Reindeer Games
by John BRecent rumors have The Sox interested in both Burnett AND Teixeira. And the rumors are that they want both players badly. This is confusing.
They don’t need Burnett. Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester, Wakefield, Bucholz, Masterson, etc. Â I’m sure he’d be nice to have, but with the depth of pitching in that organization…aquiring Burnett isn’t critical.
But, I do believe that they want ONE of the two players. My guess…they want Teixeira. They want him to protect Ortiz, or in the event Ortiz doesn’t return to the run producer of old, or in the event that Lowell is finished and Youkilis needs to be moved to third base.
Burnett is a smokescreen.
But, my question to the Roundtable…should the Yanks grab Teixeira especially because the Red Sox want him?Â
I, for one, say yes. I don’t want to see Teixeira succeed in Boston for 8-10 years and kill the Yanks when we needed a firbaseman anyway. It’s not like the Yanks already have a firstbaseman. Swisher MIGHT be very good. But he’s not Teixeira.
My recomendation: Ignore the Burnett smokescreen…let them sign him if they want him. Sign Sabathia , Teixeira, and Lowe. Trade for Cameron, for which talks are back on by the way. Re-sign Pettitte. Put Swisher in right field.
4 comments November 20 2008 10:30 am | John B | Discussion |
The problem with Texiera is he is a Scott Boras client which means, no one is signing him early. He will be a free agent well into December. Boras needs the time to pump up the market. The Angels claim they don’t want to play those types of games, but is there any doubt that is what will happen.
Texiera would be an excellent acquisition…. BUT. Posada is signed for 3 more years (might have to play 1st base). Jeter/A-Rod might have to move there too at some point.
I would hate to see Teixeira on the Red Sox. Hate it. I woldn’t worry about what to do with Posada/Jeter/A-Rod until it’s time to make those decisions. and there is always the DH.
Latest news. Read in the NY Post that industry sources claim that Boston offered Burnett 5 years $85M. Has to be a rumor because Burnett would have jumped on that faster than a Usain Bolt in a 100M dash. If Boston wants to spend $17M per year for Burnett. Fine by me.
I would love to get Texiera too. The goal has to be play like they are not interested. With the Yankees not in the bidding. The number will be lower. But there are reportedly lots of teams interested in Texiera – Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Nationals – just to name a few. The Yankees need to wait it out. Maybe they get lucky. I don’t think Texiera signs with Boston. The numbers Boras wants don’t jive with the Boston salary pricing. They generally don’t go above $14M per year.
Agree on Burnett. But Burnett does KILL the Yankees. That must be an attractor for them. But if they don’t usually go higher than $14M….why offer $17 over 5 years to Burnett. Doesn’t make sense. I still think it’s a smokescreen. I think Boston leaked that rumor somehow to get the Yankees moving.