Angels play waiting game with Mark Teixeira
BASEBALL
Re-signing him remains team's top priority, but with free-agent slugger determined to test the waters, the strategy apparently is to hold off on making an offer until he hits the open market.
The Angels hold exclusive negotiating rights to Mark Teixeira until midnight Thursday, but they are not expected to make an offer to the free-agent first baseman by then, and it could be days, or even a week or two, before they bid on the slugger.
By no means is that a reflection of the Angels' interest in retaining Teixeira, who is their top priority this winter; it's simply a negotiating tactic they will likely take in pursuit of a premier player who will be in high demand once he hits the open market Friday.
Agent Scott Boras, who represents Teixeira, has apparently made it clear to the Angels that his client plans to test the market, regardless of any offer the Angels make during the 15-day window in which they hold exclusive negotiating rights.
Teixeira, 28, is expected to draw heavy interest from the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals, and he will likely command a deal between five and 10 years in length for at least $20 million a year.
If the Angels make an aggressive offer to Teixeira now it would give Boras even more leverage as he begins negotiations with other teams and probably drive up Teixeira's price even higher.
Unlike the Dodgers, who made a two-year, $45-million offer to Manny Ramirez last week, the Angels prefer to see how the market develops for Teixeira before joining the bidding.
Angels General Manager Tony Reagins would not discuss his negotiating plans for Teixeira, who hit .358 with a .449 on-base percentage, 13 home runs and 43 runs batted in after being traded from Atlanta to the Angels on July 29. For the full season Teixeira batted .308, with 33 home runs, 121 RBIs and a .410 on-base percentage.
But Reagins has had several conversations with Boras and has assured the agent that the Angels will make a serious effort to retain Teixeira.
"All parties understand how we're going to move forward in this process," Reagins said. "At an appropriate time, we'll make an offer to try to bring him back. We both understand when that time will be. The communication among the parties has been good."
The Angels also plan to make a serious run at free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia, who could command a deal in the six-year, $120-million range, and they could bid on right-hander A.J. Burnett, who might receive a deal in the five-year, $75-million range.
The team will look to re-sign reliever Darren Oliver, is open to retaining closer Francisco Rodriguez and outfielder Juan Rivera, and seems lukewarm to the idea of retaining pitcher Jon Garland and outfielder Garret Anderson, all free agents.
Many of the Angels' winter moves will hinge on whether they can re-sign Teixeira. They would prefer to avoid a lengthy bidding war on the first baseman, but they might have no choice.
"You have to do what's best for the organization," Reagins said. "We have a lot of moving parts this off-season. We'll make decisions as best we can."
DiGiovanna is a Times staff writer
mike.digiovanna@latimes.com
