If I were Mark Teixeira (which, needless to say, would be awesome)…
I would not sign with the Yankees, Red Sox, or Mets, and I would definitely not sign with the Orioles. I wouldn’t think twice—I’d re-sign with the Angels. Know why?
Teixeira is going to make a bundle of money no matter where he decides to play, so why not stay where he’s comfortable if the team knows how to win? Need I remind you the Angels were the only team in the majors to win 100 games in 2008? (Never mind that they have a bad habit of losing to the Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs.)
- B/R Ticket Guide
In his 54 games as an Angel this past season, Teixeira hit .358 with a .449 on-base-percentage and slugged .632—a mark not reached by most cleanup hitters in the post-steroid era. Even more impressive are his offensive numbers in the batter’s box at Angel Stadium where he thrived, batting .379 with a .460 OBP and slugging a monster .670 in 30 games in 2008.
Teixeira will be an All-Star first baseman regardless of what city he plays in, so in my humble opinion, he should continue to live it up in Southern California.
In short, the Angels are a very good team, the fans in Anaheim love him, and the ownership is both able and willing to offer a lucrative contract.
Why mess with success? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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about 1 month ago
Wouldn't we all love to make millions living in the sunshine of southern california! Tex was a good fit in LA, I wouldn't mind seeing him stay in the AL West.
about 1 month ago
Yeah, not to mention having several months of vacation from "work." I have to hope that Teixeira decides to return to his roots and sign with Baltimore, but realistically I just don't see it happening. The Orioles are too bad and the Angels (and other suitors) are too good. My second choice would be for him to stay out west so that he doesn't play for Boston or New York. I guess we'll find out sooner or later.
about 1 month ago
Let's hope that the Angels are serious when they say they are going to make a very serious offer to retain the guy for years. I'd hate to see more Ammo for those @(#$* Red Sox in October.
from about 1 month ago
I think they're serious, but they've also got CC Sabathia on their radar. It'll be interesting to see who they decide is more important to the team's success in 2009 and beyond.
about 1 month ago
Why would he want to stay with the Angels? As you mentioned, they have this nasty habit of losing to the Red Sox.
His best bet for success remains in the AL East.
from about 1 month ago
Well, as I mentioned in the article, Teixeira has been extremely successful as an Angel, particularly in the team's home park. In 19 career games at Fenway, on the other hand, he has hit just .194 with one home run. That is not to say that Teixeira would be a bust if he signed with the Red Sox, but he's played for three different teams over the last two years and might just want some consistency somewhere he already feels comfortable. Additionally, since the A.L. East is a much more competitive division than the A.L. West, his chances of returning to the postseason would seem to be greater if he stayed with the best team in the weaker division. In short, I strongly disagree with you.
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