More Teixeira

First off, you should follow all the going-ons with the Tex negotiations at MLBTR.

Bill Madden at the Daily News has some more info on the Tex negotiations. He says the Yanks are signing Tex to a $180 million deal over eight years. The deal includes a $5mm signing bonus as well as a no-trade clause. Madden says that in years past the Yanks have had a policy against no-trade clauses, but A-Rod, Sabathia, Burnett, Rivera, Jeter, Posada, Damon, and Matsui all have some sort of no trade clause in their contracts. He notes that Tex claims he has preferred the Yanks all along. Tim at MLBTR laughed at that, but I think there is some truth to it. Let's think about it, how many times have we heard that Boras would approach the Yankees with a last chance to sign? How many times have we heard the Carlos Beltran comparisons? Sure, the Yanks didn't get the discount they were hoping for, but why would there be all of those comparisons if he didn't really want to be a Yank. Let's look at it this way. It was known that Tex wanted to be on the East Coast. It was known that he wanted to play for a competitor. It was known that he wanted a lot of money. Those factors add up to him wanting to be a Yankee. It's great to have Tex, but I still think an Adam Dunn signing would have been a better investment. I'm not saying Dunn is necessarily a better player, just a better investment. Shorter term, less money, more homers. But, who knows. If Tex has an opt-out clause after 3 or 4 years, then he'll give the Yanks a couple of great seasons and then leave and sign a huge long-term contract as he exits his prime, and the Yanks can spend their money elsewhere.