The Nationals appear to still be in the running for Teixeira. What will the Nationals do if they're able to sign him? That's not just what some Nats fans will be thinking, but Teixeira as well. What did the Nationals front office communicate to Boras and Teixeira? If Boras would require an escape clause to option out after three or four years, how will the Nationals continue to build around him other than hope for the farm system continue to develop?
Its music to Nats fans ears to see the Nationals making such a sizable offer to the most prized free agent this offseason. It shows a willingness by ownership to spend money to win as well as squash any rumored differences of Kasten and ownership.
As nice as it would be to see Teixeira in a Nationals uniform it would be devastating to have the spending stop there and hope the farm system catches up quickly. In the World Poker Tour, Michael Sexton often refers to a player firing another bullet trying to push someone out of the pot. If Teixeira does sign with the Nationals is ownership willing to fire another bullet at free agency and sign Adam Dunn in the same season in an effort to build more quickly around Teixeira? Wouldn't a lineup of Guzman, Milledge, Zimmerman, Teixeira, Dunn, Dukes, Flores, 2B, and P be nice to see at Nationals Park? It's a lot to ask of someone to spend so much money especially when it's not your money to spend.
The more economical way to improve the team may involve other moves more palatable to the owners and fans. It may not have the glamour of a Teixeira signing, but acquiring both Dunn and Prince Fielder in the same ball park salary wise as signing Teixeira alone could prove more helpful to signing other free agents in future years, especially pitchers.
No matter what upgrades at 1B occurs it looks more likely that Nick Johnson's days as a National are coming to an end. He's great when healthy and that's just the problem. He's hardly made it through a season healthy. Bowden is adept at making trades and the possibility of improving the bullpen and farm system at the expense at Johnson is the logical move.
The dominos will fall quickly over the next week. Once Teixeira decides on his new home the rest of the free agents remaining on the market will slowly fall into place. Which players come to DC isn't certain yet. Hopefully ownership realizes that one signing isn't nearly enough to catch up to the rest of the division.
When hometown players are set to become free agents fans often hear the phrase, "it's a business". It's nice to see the Nationals willing to spend some money. After all it is a business to earn your sports entertainment dollars. If a team isn't willing to spend some money to earn your money as a fan, what should prevent fans from forgoing their ticket plans for other teams in the area or more importantly their family in such a poor economy? Why spend hard earned dollars in a ticket plan on a team that won't spend money for the team to win, when a cheap single game ticket can be purchased so easily? Such an idea should encourage owners to take the fans mindset into their overall strategy for winning and spending. It's a two way street. The fans need the owners to spend and build a winning franchise and the owners need fans to spend money to make a profit and improve the team.
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