Category: MLB (Page 281 of 448)

      Report: Yankees agree to 8-year deal with Mark Teixeira

      December 23, 2008 /

      According to ESPN.com, the New York Yankees agreed to an eight-year deal with free agent first basemen Mark Teixeira.

      Mark TeixeiraThe agreement, which is subject to a physical, includes a signing bonus of about $5 million and a complete no-trade provision, The Associated Press reported.

      The Yankees had made an offer to Teixeira weeks ago, but then withdrew it; their intention all along was to make an offer, which they did formally on Tuesday, if it fell within parameters acceptable to the organization. The contract will pay Teixeira, who made it clear he wanted to make a decision on where to play next season and beyond by Christmas, an average of $22.5 million per season.
      The Yankees had $88.5 million coming off the books (included in that total — $23.4 million on Jason Giambi, $16 million on Bobby Abreu, and $11 million to both Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano), and even with the Teixeira contract, they expect their payroll to fall below $200 million. New York has committed $423.5 million in salary in the last month, with $161 million going to left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia ($23 million over seven years) and $82.5 million to right-hander A.J. Burnett ($18.5 million over five) last week alone.

      The deal also virtually eliminates any chance that free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez has a landing place with the Yankees. New York does have money left to add another starting pitcher, most likely veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte at $10 million if he agrees to terms soon.

      I think I just heard the collective heads of every Boston Red Sox fan explode at the same time.

      I would say that this news is unbelievable but it’s very much believable. If the Yankees want a player, there’s nothing that’ll stop them from acquiring said player. Other than signing Manny, the Bombers essentially accomplished what they wanted to accomplish this offseason by acquiring pitching, as well as the desire to get younger.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Red Sox, Teixeira close to a deal?

      December 23, 2008 /

      According to the Washington Times, the Boston Red Sox are on the verge of landing free agent first basemen Mark Teixeira.

      Mark TeixeiraWhile the source declined to discuss specifics, there are strong indications that the Red Sox will announce that they have landed the highly-coveted slugger, who has been courted this off-season by several major league clubs, including the Angels, Orioles and Nationals.

      The Red Sox have been considered one of the lead contenders in the Teixeira sweepstakes, but it was unclear whether the team would be able to meet the asking price from agent Scott Boras, who had hoped to land a contract for as much as $200 million over ten years. Last week, Red Sox owner John Henry told reporters that the team was no longer pursuing the player, but the statement was widely seen as a negotiating maneuver.

      The Orioles and Nationals had hoped to sign him in part because he is a Severna Park, Md. native, and the Nationals were reportedly willing to bid especially hard.

      It is still unclear how much the Red Sox offered Teixeira, but there were reports last night that the Nationals had boosted their bid in a last-ditch effort to sign him.

      That’s quite a turn of events from the end of last week when it was announced that the Red Sox had pulled out of the running. Maybe Teixeira crapped himself when he realized that he had chased away the Red Sox and Angels with demands (or at least, rumored demands) of a $184 million contract, and he decided to return back to earth. The thought of having to play for the Nationals or Orioles will do that to a man.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Former trainer sues Roger Clemens for defamation

      December 23, 2008 /

      Brian McNamee, the former trainer who alleges he gave Roger Clemens performance-enhancing drugs, is suing his former client for defamation.

      Roger Clemens Brian McNameeBrian McNamee, who told federal investigators that Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs, claims the Rocket libeled and slandered him following the release of George Mitchell’s report on drug use in baseball. McNamee is seeking $10 million from his former client, according to a summons filed in Queens Supreme Court last week.

      Clemens filed his own defamation suit against McNamee in January after the trainer said in the Mitchell Report that he regularly injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone. Clemens later told a congressional committee under oath that he had never taken steroids.

      In the federal case in Texas, McNamee’s attorneys claim the trainer was forced to talk to investigators under threat of prosecution, rendering him immune from any defamation lawsuit. A federal prosecutor backed up McNamee’s claim, but a judge has yet to rule on his request to toss the case.

      Clemens has one month to respond to the Queens lawsuit.

      Would anyone else like to see both of these guys locked up together in a jail cell with some brute named “T-Bag”?

      MLB

      Is Manny Ramirez set to become a Yankee?

      December 22, 2008 /

      Manny RamirezA Dominican site called Impactodeportivo.com.do is reporting that Manny Ramirez is set to sign a three-year, $75 million contract with the New York Yankees soon.

      This is from Rotoworld.com:

      Doubtful, extremely doubtful. Still, everyone else will picking up on the Dominican-based report soon enough. Manny to the Yankees is a definite possibility, but it’s highly unlikely that the two sides are this far along. On the off chance that it is, a more legitimate source will pick up on it soon.

      Agreed. If the Yankees and Manny were this far along, a reporter for ESPN, FOX or SI would be all over it. I don’t doubt that there’s a great chance that Ramirez signs with the Bombers soon, but I doubt it’s going to happen within a day or two. Especially not after the Angels and Red Sox just pulled out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB, Rumors & Gossip

      Angels pull out of Mark Teixeira bidding

      December 22, 2008 /

      The Los Angeles Angels became the second club (the Boston Red Sox being the other club) in the same week to pull out of the bidding war for Mark Teixeira by withdrawing their contract offer.

      Mark TeixeiraGeneral Manager Tony Reagins was not immediately available for comment. The Angels offered Teixeira an eight-year deal, and though financial terms were not disclosed, it was believed to be worth at least $160 million.

      The Washington Nationals, who reportedly offered eight years and $160 million, and the Baltimore Orioles, who reportedly offered seven years and about $150 million, remain heavily involved in the bidding.

      Comments made by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry on Thursday night gave the impression that they were no longer pursuing Teixeira. The team had reportedly made him an offer in the eight-year, $170 million range.

      This is such a unique situation because clubs are finally standing up to free agents who want extraordinary amounts of money and ridiculous contracts. So now if Teixeira wants to go to a winner, he’d better relax on his contract demands or else take the money and play in Washington or Baltimore next year.

      The interesting thing now is whether or not the Yankees will make an official offer. Rumors of circulated that they’ve been interested, but like many people, I’ve always held the impression that they were only involved in the Teixeira talks to drive up the price for the Red Sox and Angels. But now that both of those clubs have pulled out of the race, the Yankees could land one of the top free agents on the market if they wanted to pony up. Stay tuned.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

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