Yankees beat Red Sox to Teixeira

Ouch. The Red Sox lost out to the big spending Yankees again. The Evil Empire spent $423.5 million on three players this month, intent on putting a dominant team in their brand new $1 billion plus stadium. The contract for Teixeira is worth a reported $180 million for eight years. He will be given a no-trade clause and no opt-out clause.

The Red Sox, having just lost slugger Manny Ramirez, were considered the front-runners for Teixeira, but ended up losing big-time.  Over the last week, the Red Sox and even the Angels claimed to have pulled out of the Teixeira race even though many considered their actions to be cat-and-mouse games with Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras.

With the signing of Teixeira, the Yankees have landed the top three free-agents of the winter (CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and now Teixeira) after a dismal season where they finished 3rd in the AL East behind the Tampa Bay Rays and the Red Sox.

In comparison, the Red Sox have been very quiet this offseason. Their only signing was of 22-year old Japanese pitcher, Junichi Tazawa, for a reported $3million. It is not clear yet if Tazawa is Fenway ready and might spend the next year at AAA Pawtucket.

Theo Epstein, John Henry, and Larry Luchiano face many questions after remaining so quiet with the checkbook after spending so freely on JD Drew, Dice-K Matsuzaka, and even a NASCAR team in recent years. Fans understand that this year might have been difficult with the economy, but surely many fans can’t help feeling a little outdone by the Big Apple. Let’s just hope that they’re right on this one. If not, we still have the Celtics and maybe even the Bruins (and with a real long shot, maybe the Patriots).

The one bright spot in not signing Teixeira is that we’ll be able to keep Mike Lowell. Even if he is on the downside of his career, he is one of the most admired players in the league and a true fan favorite.

http://www.nowhampshire.com/2008/12/19/red-sox-owner-claims-red-sox-out-of-teixeira-race/