Angels withdraw offer to Teixeira
The Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon withdrew their offer to free-agent slugger Mark Teixeira and do not intend to continue negotiations with his agent, according to a source close to the negotiations.
Believed to have offered about $160 million over eight seasons, the Angels became the second team in recent days to declare the price on Teixeira to be too steep. The Boston Red Sox reached a similar decision Thursday night after meeting with Teixeira and agent Scott Boras. Team owner John Henry issued a statement that concluded, " … we are not going to be a factor," though evidence suggests negotiations are not dead.
Sources close to the process said Angels owner Arte Moreno concluded that Teixeira did not intend to play for the Angels and that his team was being used to drive up the price for the other interested clubs.
Also, a source said the Red Sox have not spoken to Boras since Thursday night, when Henry issued his statement.
A source told Yahoo! Sports on Sunday that the Angels would not re-enter the bidding for Teixeira, whom they acquired from the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline in July.
Boras responded in an email to Yahoo! Sports: “Mark Teixeira enjoyed his time with the Angels and was an integral part of their success last season. His interest in returning to the club has been sincere, real and continues to be one of his earnest priorities throughout this off-season.
"Clubs are very aware – in particular the Angels – participation in the free agent process does not signal lack of interest in signing with the club. Case in point, the Angels signed two great free agent players who engaged in the mechanism, receiving and exchanging offers with multiple clubs, while negotiating with the Angels. Therefore, we are assuming that reasons, other than Teixeira’s interest in returning to the Angels, were the driving factor."
The Angels' withdrawal would appear to narrow the field for the switch-hitting Teixeira to the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and, presumably, the Red Sox and New York Yankees. It is unknown if the Yankees have made an offer on Teixeira or if the Red Sox's offer – which a source said is $168 million over eight years – still stands.
The Nationals' bid reportedly matched the Angels'. The Orioles reportedly were considering whether to add an eighth year to their offer.
Moreno for weeks had led the Angels' negotiations and abruptly pulled out Sunday amid reports Boras was asking for more than $180 million over eight seasons.
The apparent loss of Teixeira is a big hit for the Angels, who had made him their No. 1 priority after again losing to the Red Sox in the American League Division Series. They'll now turn their attention to signing closer Brian Fuentes and adding offense through a trade (Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko) or free agency (Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell).
