Response team

According to agent Scott Boras, who addressed a massive pack of media yesterday, Teixeira now has contract offers from every team interested in him. That would include the Red Sox, along with the Orioles, Nationals, Angels, and possibly the Yankees, though New York is far more focused on pitching. Boras added that every team Teixeira is "involved with" has met with him.

"It's in our best interest not to talk about these things going on," Sox general manager Theo Epstein said, declining to comment on whether the team had offered Teixeira a contract.

But asked if there was a chance the team could sign a marquee free agent this offseason, Epstein said, "I think there's a chance of it. There's definitely a chance that we don't." But he added that the team was "being aggressive, really aggressive" in going after free agents.

Epstein did stress that the Red Sox, in his tenure, have only gone beyond $40 million for two free agents: Daisuke Matsuzaka ($52 million over six years, plus a $51 million posting fee) and J.D. Drew ($70 million over five years). But the Sox could easily add another name to that list, a player they both need and value in one package.

It will likely come down to numbers with Teixeira, though being close to where he grew up (the Baltimore area) could be a factor. According to the Washington Post, the Nationals checked in with an offer north of $160 million for eight years.

"I know there's the position that we're a superpower - we probably are, in some ways, financially - but it seems like every $100 million player that comes around always has the Red Sox in the mix," Epstein said. "We often are in the mix.

"But besides [Drew and Matsuzaka], we haven't given out those free agent contracts. That's been partly responsible for our success. We focus more on long-term building and more on building from within. That doesn't mean we won't do it for the right player, and in that circumstance, we will."