Mark Texeira, as we all know now, signed with what was almost certainly the biggest offer he got. But I can’t really blame him. The Yankees are a contender and they are relatively near where he wants to be. He could have signed with Washington and been nearer (I don’t think the O’s were in the running) but then he’d have been back on a bad team, and who would want that? The Phillies have a great young first baseman. So New York is probably the closest contender that was in the running. I *think* it’s just a coincidence that the Yankees offered the most money. And yet, IIRC, he’s making less per year than Giambi was, unless he collapses in New York as some do he’ll probably give them Giambi like numbers at the plate and really help their defense, and there’s no smell of steroids attached to the guy.

Unfortunately, this indicates to me that the Yankees may be making good deals. I mean, Sabathia is a lot more sound than was Kevin Brown or Carl Pavano, and Texeira seems a safer bet than a drug free Giambi. The risk to baseball is not having one club with an unlimited budget; it’s having one club with excellent GMs with an unlimited budget.

And for all you A-Rod haters out there (yes you, TD), he has won two MVPs in New York. He changed position even though he was a better fielder than Jeter; does that not put team ahead of individual? He gave the Rangers the best three year stretch of his career; doesn’t that show he tries even when the team sucks? And in the postseason A-Rod has a reasonable OPS of .844; not as good as the regular season, but not tanking, especially since most postseason pitching staffs are better than average. Jim Rice’s postseason OPS is .679, more like a defensive shortstop than a defensively suspect left fielder. A-Rod was pretty clearly on track to be considered the best player of all time, given that he was a gold glove winning shortstop, and now, well, not so certain; he’s an average third baseman at best, so he’ll probably lose in the comparisons to Ruth. Were I A-Rod, the two time reigning GG shortstop, and selfish, I’d have insisted Jeter move.

Hell. No.

It’s called collusion, folks. Look it up.

From the true tongue in cheek stuff to all the other options that Joe could use.

Actually Pat Burrell wouldn’t be a bad move. He could be had for a lot cheaper and I’ve heard he’s also a great guy a good move to propel Team Posnanski to promotion to the Rookie Leauge.

That’s very unfair. How is he a disgrace to the game? For starters he hasn’t even signed yet and there’s a good possibility he’s not going to take the highest offer. He’s looking to get the most money possible (and it’s not even him doing it, he’s letting his agent do his job). You’re telling me…what? If you were a baseball player you’d just sign with the first team to make you an offer even though you know your agent can drive the price up higher? Baseball is a business, and I don’t see where Teixeira has done anything wrong to this point.

TD (the second), just what I was thinking when I read this. I never want to be reminded of Batgirl’s far-too-soon departure.