Merry Christmas Sox Fans?

The OC Register is reporting the Boston Red Sox have offered Mark Teixeira a eight year deal worth $200 million. The report would blow the offers from the other teams completely out of the water and if true means we can expect a Teixeira press conference at Fenway by the end of the week. Dan Patrick reported on his show on AM 570 that the Boston Red Sox have made first baseman Mark Teixeira an eight-year, $200 million offer. If so, that blows the reported eight-year, $160 million offers by the Angels and the Washington Nationals out of the water. Patrick said Monday morning: “If it’s true they’re offering $200 million to a career .290 hitter, it’ll be interesting to see what the Angels do.” UPDATE 1:06AM: Tim Dierkes at MLB Trade Rumors has a bit saying a reader of his blog told him he heard the Dan Patrick comments and that Patrick was giving a hypothetical situation. A reader who heard the show says Patrick was only speaking in the hypothetical with the $200MM figure, so Bloom's post was apparently inaccurate. This is why I typically avoid radio reports unless I hear them myself...sorry about that. In listening to the Reggie Miller interview on Patrick's site he was definitely only giving an opinion during that portion. However later Monday Earl Bloom at The OC Register posted a followup where he clarified his original post and even took a shot at Dierkes. This is a blog. There are comments made on the internet, the radio, television. We mention them, link to them, perhaps comment on them ourselves. It’s a discussion, people. First of all, if it was a news story, it would have cited sources. Mr. Patrick didn’t. He mentioned a report of $200 million, and then he said — which was quoted in the post — “if it’s true they’re offering $200 million to a .290 hitter, it’ll be interesting to see what the Angels do.” He then speculated about Manny Ramirez. That’s it, the extent of it. A comment on a comment on an unspecified report. Amazingly, even other bloggers didn’t get it. UPDATE 9:51AM: Seems there may have been some accuracy to what Dan Patrick said yesterday. Michael Silverman is reporting Boston has made an offer to Teixeira for eight years and Teixeira seeking a deal closer to A-Rods per season salary then not. Silverman says Boston views Teixiera in the same “must-have” light as they did Matsuzaka.

Blogs And Such

Here's a quick rundown of happenings around the world of Red Sox blogs. » Ian at Sox & Dawgs gives us a brief rundown of known offers for Mark Teixeira, like me, Ian hopes he is sporting some of those new uniforms and hats unveiled Thursday by the Red Sox. » Hideki Okajima is running a marathon tomorrow, the Red Sox wish they had known so they could have discouraged him from doing so. » Within an hour last night there was a report of an offer from Boston to Kenshin Kawakami and then a denial by an unnamed baseball source. The source called the reported $21 million offer over three years to be not accurate, the brief post by Amalie Benjamin ended with the line "The Sox apparently have not made an offer to Kawakami.", whether that last part was also from the source or an opinion from Benjamin could be vital, as a denial of the reported offer without the last line could suggest an offer was made, but not for the amount reported. I am waiting for a response to an inquiry to Benjamin regarding that. » Cyn talks about Major League Baseball refusing to increase the amount of money given to minor leaguers each day for meals. The amount currently sits at $20 and an increase of $5 was approved by the General Managers last month in California, MLB officials failed to even present the proposal to owners. » Cyn also has a Did you know post, I'm guessing she'd rather be in the boat then under it. » Red is getting his bunker ready. » Headwarmer is apparently sick of the hype and has decided to watch Oprah. » Paul gets all number nerdy again over at YFSF as he takes a look at just who Mark Teixeira is.

Red Sox Target Another Japanese Pitcher

Perhaps the Boston Red Sox should have incorporated some Japanese text into their new logo yesterday. Already with three Japanese pitchers on their 40-man roster, the Boston Red Sox have now reportedly made the largest offer to Kenshin Kawakami and his accepting the offer is probably now just a formality as he has expressed a lot of interest in signing with Boston. According to Nikkan Sports, the Red Sox have offered Kawakami $21 million over three seasons to join the back end of the Red Sox rotation. Many around baseball have suggested recently that Boston should focus on signing starting pitching as opposed to going after Mark Teixeira, but that never made sense for a team with three aces already to spend heavily on the high priced, high risk starters on the market. With this move Theo Epstein shows why he is one of the best General Managers in baseball. UPDATE: A baseball source is saying the Nikkan Sports report is not accurate and the Sox have not made an offer. Keep in mind though that sources were saying the Sox hadn't made an offer to Jason Varitek while according to the Providence Journal, Theo Epstein confirmed Varitek was among the players they have made offers to.

Red Sox Unveil Uniform Changes

Not bad, I like returning to the blue text on road jersey, and I like that it's in the Red Sox font now.

No big news regarding the Boston Red Sox yet from Las Vegas, but there's plenty of news in general. » Thursday the Red Sox will unveil a new logo and uniform design. The changes according to the Red Sox will be for select uniforms which would suggest the new designs would only be used occasionally. New Era reportedly briefly posted a new Red Sox hat on its website but was taken down a short time later, that hat design is pictured to the right. A new design of the teams alternate uniform is likely what will be unveiled tomorrow as changing its home uniform or everyday hat design would likely be cause for a huge outcry from Red Sox Nation. Currently the Red Sox use a Red jersey with blue lettering as its alternate jersey. » The Red Sox are currently viewed as the most likely destination for Mark Teixeira. No figure has been released as part of what Boston may have or may offer Teixeira as it's initial offer. Washington is reportedly willing to give $200 million over 10 years while Baltimore is willing to go nine years at about $20 million per season. Teixeira reportedly wants to play on the east coast which if true takes the Angels out of the running. » Boston appears to be on a short list of teams John Smoltz would be willing to play for. He would come at a much cheaper price than Derek Lowe or AJ Burnett and likely can be had for a shorter deal which would be attractive to Boston as long term they have plenty of options for the rotation with Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson, Junichi Tazawa and Michael Bowden. » The Red Sox are reluctant to sign Rocco Baldelli because of concerns he wouldn't be available to play long stretches which might be a must with JD Drew on the roster. » Kenshin Kawakami is interested in joining the Red Sox, he is a left handed starter who's making the jump from Japan to Major League Baseball.

Red Sox Have Interest In Andy Pettitte

From Boston.com Though there is no indication that any deal is imminent or that the Sox have done anything more than kick the tires, the Sox have expressed some interest in the pitcher, according to a source. The Sox made Pettitte an offer several years ago when Pettitte signed with the Houston Astros after leaving the New York Yankees, though part of Pettitte's desire to pitch for Houston at that time involved Roger Clemens' presence with the Astros. This year, Pettitte earned $16 million while going 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA for the Yankees. The 36-year-old seems likely to return to New Yorj this offseason, but the Red Sox could be a fit later in the offseason if certain elemnts fall into place.

Monday Quick Hits

•The chances of Boston acquiring Jarrod Saltalamacchia took a serious hit this weekend when the Rangers traded Gerald Laird to Detroit. Boston appears to have turned their attention to Kelly Shoppach. •According to Mike Silverman, Willie Bloomquist continues to be associated with the Red Sox. •Buster Olney would be shocked if Rocco Baldelli isn't with the Red Sox in '09. •Tony Massarotti wants Boston to take care of their entire off season to do list in Vegas this week. •Jason Varitek and Paul Byrd declined arbitration. •Theo and company arrived in Vegas around midnight eastern time.

Winter Meetings

Next weeks winter meetings could lead to several signings across baseball including Boston. I plan to update the blog several times daily during the meetings next week.

Sox Lock Up Pedroia

It's a six year deal for about $40.5 million and a club option for 2015. UPDATE: Just a quick opinion on this deal. I think Pedroia was the most vital young player the Red Sox have to get locked up long term. Corner infielders are easy to comeby on the free agent market as are starting pitchers. MVP calliber second basemen don't come around everyday. I expect Jonathan Papelbon and Kevin Youkilis have deals coming this winter, possibly Jon Lester too, but Lester may get left waiting for one more offseason.

Sox Land Tazawa

Junichi Tazawa has decided to accept the Boston Red Sox offer and will officially sign in early December when he is officially allowed to. Reports say the offer from Boston is for three years at $1 million per and that he will begin at AA Portland. He will remain a starter and will be provided with a personal translator. The deal is a major league deal. The signing doesn't come as much of a surprise as most expected he would sign with Boston. UPDATE: Signed, sealed and delivered.