My understanding of our direction...

[Peace21]

By the Winter Meetings? I literally can't think of a single aspect of this story that we haven't covered 10 million times since the day he was drafted.

Also, BB, about half that plan sounds pretty lame, but I'm sure someone else will make the points I'm too lazy to make right now.

I hear Teixera's aunts brothers best friend is a Nationals fan..

[bigbird]

Maybe, maybe not. I've always felt that Roberts could be our version of Tim Salmon. Maybe that's the way they're leaning, too.

Scott on the other hand may be around only long enough that he needs to be.

And I'm surprised that they consider Huff a piece, too, especially one that could be an attractive one to a guy like Tex.

Tex wants to be in a winning situation and trading off a 40 game closer and a 30 HR DH will not help sell him to come here.

[Frobby]

Not a bad direction if you ask me.

[Peace21]

Tex wants to be in a winning situation and trading off a 40 game closer and a 30 HR DH will not help sell him to come here.

This is true.

[utvolzac]

For me personally, this is the exact opposite direction that I was hoping MacPhail would take.

I really hope they at least shop BRob to see if anyone will over-pay for him.

I'll be downright pissed if Sherrill is here past the trade deadline and we don't maximize his value. PISSED.

Also hoping we would sell high on Huff, I don't think he'll keep us this pace and really don't think it'll carry over till next season.

Count me in with the crowd who thinks Tex is overrated on this board. I say zero chance he lives up to the contract it'll take to get him here. Much rather look for a young blocked first baseman. I really hope your wrong and that MacPhail isn't keeping "veterans" around to try and attract Tex as a FA. I find it completely ridiculous that you would base the franchise direction around the hopes of signing one player. And it's not like Tex is the second coming of Babe Ruth. Big mistake, if this is true.

Oh well, the proper rebuilding strategy was nice for half a season.

[Pushmonkey]

The o's might play a lot of 9-8 games.

[Cokeman]

This offseason will be very fun here on the OH. By the Winter Meetings we will be Teixera'd out.

With Boras as his agent, that could drag on well into January...he's usually not in too big of a hurry to sign a contract.

[JTrea81]

It surprises me that we are building this whole team around Tex. Keeping guys we can ship off etc. I mean I really want the guy, but there is no guarantee he's going to sign here. At the end of the day we'll offer the most for sure, but there is no guarantee.

If we somehow don't land him, my guess is all the trades that would have occurred at the deadline, will occur this offseason...

[Mackus]

Will they look to deal Cabrera?

I'd love to get him in a different uniform and get some talent back for him.

[TheBee]

Not a bad direction if you ask me.

Agreed. And thanks to Bigbird for the information.
Any chance the veteran pitcher is another semi - local boy in Burnett?

[rolliefingers]

Tex wants to be in a winning situation and trading off a 40 game closer and a 30 HR DH will not help sell him to come here.

If this is the rationale they're using to keep Huff and Sherrill, then I'd rather not have Tex.

They'd be signing Tex for 5-7 years - are either of those guys going to be even playing beer league softball in 5-7 years? Not bloody likely.

Either Tex wants to come here or he doesn't. The rebuild should continue regardless.

[utvolzac]

Tex wants to be in a winning situation and trading off a 40 game closer and a 30 HR DH will not help sell him to come here.

If MacPhail is basing the entire direction of the franchise off the hopes of signing Texeira, then I have officially lost faith in him. That's insane. I highly doubt Teixeira is the savior of the franchise.

[rolliefingers]

If MacPhail is basing the entire direction of the franchise off the hopes of signing Texeira, then I have officially lost faith in him. That's insane. I highly doubt Teixeira is the savior of the franchise.

QFT.

Tex is a very good player, and I'd love to have him, even at $20M/yr. But he's not the "final piece" to make a very good team into a great one. He's a very big and good piece, but not the final one.

Keep your eye on the ball, MacPhail!

[tennOsfan]

There will be a collective slitting of the wrists on OH if Tex doesn't sign.

No, not "if." Probably should have said "when."

[33rdst]

I agree with the direction and I think it is the most realistic appraoch MacPhail can take. Certainly there is no guarentee that TEX will sign here, so I hope there is a plan B. I agree with the philosophy that we have a veteran starter to stabalize the rotation. The wisdom of this will become more evident as we continue into this current season. Now, let's trade Hernandez and get this show on the road.