Hanley Ramirez back with the Red Sox?: No, not at all but according to Tom Verducci and Jon Heyman, the Boston Red Sox asked the Florida Marlins about shortstop Hanley Ramirez. They say the talks have ended after an agreement could not be reached.

The Marlins were said to be most interested in a center fielder, and discussions apparently centered on Boston’s promising youngster Jacoby Ellsbury, talented pitching prospect Clay Buchholz and others in a package for Ramirez, who began in Boston’s organization.

[SI.com]

Brad Penny: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Boston Red Sox and Brad Penny are close to signing a 1-year deal that would make Penny a member of the Red Sox rotation next season. Rosenthal says that Penny will still need to take a physical and that they are working out the language of the contract. [FOXSports.com]

Yuck The Fankees

Now that the whole Mark Teixeira free agency has become a soap opera, it’s time to rename it all to “As The Teixeira Turns.”

Last night came the stunning developments that the Boston Red Sox were pulling out of the negotiations with Mark Teixeira.

“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”

While I feel that this is the end for the Red Sox in the Teixeira chase, others don’t share my feelings:

A Red Sox Fan in Pinstripe Territory: Considering the source, though, this could be a prank email from anybody. If it is true, we’ll see soon why they decided to just walk away. Could be just a threat to mess with that pig Boras.

Around the Bases: While Henry’s words make it seem like Boston is out of it, I wouldn’t count them out until Teixeira’s putting his signature on a contract elsewhere.

Fenway West: This does not necessarily mean the Sox are done in the case that Boras was bluffing about other offers and will have to come back to the Red Sox with hat in hand but that is an unlikely senario.

The Joy of Sox: Is Henry bluffing? Has Teixeira eliminated Boston from his possible places of employment? Or is this a straight statement of the Red Sox removing themselves from the bidding and moving on?

Red Sox Monster: If true, that’s certainly unfortunate for the Red Sox organization. But is it true?

SOX1FAN: Is it posturing for Boras, or does it mean the Red Sox are really moving on? Time will tell…

Surviving Grady: So the Sox winkwink are apparently dropping out of the Mark Teixeira talks winkwink because the money is just getting too winkwinkwink ridiculous.

The Bottom Line: Personally, I think Henry and Co. made their offer and are choosing to play hard ball now. This is the final hand in the poker game. If Boras does have a $200 million deal from the Angels, Nats or Yankees, then Teixeira will not be in Boston… but I don’t think he does and I think Boras’ statement was really targeted at the other teams involved.

Yanks Fan vs Sox Fan: As I’ve said in the comments, I’m pretty convinced this is a case of Henry calling a Boras bluff.

Some thoughts from the national and Boston media after the jump.

Continue reading →

Hawaiian Winter League: If you were thinking about heading to Hawaii next fall to catch the Hawaiian Winter League, cancel those thoughts as MLB has decided to pull out of Hawaii and set up a second fall league in Arizona. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin]

No sooner than I post that the Boston Red Sox are still the favorites to sign Mark Teixiera that I come across this from Channel 5 in Boston via Art Martone at the ProJo SoxBlog.

SportsCenter 5’s Mike Lynch reported that team owner John Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and General Manager Theo Epstein were in Texas Thursday evening meeting with Teixeira’s agent Scott Boras.

Lynch reported the Red Sox were offering an eight-year contract with an annual salary of $23 million.

The Red Sox were hoping to close the deal Thursday night or Friday morning, Lynch said.

So that’s the latest on the Teixeira saga. Stay tuned folks, it could all be over by tomorrow morning.

UPDATE: Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald confirms this and has some other details as well.

Trot Nixon: The original Dirtdog, Trot Nixon, has a new home again next season. The Milwaukee Brewers have signed Nixon to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Nixon started the 2008 season in the Diamondbacks organization before being traded to the Mets. In 11 games in the Big Apple, he hit just .171 (6-for-35) with 1 home run and 1 RBI before undergoing season-ending hernia surgery. [Brewers Blog]

Could they be teammates in '09?

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that one of the GM’s involved in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes said the Boston Red Sox were in the lead to sign him.

“I think they’re in the lead and ahead of where everyone else is right now,” he said. “I’m not sure who’s bidding against them at this point.”

Asked whether he thought the talks would end soon, the GM said, “You just never know where Scott Boras and the Red Sox are involved.”

Let’s see here. The Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Nationals and Angels are the teams involved in the talks. It’s very unlikely that Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman (Yanks GM) said that. So that it narrows it down to Tony Reagins (Angels GM), Andy McPhail (Orioles GM) or Jim Bowden (Nationals GM).

My money is on Reagins saying that.

Red Sox: The Boston Red Sox would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. [RedSox.com]

Mark Teixeira: Ben Nicholson-Smith takes a look at the Mark Teixeira rumors for Monday, December 15th. [MLB Trade Rumors]