Not Getting Mark Teixeira Is a Blessing in Disguise for O's

It's not every day that a franchise can sign an "A" class switch hitting first baseman. It's even rarer when that "A" class switch hitting first baseman happens to be a hometown hero.

That was the opportunity presented to the Baltimore Orioles front office this offseason in the form of Mark Teixeira.

Oriole fans, along with the rest of the league, were completely enamored with the Severna Park native. He can hit for power, he can hit for average, he can hit from both sides of the plate, he can field his position better than anyone, and he brings a business-like attitude to the club house. 

Many Baltimorons were so star struck that they even saw him as the second coming of the beloved Cal Ripken, Jr.

But these dreams off a Roberts, Markakis, Teixeira right side of the field would not become reality. They were crushed, destroyed by George Steinbrenner and his pot of New York City taxpayer gold.

Again the Orioles failed to sign a big name to anchor the lineup. Again they lost this star to the Yankees.

Now it is very important that I say this before March, because once the Ravens' season ends it has become second nature for most Baltimore sports fan to bury their heads in the sand and not deal with the shame of another sub .500 summer.

Not Signing Teixeira May Be One of the Greatest Moves in Orioles History

For starters, the O's haven't exactly had good luck with big money first basemen or high market free agents over the last 15 years. Remember Glenn Davis?

The power hitting Davis was considered a sure-fire star. While with Houston he consistently put up 30 homers a year, with his average always hovering around .270. However, once he came to Baltimore he never hit more than 13 home runs in a season, and ended up retiring after three years.

Then again, it's not like the O's gave anyone important for this three-year rental, only some prospects by the names of Steve Finley, Curt Schilling, and Pete Harnisch.

Whoops.

And then there was Rafael Palmeiro's second coming with the team. After averaging 42.8 home runs a season in his five years in Texas, Palmeiro was brought to the Orioles to help solidify the middle of the lineup with Javy Lopez and Miguel Tejada.

Two years, 41 homers, and one steroid scandal later, he retired.

Then there was Albert Belle, who, after Baltimore made him the highest paid player in baseball, flicked off a fan and exited the game after two years due to an arthritic hip.

They ended up paying his salary for the next three years even though he never picked up a bat Nice.

Then there were the mid-range players that the O's overpaid in order to have them come to Baltimore. 

Marty Cordova: Who?

Javy Lopez: Got old quick.

Tony Batista: Crazy stances apparently only work in Toronto.

Kris Benson: Hot wife, bad pitcher. Traded John Maine for him.

Joe Carter: He was 38. Why would you sign a 38-year-old?

Brook Fordyce: Exactly

Sammy Sosa

You get the idea.

What Exactly Does This Have to Do with Teixeira?

Do I believe that Mark Teixeira will end up as another Glenn Davis or Albert Belle?

No, don't be stupid. The kid is great.

But so are Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Jeremy Guthrie. These are the building blocks of the new franchise, brought up from the inside.

Last year Markakis made $455,000 and Jones made $390,000. Over the next two years both will want and deserve new contracts worth at least $6 million a year. Roberts is going to be a free agent at the end of the coming season, and he will be made offers from many teams exceeding $7 million a year.

Along with this, the Orioles plan on making more acquisitions on stud prospects such as Wieters through the draft, and at least three more through free agency to improve a pitching staff that is in desperate need of quality arms to throw behind Guthrie.

How exactly could the Orioles afford all this if they are giving over $22 million a year to Tex?

Not to mention, the stiff, business-like Teixeira would be replacing Mr. "Cowboy Up" Kevin Millar. Millar is beloved by his teammates and his fans for his fun-loving attitude and his ability to keep the club house loose.

Teixeira is a much better player, but it would be a bit of trouble for the corporate Tex to adjust and become the lead singer of "Orioles Magic," especially when he is making close to 50 times more than fellow cornerstones Markakis and Jones.

Andy Macphail knows what he is doing. By not signing Teixeira he frees up salary room to sign Markakis, Jones, and Wieters for the long run, and allows them to go after some desperately needed pitching.

I know it hurts that we didn't get him. And I know it just rubs salt in the wound that New York did. But it was necessary.

Hopefully, by 2010 the Orioles might end the decade-long streak and actually be on the right side of .500 for a change.

Hey, one can always hope, right?