MLBTrade Rumors and Teixeira

by Stook on Feb 28, 2008 6:05 PM EST Comment 28 comments

The Royals are mentioned as a possible "suitor" for Mark Teixeira assuming he makes it to free agency next year. Other possible suitors they list are the Orioles, Braves, Red Sox, Yankees, Mariners, Mets and Giant.

Know this is a year in advance but what is everyone's thoughts on the Royals having a chance with this Boras client?

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The problem with that

While I think it is pretty clear that the Royals have both the money and the willingness to sign a top tier free agent next offseason, getting Teixeira will be difficult. He'll be the top position player of the free agent class. He is the most elite of the elite free agents. So that means that many teams are going to throw huge contact offers at him.

To make matters worse, he will likely be the Yankees #1 target. They have big problems at first base and Giambi's contract will be coming off the books for them. They will undoubtedly offer him $25M per year for many years. He might actually end up signing for more than that. The Yankees have the money and the will to outbid the Royals, no matter what we offer.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 28, 2008 6:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

While I love the mention

I don't see it. Not that I don't think the Royals should spend money on All-Star caliber players, I just don't think $25M per year on one guy is the money they should be spending. Plus, like NYR said, there will be some hefty bidders out there. I would love it if the Royals were a team that could offer $25M without batting an eye, but I don't think that is the case...yet.(crosses fingers)

by MileHighKCfan on Feb 28, 2008 6:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tex is a nice player

but he is unlikely to be worth his next contract. His numbers are largely a product of playing half his games in Arlington:

Career at home: 301/379/577
Career on road: 271/363/500

A 1B with a 863 OPS should not get superstar money.

by Gopherballs on Feb 28, 2008 6:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would love it

but it ain't happening

Marriage is a great institution, for those that like being in institutions.

by fats on Feb 28, 2008 8:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i would love the royals to get him

but since that probably won't happen, I really hope he stays with the braves.

royals pix teahen video

by teahen24 on Feb 28, 2008 9:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pass

Doesn't make sense investing a fourth of our payroll one one player, especially if that player is playing a non-premium position like first base.

Plus there's no way he signs here.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 28, 2008 10:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Non-premium position?

I don't necessarily disagree with you overall, but is first base really a non-premium position? There really are no "non-premium positions" just non-premium players. Some positions are more important defensively and some more important offensively, but all are important. And the Royals desperately need a big bat at first base. And it's not like it is easy to just go out and find a cheap .900+ OPS first baseman.

The reality is that if the Royals are going to get a top tier FA next year, they are going to have to spend $18-25M per year for that player. Given the nature of the market and salary inflation that is the price of a top tier free agent. If the Royals aren't willing to spend at or near $20M per year, then they'll have to settle for more second tier players like Jose Guillen, for $12-15M per year.

Long story short, if the Royals can afford a top tier free agent (and they can), then they should. Two $10M players or three $7M players don't add up to one $20M player.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 28, 2008 10:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Premium position

First base is not a premium position in the strictest sense, defense up the middle etc. I think spending 15-20 million dollars per year by itself is already absurd, especially 20+, unless you're getting one of the top 5 most dominant starting pitchers.

And, call me crazy, but why can't a 22 year old kid whos obviously athletic enough to already be hitting ML pitching not be able to soon/eventually field a competent 1b? honestly please explain why not.

Alex Gordon in '08

by RoyalJHWKR on Feb 29, 2008 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Inflation, etc.

First base is not a premium position in the strictest sense, defense up the middle etc.

A premium bat is a premium bat and Teixeir has that at a position where we need it.

I think spending 15-20 million dollars per year by itself is already absurd, especially 20+, unless you're getting one of the top 5 most dominant starting pitchers.

That just doesn't represent the current market for good baseball players. Salary inflation is hitting every year. You can't judge salaries by the standard of last year or the year before. Basically every top tier free agent next year is going to get $15M per year. That will include a number of not-great players. That won't be "overpaid." They will be paid what teams can afford to pay them. And considering the fact that revenues are going through the roof MLB-wide, teams can afford to pay a hell of a lot.

First, being athletic enough to hit major league pitching doesn't necessarily make one a competent infielder. Second, I think Butler can handle first base if the Royals need him to. It would be nice if he didn't need to because the Royals brought in a great hitting 1B with decent defense. Third, what the Royals really need is a big bat, regardless of position. Put him at 1B, put him at DH, wherever he's willing to play. We just need some elite offensive production.

So, that's why he'd be good for the Royals and why he's worth $25M to someone. But the Royals aren't going to win a bidding war with the Yankees.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 29, 2008 12:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My philosophy

Is you need to be able to develop the mashers in your lineup at the corner positions. A small market team like the Royals really can't afford to compete for free agents at those positions.

They should spend the money on positions where it is tougher to find good players, like middle infield or pitching.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 29, 2008 9:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

inflation

i understand inflation. i just don't think the royals should play in the market for overpriced 20+ million dollar free agents, especially ones that come with 4-5+ year contracts. an exception would be if you feel that there is one missing piece to a championship run. i understand the market dictates the price of free agents.

and also, like royalsretro said below, it would make more sense to invest in a position up the middle anyway. those positions are harder to field, especially guys with legitimate offensive production. the corner spots often take care of themselves with guys moving over from another spot.

and also, perhaps there isn't a strong correlation between hitting/fielding ability. however, billy butler will be fine at 1b given enough time and chances. and agreed, we need elite offensive production, hopefully gordon and butler develop as hoped and that won't be a problem.

Alex Gordon in '08

by RoyalJHWKR on Feb 29, 2008 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Daddy wants

Sabathia. A stud just coming into his prime and we would ding a divisional opponent by getting him.

Of all the talent available at the end of this year, he'd be my #1 target.

Imagine:

Meche
Sabathia
Greinke
Bannister
Hochevar

in '09!

by howserfan on Feb 29, 2008 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and soria could move to the rotation as well...

and probably should at least try it at some point.

if we had that rotation, of course, we might just want to leave him at closer.

by rockchalk on Mar 1, 2008 2:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We need bats much more than arms

The glaring weakness on this team is power hitting. We've actually got good pitching and pretty good depth. The future rotation looks good and deep including 5 of the following pitchers:

Meche
Greinke
Bannister
Hochevar
Soria
Cortes
Pimental
Rosa

Our big FA signing next year has to be a big bat.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Mar 1, 2008 9:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What's wrong with surplus?

I'd take him in heartbeat. He's in his prime, has great pop in his bat plus hits for average. He's a major league average to above average defender and would solidify the middle of the lineup.

What's wrong with talented surplus if it is managed properly? (I think Moore can manage it from a GM perspective, but I am unsure about Hillman from a coaching perspective.)

I'm really good at being wrong... sometimes.

by BlownSave on Feb 29, 2008 1:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

There's certainly room for him in the lineup

It's not like we have such a surplus of talent that we don't have room for Teixeira in the lineup. Right now, we've got one good player for the 1B and DH positions. We need one more. Regardless of which position Butler plays, we need a big bat for the other one.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 29, 2008 2:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the latest

we're looking at Sosa

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/02/royals-a-possib.html

I actually wouldn't mind this too much if it's for $1 million or so and he's relegated to DH and spot duty in the OF.

Of course, I'm still one of those guys that wants us to sign Barry to be our fulltime DH.

This space intentionally left blank.

by marbotty on Feb 29, 2008 4:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No Sosa

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/511252.html

by KC Chris on Feb 29, 2008 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Huge Mistake to sign Sosa

Any interest the Royals have in Sammy Sosa is a huge mistake. Sammy would be another in a long line of signing an over the hill veteran with limited potential who would block younger players from developing. He could only DH which would take ABs from Butler, Huber or Shealy.

If Guillen needs a security blanket, he is going to ask Linus from the Peanuts cartoon. If KC wanted to keep a RH DH around, Mike Sweeney would have been the guy. I can't imagine a worse signing than Sosa.

by daveyork on Feb 29, 2008 1:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No Sosa

I'll be really pissed off if we sign Sosa to a major league deal. I wouldn't mind a minor league deal as long as he doesn't make the 25-man roster...ever. If Sosa is on the 25-man roster, that means Shealy won't be and possibly for the whole year. Might as well just release him now. If he doesn't get his major league shot, he's wasted. Sosa on the 25-man also means that the Royals would probably have to trade someone like German to make room for him, as there are only 4 bench spots.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 29, 2008 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No Sosa

No Sosa, no doubt.

by KC Chris on Feb 29, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If we sign Sosa

That's kind of dickish for Dayton Moore to tell Sweeney that there wasn't a spot for him.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 29, 2008 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Small disagreement

There wasn't room for Sweeney. That doesn't mean there isn't room for a hitter better than Sweeney who is more likely to be healthy for more games. Sosa is, unfortunately, both of those things.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 29, 2008 4:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea

But the impression I got from Dayton's quote was that "even if you work your ass off Mike and are awesome and healthy, there's no room on roster for you."

And its true. They want to give Shealy a look, they have Butler, and they may even want to give Huber a look. Sosa has no place here.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 29, 2008 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I don't see any room for Sosa

And I think Moore agrees. I sure hope he does.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 29, 2008 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I really hope...

That the Royals use him as a diversion rather than go after him. Maybe more teams will concentrate on bidding on Teixeira rather than go after some of the other FA's out there and that will give the Royals a chance to get someone more under the radar. As much as I would love to see Teixeira in Royal Blue, I just don't know if locking up that much money in one player is a smart move for our team. Maybe we can get another good FA and use the extra 10 mil to lock up one of our young guys. I would really like to keep Butler, Gordon, and Grienke for a long time and would hate for us not to be able to because we have too much payroll locked up in one player. What good does that do for our team?

Waiting for the Royals to appear on ESPN everynight!

by MooseTacos25 on Feb 29, 2008 11:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You know,

when I proposed spending this kind of money via a trade to acquire A-Rod (before he kissed and made up with the NYY), I was openly laughed at and mocked on this site.

Now we are saying it's OK to spend that kind of dough on a lesser (although still excellent) talent?

by loyal2s dad on Mar 4, 2008 6:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A-rod

I was worried that he'd be 30-35M per year, whereas Teixeira is more like 20-25M per year (he may well sign for more than that, but I'd be willing for the Royals to attempt to spend that much money on him). And acquiring A-rod last December may have meant that the organization wouldn't have been willing to make a big signing next offseason. So, would it be better for the Royals to fill two holes by signing Guillen and Teixeira or just one hole by signing A-rod?

Also, it was clear that A-rod was going to sign for something like 10 years, whereas Teixeira's contract will likely be for a shorter term (like 5-7 years). The former contract is a much greater risk and also includes many more declining, mediocre years than the latter.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Mar 4, 2008 6:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs