If that weren't enough, rumors have reported the Nationals leadership is considering expanding their offer to nine or ten years to accommodate Boras' demands. It's also been rumored that to sweeten the pot, the Nationals may be offering an opt out clause, much like the one C.C Sabathia had included in his deal this offseason. This would serve as an escape hatch for Teixeira after he realizes he signed a deal with a team that is further away from the playoffs than many of us would hope.
While as a whole these possible additions to the contract really don't mean a whole lot in terms of offering too much (whats an extra 8-10 million when you're spending 170 already?). They do however speak worlds about the inexperience and the naivety of the Nationals front office. As we've seen with the moves in the last several days, this part of the negotiation process has become a chess match for the big boys in the talks with Boras. The Redsox have called Boras' bluff and have walked away from the table, where the Angels have just retracted their offer all together. With the anonymity of the offer process, it leaves GM's and agents in a guessing game of who means what they say and say what they mean.
The Nationals are still playing checkers. It appears they are just indulging Boras in a way the bigger and more experienced teams wont.
It's as if Boras' client is the girl who every guy is after. They'll wine and dine her, show her why they're worthy, and show what they'll give to have her. But the older and wiser guys (The Sox and Angels) realize the truth in time...they're just being played. Are the Nats just being led on?
I could be wrong. Maybe the Nats do see and understand this. Maybe they just know that they can't afford to call Boras' bluff because they aren't as qualified a suitor as the others. But maybe thats just giving Jim Bowden a little too much credit...
Expect a deal before the new year (No one wants to start the year single after all).
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