then we're in the same position again in two years when supposedly we'll be close to competing.