Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times

In the latest remake of waiting for good go. We've got this co stars of the of the brand new drama Mark Teixeira and his agent Scott Boras and the subsidiary players the bit players. Are the teams theoretically waiting for an opportunity to spend millions and millions of their dollars. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim the Boston Red Sox the Baltimore Orioles. Theoretically I guess the Washington Nationals or maybe even the New York Yankees when we want to talk about Angels baseball we go to the Los Angeles Times and this guy has been writing their for a long time and always a good read bill shaiken joins us on the line right now dale Billick -- on Michael Boston how aria. I don't very has done. Great what do you know bill where is Mark Teixeira are gonna win the going to happen.

Like I would -- advantage of those questions that you guys -- for myself and for billions of picked up Eric.

Help us out here I read your piece back on December 13 where you with a first one that I knew -- To actually report that there was a concrete. Eight year contract offer. From the Angels to -- Teixeira -- reported that the owner Artie Moreno flew to Vegas met with Boris personally and theoretically presented the offer then. What do you think that offer was realistically and have they considered upping it sense that.

We know -- eight years Tony Reagan general managers said that on the record. We're told that about a 116 million may be a little bit more. -- they had offer is. Right in line maybe a little bit better than where Baltimore and Washington Herat I don't know maybe you do but I haven't been reported publicly where exactly the Red Sox crap. They gotta figure it out all the offers in the same ballpark. Then what Scott Boras is doing is calling ain't saying hey you know one more year -- more -- got a guy and hopefully. Getting all of them up their offers and since Arnold waiting mode right now it tells you -- at -- offers either all but opted not to -- really hasn't night that this in the make or. Maybe status tidy some resistance and teams and that is properly and our best offer. Take -- that.

Bill we are Ken Rosenthal on the air yesterday and I asked the question is Mark Teixeira -- that. And he gave his opinion but he doesn't watch Mark Teixeira every day like you did. Over the second half of the season he didn't see him in the playoffs as closely as you did. Is Mark Teixeira worth this money for the Los Angeles Angels. Of Anaheim.

I guess that would depend not paid defiant words and I suppose there's many different ways to do that. The issue is the market I don't think anybody thinks that mark is not a very good player and that's one of the best in the game. You'd think he's worth twenty million AB 22 million a year. I mean what you Perreault RE attic and next here is -- going to prevent you from doing other stuff. The market is what it is and I'm sure of all the teams -- for and going here it'd be got beat you but. They can't you know the Dodgers did not really want to sign. Jason Smith for thirteen million dollars a year -- that went -- the mark it was Barrett and fortunately he came on with our rotator.

I had lots of questions about to share that that only you can answer here comedy get along with the manager how to get along with his teammates. Was he a guy who. Really. Integrated himself very well. Into the Orange County got a greater Los Angeles community quickly.

Well I was at distinctive about the anti in the art China and so of course we had Manny Ramirez donated hear from the red dot. Andy experiences could not be much more different on the field. They were exactly that they they're both terrific -- the players who produce every day help if -- teams in the playoffs. I and other missiles stunts some other attacked an. But and it just about took over the dodger clubhouse he'd made it -- lightly plays. He help the younger players but they're hitting. But haven't a player vote whether it was -- for two pots. Whether any one at a ought and I guess you know we all -- exterior but. He just ran the place. I'm Teixeira came in and -- time. And it is jobs professionally it was like they reliable service guy who came in everyday right it's time for batting practice. Performed exactly why -- left after the game no controversy in the clubhouse that would impact likely McLouth out. Never said the wrong they never did the wrong thing. Just just the big guy very nice. But certainly got a client is to do anything into the taken over --

Was he popular amongst his teammates and management and coaches and all last.

Yeah absolutely. But Hugh Hewitt a worker -- what penalty.

I'm wondering bill if you think this will have any factor in his decision I'm looking at is that career numbers in granite. He's only played in Fenway Park. An eighteen games and if you've -- nineteen games in his career. He's hitting 194. At Fenway Park with one home run as opposed to seventy games. At Angel Stadium. He's a 294 hitter there are seventeen homers 44 RBIs for a six on base you think he is. Such a proud flop applied full guy. That he'll look at his numbers. At that at the two ballparks and say hey I'm a better player in Los Angeles that's -- I'm going to go.

I picked that number is he offered him make backpack conclusion given out if a player is. I think he's been in this so long to get the best -- that the bridge is out and I would be stunned if he'd take anything other than the best dollar deal and of course. You can imagine at this point what he would say if he's stepped up podium at Fenway Park. He would talk about the great atmosphere in Austin and now has buddy architect Jason Varitek is all the all about it. He stepped up buddy and Anaheim it. It'd be -- to -- it that -- out with the Angels for the first time in his career. -- he stepped up -- at Baltimore DC it's about how much he wanted to play at home and bring home now franchise back to. -- almost -- could be true but I think the bottom line is the best deal.

I want to go back some you just said because it's another question we've had. Was it just a ton of the phrase when you say Jason Varitek. Was mark to share his body from Georgia Tech or do they have a relationship.

I have a little bit don't want them it certainly wouldn't be as strong that they've played in college that time in the united Jason -- quite a bit older than markets but it. Now people have friends -- their baseball and of course and no it's another. Some think people that that played its architect and the only two -- belong -- majors so. You know on -- doing utilities would talk to Jason that well you know on the about -- but he.

Do you think Mike Scioscia could run for office.

You can run for governor California we have Arnold Schwarzenegger. I don't Soviet natural the --

The reason I asked you that is because. I don't believe. Mike -- when he says again. Manny Ramirez to play for -- had a problem with a one guy Jose Guillen but other than that sure if you do what we ask you to do. It would be a problem can you see Manny Ramirez playing for a guy like Mike Sosa I just can't see it.

That's what I thought initially as well and frankly they were so focused on despair that they didn't really give any a lot of consideration. It's document so -- the winter meetings is clearly uses that as an option. And Sosa has been it's an Angels are convinced that it he'd get him and -- short term deal. That you'll minimize the chances of anything happening along lines of what might happen in Boston where now eight years into it -- blow up. You know I don't know -- that's plan A if they don't get this Europe but I do you think it's definitely one.

I was wondering about that I I don't know what the Red Sox plan B is Teixeira seems to be. The only object of their desire in this offseason. Assuming to share it ends up in Boston or Baltimore wherever. Is Manny the most realistic next step for the Angels.

Certainly could be they've got players that where there. Last year that are free agent now and Garret Anderson and Juan Rivera and it certainly comeback. They had committed to -- as the -- signed with Philadelphia obviously -- for -- I haven't done Bobby Abreu guys like batter are out there. I think Angels have one advantage in the American League west that is they don't it to get the big bat now they didn't get this year so. Last July they're on the playoffs anyway it's hard to imagine how big it all that far behind. Oakland -- Seattle. And not and it can't make up background that they don't get a bat now and find out they don't have the that they needed -- a -- it -- again.

Help us out here and don't give us what we elect called ES ID numbers because we know that those are always faults. How do you really think Vladimir Guerrero is.

He'd probably last year he was 33 would mean those media catalyst for the in the thirty he's so -- to go to work.

Because he looks like he's just ancient doesn't --

You know let's strike out Ortiz riding a base in turn it on these -- say first the third and it looks like he's running like -- stricter. He said one time that. He had a conditional one leg is a little bit sort of the other one. And -- expected understand why you know I start a bad. He would never looked like you know Olympic spreader bar around bases. But he's I don't buy from long time to play for. All those years on basically concrete in Montreal on the it'd have the best artificial turf and he played every day to play the outfield that the -- as well.

You being kind about Montreal worst stadium I've ever seen ever it was terrible let.

Out of the best immediately.

Posner say nice up there -- had a great city terrible stadium but a great point bill. When you mentioned the Angels going out to get Mark Teixeira after essentially they have locked up locked up a playoff spot they ran away with American the American League west. So says there in that position. Where does -- Marino say right. That's enough for me we're going to go that high because we're going to make the playoffs. With or without Mark Teixeira so X number is too much what keeping that number it.

You know I don't know for sure I you know that he did not have a history of getting it. Bidding wars when he finds the player he likes whether it's -- adamant Guerrero. -- Bartolo Colon lasted Torii Hunter. And they'll they'll well in order -- doubt there. Will give you stop and it is right there -- a little bit above it and usually that player particularly that so. Given that track record I would be surprised if this thing goes on my apartment Angels go much higher but then again. In a share it -- first in in like the Red Sox and their only priority this Whitner and want to get that done well.

How much to get his butt kicked by the Dodgers in the battle for the hearts and minds of Los Angeles baseball fans. Affect how we approaches this offseason.

That's very the question. -- even tell that from the trading deadline on you wouldn't.

it goes on their divisions make quite spent the -- night there's something ridiculous like that they want for the playoffs. They do it request only in the Dodgers it is what I am. It's I think there's a perception outside. But it California that it eighteen in the same city and as much of thought -- angels' name beat people who believe that. It's really not at -- few markets that want television market that -- and -- thirty miles away if there's traffic could be our apple way. There's a healthy and based both teams. The Dodgers sure got a lot of attention on and what nationally chipped it to serious they had any bad. Outback -- considers the Dodgers is is opposition all.

We appreciate time as always bill I am I'm hoping for all of our sakes this thing and soon.

I would join you could not help. Thanks bill all right take it.

Okay bill that is bill shaiken. Beat reporter for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the Los Angeles Times.